Apr 7, 2021
On April 1st, 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration released their drug policy priorities for their first year in office. Statutorily due to Congress in an inaugural year, these priorities are:
- Expanding access to evidence-based treatment;
- Advancing racial equity issues in drug policy;
- Enhancing evidence-based harm reduction efforts;
- Supporting evidence-based prevention efforts to reduce youth substance use;
- Reducing the supply of illicit substances;
- Advancing recovery-ready workplaces and expanding the addiction workforce; and
- Expanding access to recovery support services.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) will coordinate these drug policies by convening federal agencies and setting drug control budget and policy priorities for the government.
This statement complements the appropriations for behavioral health services in the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed into law in March. The law provides nearly $4 billion to enable the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Health Resources and Services Administration to expand access to behavioral health services.
Dec 30, 2020
Health Management Associates (HMA) recently announced the launch of its new website with updated information and resources on substance use disorder, opioid use disorder, and medications for addiction treatment (MAT).
AddictionFreeCA.org has served as a central resource for four projects funded by the MAT Expansion Project: Systems of Care, Pregnant and Parenting Women, MAT in Jails and Drug Courts, and County Touchpoints. The new website provides enhanced resources for these projects and serves as a valuable source of information for other MAT Expansion project partners, as well as public agency leaders, legislators and other stakeholders.
In addition to a searchable resource library, the new website also includes a data dashboard that brings together county risk and support data points and maps new treatment projects on an interactive map. Users can find statistics on disease burden, rate trends, programs, demographics, and interventions, which can be filtered by the 58 different California counties.
Visit the website!
Oct 19, 2020
A recent article in Treatment Magazine highlighted concurrent efforts in California aimed at expanding access to treatment in emergency rooms (through the BHPP) and providing naloxone statewide (through the Naloxone Distribution Project).
Jun 15, 2020
The California Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS, and California Department of Health Care Services are jointly hosting a webinar on access to opioid treatment during and after COVID-19 on Friday, June 19th at 10:00 AM PT. This webinar will explore opioid treatment services during the COVID-19 pandemic, including opportunities to build on recent changes to federal regulations that have made buprenorphine and methadone prescribing more flexible and accessible. Presentations will include perspectives from both people with personal experience of utilizing treatment and providers delivering innovative opioid treatment services.
Download the calendar invite and see the joint invitation for more information.
May 19, 2020
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the California Hub & Spoke System Administrator (CA H&SS). DHCS is seeking an entity to oversee and manage the administrative elements of the CA H&SS project. California H&SS Project has created access to MAT for individuals in counties with the highest overdose rates of California. As a result of the Hub & Spoke System, more than 22,000 individuals have received MAT services.
Qualified entities for the opportunity are organizations with extensive experience in administering, overseeing and monitoring multiple, complex projects, as well as experience serving as a fiscal intermediary managing large budgets and tracking payments to contractors. Applications are due no later than Monday, June 15th at 4:00 p.m.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to DHCSMATExpansion@dhcs.ca.gov with the subject line “Questions – CA H&SS Administrator.” Questions must be submitted no later than Friday, June 12th at 4:00 p.m. in order to receive a response.
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