CEO Update 88
ONDCP Issues 2020 National Drug Control Strategy and Treatment Plan
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) this week issued its national 2020 National Drug Control Strategy (Strategy) and accompanying National Treatment Plan (NTP) that includes action items for federal agencies and external stakeholders to increase access to care and close the addiction treatment gap. The Strategy is presented using the domains of prevention, treatment and recovery, and supply-side strategies for reducing the availability and consumption of illicit drugs. These domains are established as ‘pillars’ that undergird the following federal initiatives of “expanding the early intervention, treatment and recovery infrastructure; improving the delivery system; and improving quality.” Specifically, the NTP calls for treatment expansion and improved quality by:- Developing protocols for medically managed withdrawal including MAT to prevent relapse and promote stabilization;
- Increasing emergency department use of addiction medicine specialty services;
- Exploring the inclusion of stimulant disorder treatment in opioid treatment programs;
- Increasing access to all medication and psychosocial services, promoting syringe exchange, interim methadone, mobile methadone vans, and peer outreach (one objective of the federal Performance and Reporting System is to make sure 100% of all specialty providers offer MAT by 2020);
- Adopting model state specialty SUD treatment licensing laws;
- Developing mobile and online platform with updated information on treatment slot availability with online appoint capacity;
- Encouraging public and private payers to cover comprehensive services and improve reimbursement rates where out-of-network rates are higher;
- Urging providers to subsidize and provide treatment scholarships; and
- Exploring the idea of developing national consensus standards for addiction treatment to consolidate treatment quality standards.
OIG Report Finds More Than One-Third of New Jersey’s Federal Medicaid Reimbursement for Providing Community-Based Treatment Services Was Unallowable
HHS’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) has recommended the state of New Jersey refund the federal government $14.8 million after the OIG concluded more than a third of the state’s federal Medicaid reimbursement for providing community-based treatment services was unallowable. The OIG’s report said that of New Jersey’s 100 sampled claims for federal Medicaid reimbursements of payments for Programs of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), 50 complied with federal and state requirements, but 50 did not. Meanwhile, of the 100 claims, 21 contained more than 1 deficiency. “We found PACT program services provided were not adequately supported or documented (36 claims), plan of care requirements were not met (17 claims), PACT teams did not include staff from required clinical disciplines (8 claims), and providers did not obtain prior authorization for beneficiaries (5 claims), among other findings,” the report said. The OIG’s other recommendations include the state improving procedures to identify deficiencies similar to those identified in the report, and considering regulations for periodic reassessments to determine whether beneficiaries enrolled in PACT continue to require PACT services. The National Academies Releases Report to Improve OUD and Infectious Disease Services The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has released Opportunities to Improve Opioid Use Disorder and Infectious Disease Services: Integrating Responses to a Dual Epidemic, which identifies barriers to integrating opioid use disorder (OUD) and infectious disease services and recommendations to overcome those challenges. The report notes that infectious diseases related to OUD today include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis A, B, and C viruses, as well as bacterial fungal, and other infections. Barriers to integrating OUD and infectious disease prevention and treatment services include, but are not limited to, prior authorization policies, lack of data and integration sharing, inadequate workforce training, and a disconnect between the health and criminal justice systems. “Integrating medical services—such as co-locating services, sharing a common vision, and aligning processes—is a well-recognized strategy for the delivery of comprehensive healthcare,” the report noted. “When SUD treatment is moved from a stand-alone clinic to a general medical setting, the emphasis may expand to encompass harm reduction tactics and principles, including strategies for safer drug use, minimizing risk of overdose, and preventing transmission of infectious disease.” JAMA Study Examines Comparative Effectiveness of Different Treatment Pathways for OUD New research in JAMA Network Open shows treatment with buprenorphine or methadone was associated with reductions in overdose and serious opioid-related acute care use, but only a few individuals were treated with these medications. In the comparative effectiveness research study of 40,885 adults with OUD that compared six different treatment pathways, only treatment with buprenorphine or methadone was associated with reduced risk of overdose and serious opioid-related acute care use compared with not treatment during three and 12 months of follow-up. “These findings suggest that opportunities exist for health plans to reduce restrictions on use for medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and the need for treatment models that prioritize access to and retention of MOUD treatment,” the study concluded.Trump Administration Releases Tool to Help Rural Leaders Build Drug-Free Communities
The Trump administration has released the Rural Action Guide: Building Stronger, Healthy, Drug-Free Rural Communities, a nearly 100-page document meant to help rural community leaders build an effective, local response to addiction. “The Rural Community Action Guide is an important tool to equip rural leaders with critical information from lessons learned on the frontlines of prevention, treatment, and recovery in rural America,” James Carroll, director of national drug control policy, wrote in the preface to the guide. “While no two rural communities are the same, there are promising practices gleaned from rural leaders in one town that can be replicated in another,” he added. “With this information, local leaders can then design a more effective strategy for deployment in their own community.” The guide is divided into five sections: face of addiction, impact of addiction on a rural community, prevention, treatment, and recovery. SAMHSA to Host IDSUDCC Meeting on Friday, Feb. 28The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders Coordinating Committee (ISUDCC) will meet on Friday, Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Held at SAMHSA’s headquarters in Rockville, Md., the meeting is open to the public and will focus on both federal and non-federal advances to address substance use disorders.Click here for more information.
Political Analyst Nathan L. Gonzales to Address NABH 2020 Annual Meeting Attendees
NABH is pleased to welcome Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, as the 2020 Annual Meeting Luncheon speaker.
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales provides non-partisan analysis of campaigns for Senate, House, governor and president. Mr. Gonzales can be seen regularly on CNN discussing the latest in politics, and the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today have all sought him out for his expertise. Mr. Gonzales will speak on Tuesday, March 17 at noon during the Annual Meeting Luncheon. Please learn more about our Annual Meeting speakers and register for the 2020 Annual Meeting if you haven’t done so already. Also, be sure to reserve your room before the hotel cut-off date on Friday, Feb. 14. We look forward to seeing you in Washington!