When the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) passed in 2008, the mental health and substance use disorder (MHSUD) fields believed that access to and reimbursement for treatment would finally be equal to other medical issues. The law requires insurers to treat mental health and SUD issues equally with medical/surgical treatments.

After much debate and thousands of comments considered, HHS today released its final rule as a result of legislation moving much of previously existing patient record confidentiality law from 42 CFR part 2 to the process contained in HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Congress mandated the change in the 2020 CARES Act law.

Opioid settlements and ongoing cases continue to be headline news. We believe NAATP members could benefit from the billions of dollars that will enter the system over the next 20 years assuming that money is used for the intended purposes.

Just prior to recessing for the Holidays, both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives advanced different versions of the Support Act reauthorization which was originally passed five years ago in response to the Opioid crisis. It funded opioid use disorder treatment, prevention, recovery, and enforcement. It allowed states to use Medicaid money for treatment.

This year the Office of National Drug Control Policy celebrates 35 years of existence and service to the Country. It was created in 1988 with legislation sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority leader in true bi-partisan fashion.

Washington DC is seldom boring and now the turmoil in the U.S. House of Representatives has stalled progress on all legislation including NAATP priorities. It is unclear how long it will take to choose the next Speaker of the House. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on another government funding crisis since the extension recently passed ends mid-November.

As mentioned in previous public policy updates, the Biden Administration has proposed new rules that will take huge steps toward enforcing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Parity). This is the most significant advancement toward realizing the promise of the law since it was passed in 2007.

In August, SAMHSA released the Best Practices for Recovery Housing which is an outline for recovery housing that is both an update of previous guidelines and a response to a White House order for guidance to exclude substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services.

Today the Administration published a new proposed rule designed to help enforce parity through the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAE) which was passed in 2008. The law prohibits insurance companies from discriminating with their coverage of mental health and substance use disorder issues.

Yesterday the House of Representatives, Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed HR 4531, the reauthorization of the Support Act for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The original Support Act was passed 5 years ago and was due to expire by the end of 2023.

As opioid litigation reaches settlements and judgments, funds are becoming available in the states. In some cases, the settlement amounts are substantial giving treatment providers opportunity for funding.  

For several years NAATP along with our substance use disorder association treatment partners, has supported legislation which provides Medicaid to individuals as they leave incarceration. Studies consistently show that SUD issues are pervasive for individuals involved in the judicial system.

The White House contacted NAATP early this morning to preview the President’s State of the Union speech this evening relative to substance use disorder. NAATP appreciates this relationship with the administration that allows us to best serve our members. “We are pleased that we were contacted in advance and given the opportunity to comment,” said NAATP CEO Marvin Ventrell.

Parity in behavioral health received a blow on January 26th when a three-judge panel released a ruling rejecting the plaintiffs’ appeal in Wit v.

Today, Marvin Ventrell, NAATP CEO represented the NAATP membership at an invitation-only event at the White House to celebrate passage of items of importance to the substance use disorder field contained in the Omnibus spending bill passed in Decemb

Congress is poised to pass what’s called an omnibus budget bill for 2023. It contains funding for all federal agencies. The bill can also include policy directives for federal agencies and legislative directives. This year’s effort is over 4000 pages and contains many NAATP priorities.