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Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Protect Public Health and Combat Opioid Addiction
Governor Hochul on Sunday signed legislation that continues aggressive efforts to address the opioid and overdose epidemic. Matthew’s Law expands the public’s access to fentanyl testing supplies, a resource that protects public health by decreasing the chances of an accidental drug overdose. “Families across our State have felt the immense tragedy of the opioid and overdose epidemic – it is a pain no one should ever have to endure,” Governor Hochul said. “For too long, pharmacies and other local health care providers have struggled to provide the resources proven to prevent overdose deaths. With our historic investments in testing expansion, along with this legislation, we are working to ensure that every New Yorker has access to life-saving testing kits.” Read more here.
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Office of Mental Health Reconvenes New York State Suicide Prevention Task Force
The New York State Office of Mental Health last week reconvened the Suicide Prevention Task Force to bolster prevention efforts statewide and with a renewed focus on helping at-risk populations such as communities of color disproportionally impacted by suicide or suicidal ideation. Established in partnership with OMH’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York, the Task Force will build on existing prevention efforts and explore the mental health challenges laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.
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The Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Improve Health and Wellbeing by Addressing Social Determinants of Health
The White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is releasing several resources to help support federal agencies, states, local and tribal governments to better coordinate health care, public health, and social services. Specifically, the White House is releasing the first ever U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health. To accompany this, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing a Call to Action to Address Health Related Social Needs, and a Medicaid and CHIP Health-Related Social Needs Framework. This builds on the Administration’s work to advance health equity by acknowledging that peoples’ social and economic conditions play an important role in their health and wellbeing. Read more here.
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New Law to Boost Detection of Abuse of Kids with Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities
Sen. John Mannion announced Saturday that his legislation (S6463-A) has been signed into law to help Child Protective Services (CPS) workers and mandatory reporters with identifying cases of abuse of children with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities. The new law requires the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to develop and update a statewide training program for CPS workers and mandatory reporters on the unique challenges faced by children with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities, as well as the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect in this population. Read more here.
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Tools and Resources for Integrating Peer Support into Criminal Justice Settings
Peer recovery support services (PRSS) in criminal justice settings can assist individuals in reducing recidivism, substance use, and trauma while increasing safety. This annotated list of resources on integrating PRSS in criminal justice settings is categorized by the Sequential Intercept Model. The general resources provide information that is relevant across all intercepts; the other resources offer intercept-specific tools for effective PRSS integration. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), created the Overdose Risk Self-assessment: A Guide for Peer Specialists tool to support PRSS within justice settings who provide overdose prevention and linkage to care as they engage in overdose risk reduction and safety planning. This overdose risk self-assessment is intended for people who use drugs (PWUD). Once complete, the PRSS and PWUD will discuss the results. Read more here.
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Evolving Overdose Crisis Shakes Previously Effective Treatments
BURLINGTON, Vt. — “You can’t inject a horse tranquilizer and think nothing bad is gonna happen” to you, said Ty Sears, 33, a longtime drug user now in recovery. Sears was referring to xylazine, a sedative used for animal surgeries that has infiltrated the illicit drug supply across the country, contributing to a steady climb in overdose deaths. Sears divides his time between Burlington and Morrisville, a village an hour to the east. In Burlington, he visits clusters of drug users, offering water, food, and encouragement. He has been there, been down, done time, struggled to adhere to treatment regimens. But this, he said, is different: first, fentanyl — estimated to be 50 to 100 times as potent as morphine — and now xylazine, and the life-threatening wounds and sores it can cause. Read more here.
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Medicare ACOs’ Approach to Mental Health Treatment Found Lacking
Accountable care organizations (ACOs) have become the “de facto” strategy for traditional Medicare. Their incentives for proactive care were designed to improve quality and access to care by aligning incentives among clinicians, hospitals and behavioral health providers. But a new Health Affairs study found that being enrolled in an ACO was not associated with any measurable improvements in patients’ anxiety or depression. The study’s authors say that this finding is “especially concerning in light of the lower rates of ambulatory mental health treatment in this new ACO enrollee group.” Read more here.
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How Can Payers Support Providers Through Workforce Challenges?
Although they likely existed before, the COVID-19 pandemic both highlighted and exacerbated workforce challenges among healthcare providers. Providers have implored federal leaders and agencies to increase support and resources as they operate amidst these challenges, but payers are also in a position to lend a hand. A key workforce challenge providers of all specialties are facing is staffing shortages. Provider groups and hospitals have reported shortages of nurses, primary care physicians, allied healthcare professionals, and more. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects that by 2034 there will be shortages of up to 30,200 surgical specialists, 13,400 medical specialists, and 35,600 other specialists.
Read more here.
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More than a Feeling: Using Research and Data to Drive Home-and Community-Based Services Improvements
As states continue to “rebalance” their long-term care systems and incentivize the adoption of more home- and community-based services (HCBS), meaningful collection and analysis of data is critical to supporting older adults and people living with disabilities and their caregivers. At the 2023 NASHP conference, the session “More than a Feeling: Using Research and Data to Drive HCBS Improvements” featured examples from Washington State, Texas, and Massachusetts — states that are creatively using data and evidence-informed practices to improve access to HCBS. Read more here.
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Giving Teeth To Parity: New York Paves the Way for More Medicaid Managed Care Oversight
The state of New York fined five Medicaid managed care plans a total of $2.6 million for denying claims or failing to pay for specialty behavioral health services. Other states may start to follow New York’s example.
The enforcements were filed after New York’s office of mental health conducted a comprehensive examination of behavioral health claims denials in the state. The examination found that the types of care most frequently denied included: assertive community treatment, personalized recovery-oriented services, comprehensive psychiatric emergency program, partial hospitalization, and adult behavioral health home- and community-based services. Read more here.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS
Gambling Disorder among US Military Veterans: Clinical Considerations
November 27, 12 - 1 pm, NYCPG
Striving and Thriving among Certified Peer Specialists
November 27, 1 - 2 pm, SAMHSA
Utilizing Incentives and Sanctions to Support Successful Outcomes in Treatment Court
November 27, 1:30 - 3 pm, SAMHSA's GAINS Center
Complex Case Discharge Delay Learning Series: Considerations for Information Sharing During Discharge
November 30, 2 - 3 pm, HANYS
The Youth Mental Health Crisis and Opportunities for Integrated Care
November 30, 2 - 3:30 pm,
Navigating PSYCKES Recipient Search for Population Health
November 30, 3 - 4 pm, OMH
Peer Recovery Support Series, Part 10: The ABCs of Problem Solving for Peer Specialists
November 30, 3 - 4 pm, NAADAC
NAMI Ask the Expert: The Future of WRAP with Founder Mary Ellen Copeland
November 30, 4 - 5 pm, NAMI
Helping Children & Adolescents with Emotional Problems - A Q&A with Daniel S. Pine, MD
November 30, 7 - 8 pm, BBRF
Improving Substance Misuse Prevention Outcomes through Data-Informed Decision Making
December 1, 12 - 1:30 pm, NAADAC
Identifying and Treating Tardive Dyskinesia
December 4, 1 - 2 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Growing Combination Drug Use and The Overdose Crisis
December 4, 2 - 3 pm, NIHCM
Recovery Ready Workplace New York Symposium
December 4 - 5, Crowne Plaza, Albany, FOR-NY
Mitigating Crisis with Presence: Developing Mobile Crisis Response to 988 Calls
December 4, 2:30 - 4 pm, SAMHSA's GAINS Center
Help Wanted: Addressing the Workforce Shortage
December 5, 12 - 1 pm, MHANYS
Understanding DOL’s Proposed Rule on Overtime Requirements for Salaried Workers
December 5, 2 - 2:30 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
How Anchor Institutions Improve Patient, Community, and Workforce Health
December 6, 12 - 2 pm, NEJM Catalyst
The Double-Edged Sword of Representation: Lived Experience, Tokenism and the Portrayal of Addiction Recovery Stories
December 7, 1 - 2 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Fostering a Healthcare Workforce for Today's Social Health Challenges
December 7, 3 - 4:30 pm, SDOH Academy
Virtual Town Hall: Advancing Equity in 988 Crisis Response
December 12, 3 - 4:30 pm, NAMI
The Poison Center's Role in Suicide Prevention: Seasonality and Suicide Risk
December 13, 10 - 11 am, OMH, Upstate NY Poison Center, NYSSPC
American Tragedy: Dopesick Author Beth Macy on the Opioid Crisis, Overdose Deaths and What's Next
December 13, 2 - 3 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Health Center Preparedness and Response Forum
December 14, 1 - 2 pm, National Training and Technical Assistance Partners (NTTAPs)
Promoting Equity through Police-Mental Health Collaborations (PMHCs): A Community Workshop
December 14, 1:30 - 3 pm, CSG Justice Center
NAMI Ask the Expert: Suicide in Pretrial Detention and Expanding the Crisis Care Continuum
December 14, 4 - 5 pm, NAMI
Community Connections: Working with Justice-involved Individuals
December 20, 12 - 1 pm, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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CLMHD CALENDAR
NOVEMBER
CLMHD Office Closed - Thanksgiving
November 23 - 24
Deputy DCS Call
November 28: 10 - 11 am
DECEMBER
CLMHD Executive Committee Meeting
December 6: 8 - 9 am
LGU Clinic Operators Call
December 12: 10 - 11:30 am
Addiction Services & Supports (ASR) Committee Meeting
December 14: 11 am - 12 pm
Mental Health Committee Meeting
December 14: 3 - 4 pm
Children & Families Committee Meeting
December 19: 11:30 am - 1 pm
Membership Call
December 20: 9 - 10:30 am
Mental Hygiene Planning Committee Meeting
December 21: 1 - 3 pm
CLMHD Office Closed - Christmas
December 25
Deputy DCS Call
December 26: 10 - 11 am
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