Advocacy
Advocacy
Priorities
Ensuring access to mental health and addiction treatment and recovery services could not be more urgent or important than at this time. A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that symptoms of anxiety disorder were approximately three times higher and prevalence of depression about four times higher among adults during the second quarter of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019.
Meanwhile, overdoses have spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic with more than 40 states reporting increased opioid-related deaths, and an overall increase in overdoses of 18% between May of 2019 and 2020. At the same time, suicide rates have continued to rise, up 35% between 1999 and 2018, with early indications of additional increases in suicides more recently.
Our Covid-19 webpage is designed to help NABH members access important and applicable resources as they navigate the Covid-19 pandemic.
Removing Barriers to Care
Congress should eliminate outdated federal rules blocking access to cost-effective treatments.
Combating the SUD Crisis
Congress should increase access to substance use disorder treatment.
Expanding the Behavioral Health Workforce
Congress should expand the mental health and substance use disorder workforce.
CEO Update
CEO Update 164
HHS Provides More Information About Latest Covid Provider Relief Fund Announcement The U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) this week hosted a webinar to provide details about the department’s recent announcement that it is making available $25.5 billion in new Covid relief funding for providers. The department also released some fact sheets, including one about the ...Read moreCEO Update 163
HHS Announces $25.5 Billion in Covid-19 Provider Funding The Biden administration announced Friday that the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) is making available $25.5 billion in new funding for healthcare providers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to an announcement, the funding—which HHS is making available through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)—includes ...Read moreCEO Update 162
SAMHSA’s Distress Helpline Available for Victims of Hurricane Ida The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is providing immediate crisis counseling to people who have experienced Hurricane Ida, including survivors, first responders, witnesses, or those who have seen related media reports. In a statement, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance ...Read moreCEO Update 161
Mental Health Companies Headspace and Ginger Plan $3 Billion Merger Mental health companies Headspace and Ginger this week announced plans to merge, forming a new company called Headspace Health with a reported value of $3 billion. A story in the publication Stat reported that the move will place the new company in the top echelon of companies ...Read more
The National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, are the people on the front lines of this fight…
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden
Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce
