Nov 2, 2017
President’s Commission on Addiction and the Opioid Crisis Submits Final Recommendations
PPU: 11.2.17
Yesterday the President’s Commission issued its final report to the Administration. A preliminary report was submitted several weeks earlier.
The report contains numerous substantial findings with which the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) agrees. The 131 page report contains 56 individual recommendations.
At the top of the list are the recommendations to fully implement the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Parity). Not only is enforcement on the list, the Commission recommend that monetary penalties be assessed on insurers who fail to comply. A uniform tool to monitor compliance and transparency regarding reasons for denials would also be a very positive development.
Better screening by health care professionals for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) would be a substantial step forward in addressing this health crisis as would easier access to appropriate care.
Elimination of the IMD 16 bed exclusion for Medicaid patients, which the President has already taken steps to implement, is another positive outcome.
Many of the recommendations fall to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to enforce. NAATP urges the Administration to appoint a Director with broad experience and knowledge of recovery.
While the Commission did not identify additional dollars to fund its recommendations, that responsibility now falls to Congress and the Administration.
NAATP will review the Commission’s policy recommendations and work with appropriate federal agencies, Congress, and the Administration to support those which will impact our members and their patients in a positive way.
Mark Dunn
NAATP Director of Public Policy
Washington, DC
