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What They’re Saying: Leaders Weigh in on Omnibus Implications for Field
The $1.7 trillion fiscal year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations bill, which will fund the federal government through September 30, 2023, has been signed into law by President Joe Biden, and it contains significant implications for behavioral healthcare and addiction treatment.
>> READ the FY2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
The massive legislation contains the following highlights, per a House Appropriations Committee summary document:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will be funded at $7.5 billion—a $970 million increase over the 2022 fiscal year. That includes $2.8 billion for mental health-related initiatives, such as mental health resources for children, suicide and behavioral health crisis prevention, and mental health crisis response grants. The amount also includes $4.2 billion in funding for opioid prevention and treatment, recovery, and tribal-focused treatment, as well as $1.575 billion to fund State Opioid Response Grants and $2 billion for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants;
- The $9.7 billion earmarked for the Health Resources and Services Administration includes increased funding for the Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program, behavioral health workforce education and training programs, and Rural Communities Opioid Response Program;
- A value-based care bonus sent to providers who participate in alternative payment models will continue, however, the bonus has been reduced to 3.5% from 5%.
- The loosening of telehealth rules enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended through the end of 2024;
- $505 million has been allotted for opioid overdose prevention and surveillance, a $15 million increase over FY2022, according to a summary published by House Democrats; and
- Funding for research related to opioids, stimulants, and pain/pain management has been increased by $45 million over FY2022.
The bill will also enable Medicare coverage for marriage and family therapists and counselors, and increase funding for mental health mobile crisis units.
Reactions From the Field
Leaders from several key organizations shared their thoughts on the implications of the omnibus bill for behavioral health and addiction treatment in statements:
National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP):
“These huge budgetary bills are the product of long and intense negotiations. No one gets everything they want. This year, the [substance use disorder treatment] field achieved a great deal, and perhaps more progress was made than in decades. NAATP appreciates the dedication of the members of Congress and their staff who worked so hard to include these priority items.”
Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing:
“We can’t address the overwhelming demand for mental health and substance use treatment without implementing strategies immediately to overcome the workforce shortage and reduce barriers to care. That’s why we made it a priority to advocate for workforce and administrative reform measures in this legislation. Workforce provisions to allow licensed mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists to provide care for people on Medicare will not only improve the recruitment and retention of workers, but also expand access to care for millions of people. And provisions eliminating barriers to prescribing medication-assisted treatment will no doubt save lives.
“This relief, in addition to funding level increases for several key substance use and mental health programs, couldn’t come at a better time. The historic steps Congress has taken this year to address the substance use and mental health crisis will make a difference for people and communities for years to come.”
Clif Gaus, ScD, president and CEO of the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS):
“We greatly appreciate Congress including a 3.5% value-based care incentive in a year-end spending bill. NAACOS and others have been calling on lawmakers to extend these critical incentives so that our health system can maintain momentum in its value-based care movement. Care for millions of patients will be better off because the health system is rewarding doctors for providing higher quality care at a lower cost.
“While this is not the full 5% that providers have been receiving and NAACOS asked for, it does maintain some incentive to keep the momentum while Congress works on a long-term solution to encourage adoption of alternative payment models. This should be considered a bridge toward greater reforms needed to encourage providers’ move into accountable care organizations.”
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