CEO Update 196
Contingency Management Battles Ongoing Headwinds
Earlier this week, a STAT news article reviewed the executive branch’s response to advocacy efforts to expand financing for the only evidence-based treatment for stimulant use disorder, contingency management (CM.) CM provides financial rewards for abstinence from stimulants and has decades of research demonstrating that intervention changes the reward centers of the brain, resulting in behavior change. There are no medications for stimulant use disorders.
Currently, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration limits CM rewards to $75, which is too low for effective treatment. In addition, members of Congress have confused CM treatment with harm reduction and made the treatment a highly charged political issue. Speaking on behalf of NABH, Sarah Wattenberg, director of quality and addiction services, stated, “I understand their political concerns, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.” She continued, “Too many people are dying, and we need to act now.”
Reminder: Join NABH Sept. 10 for Webinar on the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
Please help NABH recognize World Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024 by joining us for a webinar featuring two experts who will highlight HHS’ 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, a 10-year, comprehensive, societal approach to suicide prevention that provides concrete recommendations for addressing gaps in the suicide-prevention field.
The webinar will feature Julie Goldstein Grumet, Ph.D., vice president of suicide prevention strategy at the Education Development Center (EDC) and director of the EDC’s Zero Suicide Institute; and Colleen Carr, M.P.H., director of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
Grumet and Carr will discuss the core strategic directions of the National Strategy; provide context on how these goals fit into current efforts by health systems, providers, and their partners in the field; highlight opportunities to support National Strategy implementation efforts; and what to expect – as well as how to engage – as the new strategy rolls out.
The discussion will also include an overview of key NABH priorities reflected in the new strategy, including workplace violence prevention and current efforts to protect and advance workforce wellbeing, including suicide prevention.
Please register here for this hourlong webinar on Tuesday, Sept. 10 webinar that starts at 2 p.m. ET. I hope you join us!
NABH Seeks Member Feedback on CMS’ 2025 PFS and OPPS Proposed Rules
NABH seeks member feedback on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed 2025 Physician Fee Schedule rule and 2024 Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule.
To weigh in, please begin by reviewing the regulations and NABH’s recent 2025 Physician Fee Schedule and 2025 Outpatient Prospective Payment System alerts to help NABH staff identify the priorities we should address with CMS, such as payment, impact on patients and quality, or operational challenges.
Please email your comments to Rochelle Archuleta by Friday, Aug. 9. Comments for both rules are due to CMS by Monday, Sept. 9.
Reminder: SAMHSA Announces Funding Opportunity to Enhance Capacity of Women’s Behavioral Health Providers
SAMHSA is accepting applications for its Women’s Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center to enhance capacity of women’s behavioral health providers, general healthcare providers, and others involved in the holistic care of women with or at risk for mental health and substance use conditions—including women who were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agency said it has a total of $12.5 million for five years and anticipates granting one award. Applications are due by Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Click here to learn more.
Reminder: Behavioral Health Business to Examine ‘How AI is Making Healthcare More Human’ in August Webinar
The publication Behavioral Health Business will host a webinar this month to explore how AI could potentially enhance humanity in behavioral health.
The discussion will examine how AI could extend to underserved communities, improve patient outcomes, and increase both clinician and patient satisfaction.
It also promises to highlight new research involving 130,000 patients that shows people are significantly more likely to begin therapy when their experience starts with Limbic, an AI-powered clinical assessment, with the most positive effects observed among minority groups.
The webinar will be held Thursday, Aug. 22 at Noon ET. Click here to register.
Reminder: Please Submit Data to NABH’s Denial-of-Care Portal
We urge all NABH members to join those already submitting data to our Denial-of-Care Portal.
We are beginning to use aggregated portal data to illustrate and compare prior authorization practices for commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid managed care denials.
Policymakers have expressed particular interest in our aggregate estimate on days of uncompensated charity care, as well as the length of delayed health plan responses to prior-authorization requests.
To support this advocacy push, we strongly encourage all NABH members to submit data to the portal. Please contact NABH Associate Manager for Congressional Affair Emily Wilkins with questions about the data metrics that we are collecting and/or the data-submission process.
Fact of the Week
A recent JAMA study found that between Jan. 2010 and Dec. 2021, 60% of youth who lost their lives to suicide lacked mental health diagnoses. This study’s findings highlight the importance of “…equitable access to MH screening, diagnosis, and treatment for all youths. “
For questions or comments about this CEO Update, please contact Jessica Zigmond.