As the House of Representatives begins debate on the budget, ABH asks that you contact your Representative(s) in support of ABH's priorities. The debate is expected to begin on Monday and end Thursday, April 29, so now is the time to take a few minutes to show your support.
Action Requested
Ask your Representative to oppose the following amendments:
-- Amendment 40, which would eliminate the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund. This fund is created by the House Ways and Means FY 2011 budget and is credited with sales tax revenue from the sales tax on alcohol.
-- Amendment 43, which would eliminate the sales tax on alcohol. The sales tax on alcohol is estimated to raise about $110 million to support substance abuse treatment and prevention. In addition, using taxes to raise prices on alcohol is among the most effective deterrents to drinking and underage binge drinking that researchers have discovered; it is better than law enforcement, media campaigns or school programs.
Ask your Representative to support the following amendments:
-- Amendment 604, to restore $3.2 million to the Department of Mental Health Adult Community Services account (line item 5046-000). $3.2 million would provide funding for the P.A.C.T. (Program for Assertive Community Treatment) teams in Metro Boston and Western Massachusetts Homeless Community Support/Emergency Psychiatric Services;
-- Amendment 447, Amendment 469, and Amendment 530 to restore funding for the human services salary reserve. The salary reserve would be funded at $28,000,000 and would allow for modest but essential salary increases for human service workers earning less than $40,000.
Log on to http://capwiz.com/mhsacm/home/ for more information.
On the Issues, People & Organizations in Behavioral Health in the Commonwealth
Friday, April 23, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Kudos!
Kudos to House Ways & Means Chairman Charles Murphy and the House Ways & Means Committee for proposing a separate Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund to dedicate proceeds from the alcohol sales tax to vital public health programs. It costs the state nothing, safeguards spending for alcohol and substance abuse treatment services, and defuses critics who say the state will spend the money elsewhere.
Nationally, only 10 percent of individuals in need of addiction services actually are in treatment. The alcohol sales tax addresses some of that gap by creating a funding source for new problems.
For the thousands of people in Massachusetts whose families have been affected by addiction, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund is smart public policy and sound health policy.
Nationally, only 10 percent of individuals in need of addiction services actually are in treatment. The alcohol sales tax addresses some of that gap by creating a funding source for new problems.
For the thousands of people in Massachusetts whose families have been affected by addiction, the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund is smart public policy and sound health policy.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The next frontier in health care reform is controlling costs, and Global Payment Reform appears to be on the agenda in Massachusetts. At yesterday's Association Meeting in Worcester we hosted a panel on "Global Payment Reform: How Will It Impact Behavioral Health Providers in Massachusetts?"
Sarah Iselin, CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, and Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, Executive Director of Healthcare for All, outlined their respective visions for the near term future of payment reform. They did a great job, particularly in the lively Q&A section of the forum. Many members expressed reservations about the prospects for behavioral health under potential reforms.
ABH has outlined four core points as the GPR debate progresses:
1. Behavioral healthcare is a core service and any changes must include systems that allow for better integration of primary and behavioral healthcare.
2. Cost of care considerations must take account of the prevalence of co-morbid medical illness in individuals with substance use disorders and mental illness.
3. Accountable Care Organizations must protect the interests of the most vulnerable populations, including adults and children with behavioral health disorders. Inclusion of community-based behavioral healthcare providers is essential in healthcare system redesign.
4. The transition to a new payment system must be carefully implemented and adequately funded.
Stay tuned for more on this debate in the coming months.
Sarah Iselin, CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, and Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, Executive Director of Healthcare for All, outlined their respective visions for the near term future of payment reform. They did a great job, particularly in the lively Q&A section of the forum. Many members expressed reservations about the prospects for behavioral health under potential reforms.
ABH has outlined four core points as the GPR debate progresses:
1. Behavioral healthcare is a core service and any changes must include systems that allow for better integration of primary and behavioral healthcare.
2. Cost of care considerations must take account of the prevalence of co-morbid medical illness in individuals with substance use disorders and mental illness.
3. Accountable Care Organizations must protect the interests of the most vulnerable populations, including adults and children with behavioral health disorders. Inclusion of community-based behavioral healthcare providers is essential in healthcare system redesign.
4. The transition to a new payment system must be carefully implemented and adequately funded.
Stay tuned for more on this debate in the coming months.
Statehouse Rally Backs Expanded Treatment Services
If you passed by the State House late yesterday morning, you may have noticed a gathering of public health advocates. Yesterday's rally at the State House was a big success. Dozens of people from across the state came to show their support for S.2281, a legislative proposal aimed at tackling the growing opiate epidemic in Massachusetts. The rally took place in advance of the Congressional Administrative Law Subcommittee's hearing to review the Oxycontin and Heroin Commission's recently released recommendation to address substance abuse issues nationwide.
During the rally, I had the privilege of introducing State Sen. Steve Tolman, (D-Brighton), who sponsored the bill and chaired the Oxycontin and Heroin Commission. Sen. Tolman has aggressively pursued the development of local and state policies to increase awareness of the crisis and the need for more addiction treatment services.
The bill is supported by a report released last November by the Oxycontin and Heroin Commission. While support for addiction treatment programs has increased, the close to 3,300 opiate-realted deaths (from 2002-2007) is proof that we have not sufficiently met the needs for this growing problem. Today's event showed that, with the support of the community and legislative leadership, we can tackle this problem.
During the rally, I had the privilege of introducing State Sen. Steve Tolman, (D-Brighton), who sponsored the bill and chaired the Oxycontin and Heroin Commission. Sen. Tolman has aggressively pursued the development of local and state policies to increase awareness of the crisis and the need for more addiction treatment services.
The bill is supported by a report released last November by the Oxycontin and Heroin Commission. While support for addiction treatment programs has increased, the close to 3,300 opiate-realted deaths (from 2002-2007) is proof that we have not sufficiently met the needs for this growing problem. Today's event showed that, with the support of the community and legislative leadership, we can tackle this problem.
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