Parity Enforcement Act of 2022

Advocated for Increased appropriations for HRSAs Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. This program provides student loan repayment for addiction treatment professionals who commit to working in underserved or high-risk communities. Advocated for increased appropriations for HRSAs Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to institutions with training opportunities for fellows in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry who have demonstrated interest in providing addiction treatment in underserved communities. Advocated for S 2235/HR 2067 - Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021: This legislation would ensure most Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled medication prescribers have a baseline knowledge of how to identify, treat, and manage patients with SUD and would allow accredited health professional schools and residency programs to fulfill the training requirement through their own curricula, as well as provide them with resources to do so. Advocated for simultaneous passage of S 445/HR 1384 - Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate the requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction and eliminate the patient limits on buprenorphine prescribers. Advocated for S 285/HR 955 - the Medicaid Reentry Act: This legislation would allow for reestablishment of health insurance coverage under Medicaid for eligible individuals who are incarcerated, during the 30-day period preceding their release from jail or prison. Advocated for S.2697/H.R.6636 - the Due Process Continuity of Care Act: This legislation would amend the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy to allow these otherwise eligible individuals to receive their full Medicaid benefits while incarcerated at the option of the state. Advocated for the DEA and SAMHSA to grant continued telehealth flexibilities for buprenorphine for OUD during the national public health emergency declared in response to the opioid crisis and work to make those telehealth flexibilities permanent, as appropriate, based on findings of further studies. Advocated for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to clear policy barriers to sustainable implementation of contingency management (CM) interventions. Advocated for HR 1364/S.4804 - the Parity Enforcement Act: This legislation would expand the U.S. Department of Labors authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 or for employing utilization review processes that prove more restrictive for mental health and addiction care than for other medical care in violation of the MHPAEA. Advocated for S 340/HR 1674 - TREATS Act: This legislation would make permanent a new, audio-video, telehealth evaluation exception to the Ryan Haight Acts in-person exam requirement, which would allow clinicians to prescribe certain addiction treatment medications, like buprenorphine, to new patients through telehealth. Advocated for HR 6279/S 3629 - Opioid Treatment Access Act which would make permanent certain COVID-19 flexibilities allowed to states for unsupervised doses, as well as "time in treatment" regulatory changes and to permit pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder treatment for certain experienced cohorts of prescribers. Advocated for passage of HR 3441/ S 1438 the Opioid Workforce Act/Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to increase Medicare supported GME slots for addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain medicine. Advocated for draft legislative text that would close severe MH/SUD coverage gaps in Medicare. Advocated for issuance of a NPRM regarding further alignment of 42 CFR Part 2 with HIPAA, as called for by the CARES Act. Advocated for federal agency guidance on CAPTA reporting vs. notification requirements and inclusion of S. 1927, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment (CAPTA) Reauthorization Act of 2021, in an end-of-the-year legislative package. ASAM joined a letter addressed to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittees of the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, urging the committees to fund the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Office of Smoking and Health (OSH) at $261.5 million, as was delineated in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees Chairmans mark from July 2022 ASAM submitted comments in a letter to the U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Richard Burr, Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), containing policy recommendations for inclusion in a possible Senate mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) legislative package. The comments were based on HR 7666 - the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, which has already passed the U.S. House on a bipartisan basis. The letter voices ASAM's support for many provisions of the Restoring Hope Act, that would, among other things, reauthorize key Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs to address the national MH and SUD crisis. ASAM joined a letter to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee in response to the committees Enhancing the Mental Health Workforce discussion draft. The letter thanks the committee for its ongoing efforts to address the MH and SUD workforce crisis and makes several key recommendations. The letters recommendations focus on two key areas: (1) clarifications to the bills language to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of SUD or no co-occurring MH condition can access the critical services they need and (2) resolving other barriers that prevent the MH and SUD workforce from meeting its full potential. ASAM joined a letter to SAMHSA supporting continuation of the PCSS program

Client expense: $50,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Office of Natl Drug Control Policy (NDCP), SENATE, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Advocated for Increased appropriations for HRSAs Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. This program provides student loan repayment for addiction treatment professionals who commit to working in underserved or high-risk communities. Advocated for increased appropriations for HRSAs Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to institutions with training opportunities for fellows in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry who have demonstrated interest in providing addiction treatment in underserved communities. Advocated for S 2235/HR 2067 - Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021: This legislation would ensure most Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled medication prescribers have a baseline knowledge of how to identify, treat, and manage patients with SUD and would allow accredited health professional schools and residency programs to fulfill the training requirement through their own curricula, as well as provide them with resources to do so. Advocated for simultaneous passage of S 445/HR 1384 - Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate the requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction and eliminate the patient limits on buprenorphine prescribers. Advocated for S 285/HR 955 - the Medicaid Reentry Act: This legislation would allow for reestablishment of health insurance coverage under Medicaid for eligible individuals who are incarcerated, during the 30-day period preceding their release from jail or prison. Advocated for S.2697/H.R.6636 - the Due Process Continuity of Care Act: This legislation would amend the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy to allow these otherwise eligible individuals to receive their full Medicaid benefits while incarcerated at the option of the state. Advocated for the DEA and SAMHSA to grant continued telehealth flexibilities for buprenorphine for OUD during the national public health emergency declared in response to the opioid crisis and work to make those telehealth flexibilities permanent, as appropriate, based on findings of further studies. Advocated for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to clear policy barriers to sustainable implementation of contingency management (CM) interventions. Advocated for HR 1364/S.4804 - the Parity Enforcement Act: This legislation would expand the U.S. Department of Labors authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 or for employing utilization review processes that prove more restrictive for mental health and addiction care than for other medical care in violation of the MHPAEA. Advocated for S 340/HR 1674 - TREATS Act: This legislation would make permanent a new, audio-video, telehealth evaluation exception to the Ryan Haight Acts in-person exam requirement, which would allow clinicians to prescribe certain addiction treatment medications, like buprenorphine, to new patients through telehealth. Advocated for HR 6279/S 3629 - Opioid Treatment Access Act which would make permanent certain COVID-19 flexibilities allowed to states for unsupervised doses, as well as "time in treatment" regulatory changes and to permit pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder treatment for certain experienced cohorts of prescribers. Advocated for passage of HR 3441/ S 1438 the Opioid Workforce Act/Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to increase Medicare supported GME slots for addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain medicine. Advocated for draft legislative text that would close severe MH/SUD coverage gaps in Medicare. Advocated for issuance of a NPRM regarding further alignment of 42 CFR Part 2 with HIPAA, as called for by the CARES Act. Advocated for federal agency guidance on CAPTA reporting vs. notification requirements and inclusion of S. 1927, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment (CAPTA) Reauthorization Act of 2021, in an end-of-the-year legislative package. ASAM joined a letter addressed to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittees of the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, urging the committees to fund the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Office of Smoking and Health (OSH) at $261.5 million, as was delineated in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees Chairmans mark from July 2022 ASAM submitted comments in a letter to the U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Richard Burr, Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), containing policy recommendations for inclusion in a possible Senate mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) legislative package. The comments were based on HR 7666 - the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, which has already passed the U.S. House on a bipartisan basis. The letter voices ASAM's support for many provisions of the Restoring Hope Act, that would, among other things, reauthorize key Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs to address the national MH and SUD crisis. ASAM joined a letter to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee in response to the committees Enhancing the Mental Health Workforce discussion draft. The letter thanks the committee for its ongoing efforts to address the MH and SUD workforce crisis and makes several key recommendations. The letters recommendations focus on two key areas: (1) clarifications to the bills language to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of SUD or no co-occurring MH condition can access the critical services they need and (2) resolving other barriers that prevent the MH and SUD workforce from meeting its full potential. ASAM joined a letter to SAMHSA supporting continuation of the PCSS program

Advocated for Increased appropriations for HRSAs Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. This program provides student loan repayment for addiction treatment professionals who commit to working in underserved or high-risk communities. Advocated for increased appropriations for HRSAs Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to institutions with training opportunities for fellows in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry who have demonstrated interest in providing addiction treatment in underserved communities. Advocated for S 2235/HR 2067 - Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021: This legislation would ensure most Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled medication prescribers have a baseline knowledge of how to identify, treat, and manage patients with SUD and would allow accredited health professional schools and residency programs to fulfill the training requirement through their own curricula, as well as provide them with resources to do so. Advocated for simultaneous passage of S 445/HR 1384 - Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate the requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction and eliminate the patient limits on buprenorphine prescribers. Advocated for S 285/HR 955 - the Medicaid Reentry Act: This legislation would allow for reestablishment of health insurance coverage under Medicaid for eligible individuals who are incarcerated, during the 30-day period preceding their release from jail or prison. Advocated for S.2697/H.R.6636 - the Due Process Continuity of Care Act: This legislation would amend the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy to allow these otherwise eligible individuals to receive their full Medicaid benefits while incarcerated at the option of the state. Advocated for the DEA and SAMHSA to grant continued telehealth flexibilities for buprenorphine for OUD during the national public health emergency declared in response to the opioid crisis and work to make those telehealth flexibilities permanent, as appropriate, based on findings of further studies. Advocated for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to clear policy barriers to sustainable implementation of contingency management (CM) interventions. Advocated for HR 1364/S.4804 - the Parity Enforcement Act: This legislation would expand the U.S. Department of Labors authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 or for employing utilization review processes that prove more restrictive for mental health and addiction care than for other medical care in violation of the MHPAEA. Advocated for S 340/HR 1674 - TREATS Act: This legislation would make permanent a new, audio-video, telehealth evaluation exception to the Ryan Haight Acts in-person exam requirement, which would allow clinicians to prescribe certain addiction treatment medications, like buprenorphine, to new patients through telehealth. Advocated for HR 6279/S 3629 - Opioid Treatment Access Act which would make permanent certain COVID-19 flexibilities allowed to states for unsupervised doses, as well as "time in treatment" regulatory changes and to permit pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder treatment for certain experienced cohorts of prescribers. Advocated for passage of HR 3441/ S 1438 the Opioid Workforce Act/Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to increase Medicare supported GME slots for addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain medicine. Advocated for draft legislative text that would close severe MH/SUD coverage gaps in Medicare. Advocated for issuance of a NPRM regarding further alignment of 42 CFR Part 2 with HIPAA, as called for by the CARES Act. Advocated for federal agency guidance on CAPTA reporting vs. notification requirements and inclusion of S. 1927, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment (CAPTA) Reauthorization Act of 2021, in an end-of-the-year legislative package. ASAM joined a letter addressed to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittees of the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, urging the committees to fund the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Office of Smoking and Health (OSH) at $261.5 million, as was delineated in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees Chairmans mark from July 2022 ASAM submitted comments in a letter to the U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Richard Burr, Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), containing policy recommendations for inclusion in a possible Senate mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) legislative package. The comments were based on HR 7666 - the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, which has already passed the U.S. House on a bipartisan basis. The letter voices ASAM's support for many provisions of the Restoring Hope Act, that would, among other things, reauthorize key Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs to address the national MH and SUD crisis. ASAM joined a letter to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee in response to the committees Enhancing the Mental Health Workforce discussion draft. The letter thanks the committee for its ongoing efforts to address the MH and SUD workforce crisis and makes several key recommendations. The letters recommendations focus on two key areas: (1) clarifications to the bills language to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of SUD or no co-occurring MH condition can access the critical services they need and (2) resolving other barriers that prevent the MH and SUD workforce from meeting its full potential. ASAM joined a letter to SAMHSA supporting continuation of the PCSS program

H.R.1475/S.1795, Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act H.R.2955/S.4448, Suicide Prevention Act H.R.3259/S.586, NOPAIN Act H.R.3467/S.4332, Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences Act H.R.4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act H.R.5611/S.1902 Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act H.R. 6302, The Protecting the Health of Americas Older Adults Act H.R.7116, 9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2022 H.R.7666, Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 H.R. 7780 Mental Health Matters Act H.R.8800, Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022 S. 5272 / H.R. 9577, Increasing Mental Health Options Act S.2086, RISE from Trauma Act S.2425, Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act of 2021 S. 3257 A bill to lengthen the period of time during which certain controlled substances must be administered S.4170, Mental Health Reform Reauthorization Act S.4301, Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act S.4306, Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act S.4472, Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act S.4616, Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2022 S.4804, Parity Enforcement Act of 2022 S. 5310 Helping Kids Through Trauma Act H.R. 7644, Pride in Mental Health Act S. 4747, Invest in Kids' Mental Health Now Act H.R. 5218, Collaborate in an Orderly and Cohesive Manner Act S. 4306, Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act H.R.8391, the CONtinuity in Necessary Evaluative Crisis Treatment (CONNECT) Act H.R. 9109, GRIEF Act H.R. 2617, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Discussion of population health-based approaches - Rep. Smith (WA) General population health and rural mental health access solutions Grass-tops summit on year-end mental health package Response to RFI re: No Surprises Act Response to RFI re: provider directory

H.R.1475/S.1795, Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act H.R.2955/S.4448, Suicide Prevention Act H.R.3259/S.586, NOPAIN Act H.R.3467/S.4332, Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences Act H.R.4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act H.R.5611/S.1902 Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act H.R. 6302, The Protecting the Health of Americas Older Adults Act H.R.7116, 9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2022 H.R.7666, Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 H.R. 7780 Mental Health Matters Act H.R.8800, Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022 S. 5272 / H.R. 9577, Increasing Mental Health Options Act S.2086, RISE from Trauma Act S.2425, Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act of 2021 S. 3257 A bill to lengthen the period of time during which certain controlled substances must be administered S.4170, Mental Health Reform Reauthorization Act S.4301, Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act S.4306, Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act S.4472, Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act S.4616, Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2022 S.4804, Parity Enforcement Act of 2022 S. 5310 Helping Kids Through Trauma Act H.R. 7644, Pride in Mental Health Act S. 4747, Invest in Kids' Mental Health Now Act H.R. 5218, Collaborate in an Orderly and Cohesive Manner Act S. 4306, Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act H.R.8391, the CONtinuity in Necessary Evaluative Crisis Treatment (CONNECT) Act H.R. 9109, GRIEF Act H.R. 2617, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Discussion of population health-based approaches - Rep. Smith (WA) General population health and rural mental health access solutions Grass-tops summit on year-end mental health package Response to RFI re: No Surprises Act Response to RFI re: provider directory

Affordable Care Act(ACA); ACA Reform; ACA Coverage Improvement; Lower Health Care Costs; Transparency; Surprise Billing; Maternal Health;COVID-19 Response/Relief Packages; Telehealth; Health Equity COVID-19 Testing; Prescription drugs; Insulin; Coverage of Testing and Vaccines; H.R. 3 - Lower Drug Costs Now Act Sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) Insulin -the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act Affordable Care Act (ACA); Telehealth; COVID-19; Age adjustment; Extending ARPA Subsidies; Health Equity Issues; Mental Health Parity; Affordability; Telehealth; Coverage of COVID-19 Therapeutics; Infant Formula Shortage; Inflation Reduction Act; No Surprises Act; Senate Enhancing Mental Health Workforce draft package; Senate Ensuring Access to Telemental Health Services draft package; REL data; Covid transition/PHE; H.R. 7666 - Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 Sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) H.R. 7780 - Mental Health Matters Act To support the behavioral needs of students and youth, invest in the school-based behavioral health workforce, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits. Sponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11) H.R. 7740 - Employee and Retiree Access to Justice Act of 2022 To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide that any mandatory predispute or coerced postdispute arbitration clause, class action waiver, representation waiver, or discretionary clause with respect to a plan is unenforceable, to prohibit any such clause or waiver from being included in a plan document or other agreement with plan participants, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11) H.R. 7767 - Strengthening Behavioral Health Benefits Act To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for the enforcement of mental health and substance abuse disorder parity requirements, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) H.R. 959 - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) S. 346 - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 A bill to end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) S. 4804 - Parity Enforcement Act of 2022 A bill to provide for civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements. Sponsor: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) H.R. 7666 - Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to mental health and substance use disorders, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) HR 1878 State Health Care premium Reduction Action (Repr. Angie Craig- MN)

Affordable Care Act (ACA); Telehealth; COVID-19; Age adjustment; Extending ARPA Subsidies; Health Equity Issues; Mental Health Parity; Affordability; Telehealth; Coverage of COVID-19 Therapeutics; Infant Formula Shortage; Inflation Reduction Act; No Surprises Act; Senate Enhancing Mental Health Workforce draft package; Senate Ensuring Access to Telemental Health Services draft package; REL data; Covid transition/PHE; H.R. 7666 - Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 Sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) H.R. 7780 - Mental Health Matters Act To support the behavioral needs of students and youth, invest in the school-based behavioral health workforce, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits. Sponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11) H.R. 7740 - Employee and Retiree Access to Justice Act of 2022 To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide that any mandatory predispute or coerced postdispute arbitration clause, class action waiver, representation waiver, or discretionary clause with respect to a plan is unenforceable, to prohibit any such clause or waiver from being included in a plan document or other agreement with plan participants, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11) H.R. 7767 - Strengthening Behavioral Health Benefits Act To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for the enforcement of mental health and substance abuse disorder parity requirements, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) H.R. 959 - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) S. 346 - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 A bill to end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) S. 4804 - Parity Enforcement Act of 2022 A bill to provide for civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements. Sponsor: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) H.R. 7666 - Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to mental health and substance use disorders, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06)

Telehealth; COVID-19; Extending Affordable Care Act ARPA Subsidies; Social Determinants of Health; Mental Health Parity; Affordability; Inflation Reduction Act; Mental Health Reform H.R. 7666 - Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 Sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) H.R. 7767 - Strengthening Behavioral Health Benefits Act To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for the enforcement of mental health and substance abuse disorder parity requirements, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) H.R. 959 - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) S. 346 - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 A bill to end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) S. 4804 - Parity Enforcement Act of 2022 A bill to provide for civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements. Sponsor: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)

Client expense: $260,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 432 - Mental Health Access Improvement Act H.R. 1358 - Mental Health Parity Justice Act of 2021 H.R. 1475/ S. 1795 - Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act H.R. 2754 - COVID-19 Long Haulers Act H.R. 3173 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2021 H.R. 3467 - Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) Act H.R. 3541 / S. 1810 - Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act H.R. 3753/ S. 1962 - Parity Implementation Assistance Act H.R. 4058 / S. 2061 - Telemental Health Care Access Act H.R. 4122 / S. 3658 - Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act H.R. 4040 - Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act H.R. 4770 - Evaluating Disparities and Outcomes of Telehealth (EDOT) Act of 2021 H.R. 5218 - Collaborate in an Orderly and Cohesive Manner Act H.R. 6000 - Cures 2.0 Act H.R. 7116 - 988 Implementation Act of 2022 H.R. 7180 / S. 4014 - Brycen Gray and Bren Price COVID-19 Cognitive Research Act H.R. 7232 - 988 and Parity Assistance Act of 2022 H.R. 7254 - Mental Health Justice and Parity Act of 2022 H.R. 7482 / S. 4015 - TREAT Act H.R. 7649 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to open a public docket for the submission of public comments regarding factors that should be taken into consideration when reviewing a proposed modification to an approved risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, and for other purposes. H.R. 7666 - Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 H.R. 7667 - Food and Drug Amendments of 2022 H.R. 8180 - Undertaking Needed Investments in Therapy, Education, and De-Escalation (UNITED) Act of 2022 H.R. 8229 - Telemental Health Parity Act H.R. 8391 - CONNECT Act H.R. 8487 - Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2022 H.R. 8512 - Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act H.R. 8542 - Mental Health Justice Act of 2022 H.R. 8637/ S. 4003 - Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act of 2022 H.R. 8800 - Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022 H.R. 8878 - Intensive Outpatient Policy H.R. 8879 - Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Improvement Act H.R. 8881 - Mental Health Transparency Act H.R. 8884 - Medicare Opioid Use Disorder Outreach Act H.R. 8885 - Better Health Care Directories Act H.R. 8886 - Promoting Clarity in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act H.R. 8889 - RICE (Readable Insurance Coverage Enhancement) Act H.R. 8890 - Physician Wellness Program Act H.R. 8891 - No Surprises for Survivors Act H.R. 8892 - Access to Mental Health Services Act H.R. 8908 - Fighting Stimulant and other Substance Use Disorders Act H.R. 8910 - Behavioral Health Integration Awareness Act H.R. 9201 - Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act S. 2086 - RISE from Trauma Act S. 2938 - Bipartisan Safer Communities Act S. 3726 - CARE for Long COVID Act S. 4132 - Womens Health Protection Act S. 4170 - Mental Health Reform Reauthorization Act of 2022 S. 4306 - Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act S. 4348 - Food and Drug Administration Safety and Landmark Advancements (FDASLA) Act of 2022 S. 4448 - Suicide Prevention Act S. 4461 - Expanding Access to Mental Health Training Act S. 4472 - Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Behavioral Health Act S. 4804 - Parity Enforcement Act of 2022 S. 4839 - State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act S.5041 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the distribution of additional residency positions in psychiatry and subspecialties S.5042 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand eligibility for incentives under the Medicare health professional shortage area bonus program to practitioners furnishing mental health and substance use disorder services S.5043 - A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance to States on strategies under Medicaid and CHIP to increase mental health and substance use disorder care provider education, training, recruitment, and retention S.5061 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage and coding for qualified psychologist services furnished by advanced psychology trainees S.5062 - A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase access to mental health programs for physicians

H.R. 7666 - Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 Sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) H.R. 7780 - Mental Health Matters Act enforceable, to prohibit any such clause or waiver from being included in a plan document or other agreement with plan participants, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11) H.R. 7767 - Strengthening Behavioral Health Benefits Act To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for the enforcement of mental health and substance abuse disorder parity requirements, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) H.R. 959 - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) S. 346 - Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 A bill to end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) S. 4804 - Parity Enforcement Act of 2022 A bill to provide for civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements. Sponsor: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) H.R. 7666 - Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to mental health and substance use disorders, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06)

Client expense: $246,110 · Firm income: Not reported

Affordable Care Act (ACA); Telehealth; COVID-19; Age Adjustment; Extending ARPA Subsidies; Health Equity Issues; Mental Health Parity; Affordability; Coverage of COVID-19 Therapeutics; Infant Formula Shortage; Inflation Reduction Act; No Surprises Act; COVID-19 Transition; End of Public Health Emergency HR 959 (117th Congress), Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, by Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL). To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. HR 7666 (117th Congress), Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ). Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to mental health and substance use disorders. HR 7740 (117th Congress), Employee and Retiree Access to Justice Act of 2022, by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA). To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide that any mandatory pre-dispute or coerced post-dispute arbitration clause, class action waiver, representation waiver, or discretionary clause with respect to a plan is unenforceable, to prohibit any such clause or waiver from being included in a plan document or other agreement with plan participants, and for other purposes. HR 7767 (117th Congress), Strengthening Behavioral Health Benefits Act, by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT). To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide for the enforcement of mental health and substance abuse disorder parity requirements, and for other purposes. HR 7780 (117th Congress), Mental Health Matters Act, by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA). To support the behavioral needs of students and youth, invest in the school-based behavioral health workforce, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits. S 346 (117th Congress), Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). A bill to end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. S 4804 (117th Congress), Parity Enforcement Act of 2022, by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). A bill to provide for civil monetary penalties for violations of mental health parity requirements.

H.R.1475/S.1795, Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act H.R.2955/S.4448, Suicide Prevention Act H.R.3259/S.586, NOPAIN Act H.R.3467/S.4332, Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences Act H.R.4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act H.R.5611/S.1902 Behavioral Health Crisis Services Expansion Act H.R. 6302, The Protecting the Health of Americas Older Adults Act H.R.7116, 9-8-8 Implementation Act of 2022 H.R.7666, Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022 H.R. 7780 Mental Health Matters Act H.R.8800, Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022 S.2086, RISE from Trauma Act S.2425, Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act of 2021 S.4170, Mental Health Reform Reauthorization Act S.4301, Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act S.4306, Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act S.4472, Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act S.4616, Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2022 S.4804, Parity Enforcement Act of 2022 H.R.9037/S.5011, KIDS Health Act Forthcoming bereavement care legislation - Rep. Morelle Listening session on No Surprises Act implementation - Rep. Wenstrup Discussion of population health-based approaches - Rep. Smith (WA) General population health and rural mental health access solutions

Client expense: $520,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Advocated for Increased appropriations for HRSAs Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. This program provides student loan repayment for addiction treatment professionals who commit to working in underserved or high-risk communities. Advocated for increased appropriations for HRSAs Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to institutions with training opportunities for fellows in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry who have demonstrated interest in providing addiction treatment in underserved communities. Advocated for S 2235/HR 2067 - Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021: This legislation would ensure most Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled medication prescribers have a baseline knowledge of how to identify, treat, and manage patients with SUD and would allow accredited health professional schools and residency programs to fulfill the training requirement through their own curricula, as well as provide them with resources to do so. Advocated for simultaneous passage of S 445/HR 1384 - Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate the requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction and eliminate the patient limits on buprenorphine prescribers. Advocated for S 285/HR 955 - the Medicaid Reentry Act: This legislation would allow for reestablishment of health insurance coverage under Medicaid for eligible individuals who are incarcerated, during the 30-day period preceding their release from jail or prison. Advocated for HR 1364/S.4804 - the Parity Enforcement Act: This legislation would expand the U.S. Department of Labors authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 or for employing utilization review processes that prove more restrictive for mental health and addiction care than for other medical care in violation of the MHPAEA. Advocated for S 340/HR 1674 - TREATS Act: This legislation would make permanent a new, audio-video, telehealth evaluation exception to the Ryan Haight Acts in-person exam requirement, which would allow clinicians to prescribe certain addiction treatment medications, like buprenorphine, to new patients through telehealth. Advocated for legislation that would prohibit states receiving Federal funding for medication-assisted treatment under Medicaid from imposing utilization control policies or procedures (as defined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services), including prior authorization requirements, with respect to such treatment. ASAM wrote a letter to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee regarding the Committees markup of worker and family support and health legislation aimed to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care under Medicare. ASAM requested several, specific clarifications to be made to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of SUD or with no co-occurring mental health condition can access critical SUD services under Medicare. ASAM wrote a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) covering revisions to opioid treatment program (OTP) services, a proposal to establish physician payment for the management of chronic pain, and a request for information on intensive outpatient (IOP) services, among other items. ASAM joined a coalition of public health, medical, and professional organizations in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supporting its intention to issue a proposed rule to reduce the nicotine level in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels. ASAM joined a letter addressed to Senator Schumer, requesting support of civil monetary penalty authority for the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to enforce the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). ASAM joined a letter to Congressional leadership regarding additional investments in the health care workforce, in particular Medicare-supported GME. ASAM joined a letter to Senate HELP leadership requesting support for funding to enhance the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), which integrates behavioral health with primary care. Specifically, the letter recommended inclusion of bipartisan language found in Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301 of H.R. 7666 that provides grants to primary care to implement the CoCM. ASAM joined a letter to HHS, supporting the elevating of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response into a separate division, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and urging proactive steps to integrate mental health and substance use throughout the operations of ASPR. ASAM joined a letter to CMS, providing input on the Conditions of Participation for Rural Emergency Hospitals and recommending that CMS increase access to evidence-based treatment by clarifying in the Conditions of Participation that emergency departments operated by Rural Emergency Hospitals must meet the existing standard of care when treating patients with an opioid use disorder. ASAM joined a letter to bill sponsors supporting S. 4472, the Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act, which would make investments in mental health and substance use disorder care for kids and teens while providing support to the pediatric health professionals who serve. Advocated for HR 6279/S 3629 - Opioid Treatment Access Act which would make permanent certain COVID-19 flexibilities allowed to states for unsupervised doses, as well as "time in treatment" regulatory changes and to permit pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder treatment for certain experienced cohorts of prescribers. Advocated for release of implementation rules regarding the CARES Acts amendment of 42 CFR Part 2 to advance further alignment of 42 CFR Part 2 (Part 2) with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations (TPO). Advocated for federal clarification of suspicious order rules to break down perceived and real barriers to buprenorphine access at pharmacies Advocated for passage of HR 3441/ S 1438 the Opioid Workforce Act/Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to increase Medicare supported GME slots for addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain medicine. Advocated for draft legislative text that would close severe MH/SUD coverage gaps in Medicare. Advocated for federal agency guidance on CAPTA reporting vs. notification requirements.

Advocated for Increased appropriations for HRSAs Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. This program provides student loan repayment for addiction treatment professionals who commit to working in underserved or high-risk communities. Advocated for increased appropriations for HRSAs Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to institutions with training opportunities for fellows in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry who have demonstrated interest in providing addiction treatment in underserved communities. Advocated for S 2235/HR 2067 - Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021: This legislation would ensure most Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled medication prescribers have a baseline knowledge of how to identify, treat, and manage patients with SUD and would allow accredited health professional schools and residency programs to fulfill the training requirement through their own curricula, as well as provide them with resources to do so. Advocated for simultaneous passage of S 445/HR 1384 - Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate the requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction and eliminate the patient limits on buprenorphine prescribers. Advocated for S 285/HR 955 - the Medicaid Reentry Act: This legislation would allow for reestablishment of health insurance coverage under Medicaid for eligible individuals who are incarcerated, during the 30-day period preceding their release from jail or prison. Advocated for HR 1364/S.4804 - the Parity Enforcement Act: This legislation would expand the U.S. Department of Labors authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 or for employing utilization review processes that prove more restrictive for mental health and addiction care than for other medical care in violation of the MHPAEA. Advocated for S 340/HR 1674 - TREATS Act: This legislation would make permanent a new, audio-video, telehealth evaluation exception to the Ryan Haight Acts in-person exam requirement, which would allow clinicians to prescribe certain addiction treatment medications, like buprenorphine, to new patients through telehealth. Advocated for legislation that would prohibit states receiving Federal funding for medication-assisted treatment under Medicaid from imposing utilization control policies or procedures (as defined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services), including prior authorization requirements, with respect to such treatment. ASAM wrote a letter to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee regarding the Committees markup of worker and family support and health legislation aimed to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care under Medicare. ASAM requested several, specific clarifications to be made to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of SUD or with no co-occurring mental health condition can access critical SUD services under Medicare. ASAM wrote a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) covering revisions to opioid treatment program (OTP) services, a proposal to establish physician payment for the management of chronic pain, and a request for information on intensive outpatient (IOP) services, among other items. ASAM joined a coalition of public health, medical, and professional organizations in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supporting its intention to issue a proposed rule to reduce the nicotine level in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels. ASAM joined a letter addressed to Senator Schumer, requesting support of civil monetary penalty authority for the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to enforce the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). ASAM joined a letter to Congressional leadership regarding additional investments in the health care workforce, in particular Medicare-supported GME. ASAM joined a letter to Senate HELP leadership requesting support for funding to enhance the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), which integrates behavioral health with primary care. Specifically, the letter recommended inclusion of bipartisan language found in Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301 of H.R. 7666 that provides grants to primary care to implement the CoCM. ASAM joined a letter to HHS, supporting the elevating of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response into a separate division, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and urging proactive steps to integrate mental health and substance use throughout the operations of ASPR. ASAM joined a letter to CMS, providing input on the Conditions of Participation for Rural Emergency Hospitals and recommending that CMS increase access to evidence-based treatment by clarifying in the Conditions of Participation that emergency departments operated by Rural Emergency Hospitals must meet the existing standard of care when treating patients with an opioid use disorder. ASAM joined a letter to bill sponsors supporting S. 4472, the Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act, which would make investments in mental health and substance use disorder care for kids and teens while providing support to the pediatric health professionals who serve. Advocated for HR 6279/S 3629 - Opioid Treatment Access Act which would make permanent certain COVID-19 flexibilities allowed to states for unsupervised doses, as well as "time in treatment" regulatory changes and to permit pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder treatment for certain experienced cohorts of prescribers. Advocated for release of implementation rules regarding the CARES Acts amendment of 42 CFR Part 2 to advance further alignment of 42 CFR Part 2 (Part 2) with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations (TPO). Advocated for federal clarification of suspicious order rules to break down perceived and real barriers to buprenorphine access at pharmacies Advocated for passage of HR 3441/ S 1438 the Opioid Workforce Act/Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to increase Medicare supported GME slots for addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain medicine. Advocated for draft legislative text that would close severe MH/SUD coverage gaps in Medicare. Advocated for federal agency guidance on CAPTA reporting vs. notification requirements.

Advocated for Increased appropriations for HRSAs Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. This program provides student loan repayment for addiction treatment professionals who commit to working in underserved or high-risk communities. Advocated for increased appropriations for HRSAs Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to institutions with training opportunities for fellows in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry who have demonstrated interest in providing addiction treatment in underserved communities. Advocated for S 2235/HR 2067 - Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021: This legislation would ensure most Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled medication prescribers have a baseline knowledge of how to identify, treat, and manage patients with SUD and would allow accredited health professional schools and residency programs to fulfill the training requirement through their own curricula, as well as provide them with resources to do so. Advocated for simultaneous passage of S 445/HR 1384 - Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate the requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction and eliminate the patient limits on buprenorphine prescribers. Advocated for S 285/HR 955 - the Medicaid Reentry Act: This legislation would allow for reestablishment of health insurance coverage under Medicaid for eligible individuals who are incarcerated, during the 30-day period preceding their release from jail or prison. Advocated for HR 1364/S.4804 - the Parity Enforcement Act: This legislation would expand the U.S. Department of Labors authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 or for employing utilization review processes that prove more restrictive for mental health and addiction care than for other medical care in violation of the MHPAEA. Advocated for S 340/HR 1674 - TREATS Act: This legislation would make permanent a new, audio-video, telehealth evaluation exception to the Ryan Haight Acts in-person exam requirement, which would allow clinicians to prescribe certain addiction treatment medications, like buprenorphine, to new patients through telehealth. Advocated for legislation that would prohibit states receiving Federal funding for medication-assisted treatment under Medicaid from imposing utilization control policies or procedures (as defined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services), including prior authorization requirements, with respect to such treatment. ASAM wrote a letter to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee regarding the Committees markup of worker and family support and health legislation aimed to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care under Medicare. ASAM requested several, specific clarifications to be made to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of SUD or with no co-occurring mental health condition can access critical SUD services under Medicare. ASAM wrote a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) covering revisions to opioid treatment program (OTP) services, a proposal to establish physician payment for the management of chronic pain, and a request for information on intensive outpatient (IOP) services, among other items. ASAM joined a coalition of public health, medical, and professional organizations in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supporting its intention to issue a proposed rule to reduce the nicotine level in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels. ASAM joined a letter addressed to Senator Schumer, requesting support of civil monetary penalty authority for the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to enforce the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). ASAM joined a letter to Congressional leadership regarding additional investments in the health care workforce, in particular Medicare-supported GME. ASAM joined a letter to Senate HELP leadership requesting support for funding to enhance the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), which integrates behavioral health with primary care. Specifically, the letter recommended inclusion of bipartisan language found in Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301 of H.R. 7666 that provides grants to primary care to implement the CoCM. ASAM joined a letter to HHS, supporting the elevating of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response into a separate division, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and urging proactive steps to integrate mental health and substance use throughout the operations of ASPR. ASAM joined a letter to CMS, providing input on the Conditions of Participation for Rural Emergency Hospitals and recommending that CMS increase access to evidence-based treatment by clarifying in the Conditions of Participation that emergency departments operated by Rural Emergency Hospitals must meet the existing standard of care when treating patients with an opioid use disorder. ASAM joined a letter to bill sponsors supporting S. 4472, the Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act, which would make investments in mental health and substance use disorder care for kids and teens while providing support to the pediatric health professionals who serve. Advocated for HR 6279/S 3629 - Opioid Treatment Access Act which would make permanent certain COVID-19 flexibilities allowed to states for unsupervised doses, as well as "time in treatment" regulatory changes and to permit pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder treatment for certain experienced cohorts of prescribers. Advocated for release of implementation rules regarding the CARES Acts amendment of 42 CFR Part 2 to advance further alignment of 42 CFR Part 2 (Part 2) with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations (TPO). Advocated for federal clarification of suspicious order rules to break down perceived and real barriers to buprenorphine access at pharmacies Advocated for passage of HR 3441/ S 1438 the Opioid Workforce Act/Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to increase Medicare supported GME slots for addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain medicine. Advocated for draft legislative text that would close severe MH/SUD coverage gaps in Medicare. Advocated for federal agency guidance on CAPTA reporting vs. notification requirements.

Advocated for Increased appropriations for HRSAs Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. This program provides student loan repayment for addiction treatment professionals who commit to working in underserved or high-risk communities. Advocated for increased appropriations for HRSAs Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to institutions with training opportunities for fellows in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry who have demonstrated interest in providing addiction treatment in underserved communities. Advocated for S 2235/HR 2067 - Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021: This legislation would ensure most Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled medication prescribers have a baseline knowledge of how to identify, treat, and manage patients with SUD and would allow accredited health professional schools and residency programs to fulfill the training requirement through their own curricula, as well as provide them with resources to do so. Advocated for simultaneous passage of S 445/HR 1384 - Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate the requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction and eliminate the patient limits on buprenorphine prescribers. Advocated for S 285/HR 955 - the Medicaid Reentry Act: This legislation would allow for reestablishment of health insurance coverage under Medicaid for eligible individuals who are incarcerated, during the 30-day period preceding their release from jail or prison. Advocated for HR 1364/S.4804 - the Parity Enforcement Act: This legislation would expand the U.S. Department of Labors authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 or for employing utilization review processes that prove more restrictive for mental health and addiction care than for other medical care in violation of the MHPAEA. Advocated for S 340/HR 1674 - TREATS Act: This legislation would make permanent a new, audio-video, telehealth evaluation exception to the Ryan Haight Acts in-person exam requirement, which would allow clinicians to prescribe certain addiction treatment medications, like buprenorphine, to new patients through telehealth. Advocated for legislation that would prohibit states receiving Federal funding for medication-assisted treatment under Medicaid from imposing utilization control policies or procedures (as defined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services), including prior authorization requirements, with respect to such treatment. ASAM wrote a letter to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee regarding the Committees markup of worker and family support and health legislation aimed to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care under Medicare. ASAM requested several, specific clarifications to be made to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of SUD or with no co-occurring mental health condition can access critical SUD services under Medicare. ASAM wrote a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) covering revisions to opioid treatment program (OTP) services, a proposal to establish physician payment for the management of chronic pain, and a request for information on intensive outpatient (IOP) services, among other items. ASAM joined a coalition of public health, medical, and professional organizations in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supporting its intention to issue a proposed rule to reduce the nicotine level in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels. ASAM joined a letter addressed to Senator Schumer, requesting support of civil monetary penalty authority for the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to enforce the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). ASAM joined a letter to Congressional leadership regarding additional investments in the health care workforce, in particular Medicare-supported GME. ASAM joined a letter to Senate HELP leadership requesting support for funding to enhance the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), which integrates behavioral health with primary care. Specifically, the letter recommended inclusion of bipartisan language found in Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301 of H.R. 7666 that provides grants to primary care to implement the CoCM. ASAM joined a letter to HHS, supporting the elevating of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response into a separate division, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and urging proactive steps to integrate mental health and substance use throughout the operations of ASPR. ASAM joined a letter to CMS, providing input on the Conditions of Participation for Rural Emergency Hospitals and recommending that CMS increase access to evidence-based treatment by clarifying in the Conditions of Participation that emergency departments operated by Rural Emergency Hospitals must meet the existing standard of care when treating patients with an opioid use disorder. ASAM joined a letter to bill sponsors supporting S. 4472, the Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act, which would make investments in mental health and substance use disorder care for kids and teens while providing support to the pediatric health professionals who serve. Advocated for HR 6279/S 3629 - Opioid Treatment Access Act which would make permanent certain COVID-19 flexibilities allowed to states for unsupervised doses, as well as "time in treatment" regulatory changes and to permit pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder treatment for certain experienced cohorts of prescribers. Advocated for release of implementation rules regarding the CARES Acts amendment of 42 CFR Part 2 to advance further alignment of 42 CFR Part 2 (Part 2) with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations (TPO). Advocated for federal clarification of suspicious order rules to break down perceived and real barriers to buprenorphine access at pharmacies Advocated for passage of HR 3441/ S 1438 the Opioid Workforce Act/Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to increase Medicare supported GME slots for addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain medicine. Advocated for draft legislative text that would close severe MH/SUD coverage gaps in Medicare. Advocated for federal agency guidance on CAPTA reporting vs. notification requirements.

Advocated for Increased appropriations for HRSAs Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. This program provides student loan repayment for addiction treatment professionals who commit to working in underserved or high-risk communities. Advocated for increased appropriations for HRSAs Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to institutions with training opportunities for fellows in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry who have demonstrated interest in providing addiction treatment in underserved communities. Advocated for S 2235/HR 2067 - Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021: This legislation would ensure most Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled medication prescribers have a baseline knowledge of how to identify, treat, and manage patients with SUD and would allow accredited health professional schools and residency programs to fulfill the training requirement through their own curricula, as well as provide them with resources to do so. Advocated for simultaneous passage of S 445/HR 1384 - Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate the requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction and eliminate the patient limits on buprenorphine prescribers. Advocated for S 285/HR 955 - the Medicaid Reentry Act: This legislation would allow for reestablishment of health insurance coverage under Medicaid for eligible individuals who are incarcerated, during the 30-day period preceding their release from jail or prison. Advocated for HR 1364/S.4804 - the Parity Enforcement Act: This legislation would expand the U.S. Department of Labors authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 or for employing utilization review processes that prove more restrictive for mental health and addiction care than for other medical care in violation of the MHPAEA. Advocated for S 340/HR 1674 - TREATS Act: This legislation would make permanent a new, audio-video, telehealth evaluation exception to the Ryan Haight Acts in-person exam requirement, which would allow clinicians to prescribe certain addiction treatment medications, like buprenorphine, to new patients through telehealth. Advocated for legislation that would prohibit states receiving Federal funding for medication-assisted treatment under Medicaid from imposing utilization control policies or procedures (as defined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services), including prior authorization requirements, with respect to such treatment. ASAM wrote a letter to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee regarding the Committees markup of worker and family support and health legislation aimed to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care under Medicare. ASAM requested several, specific clarifications to be made to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of SUD or with no co-occurring mental health condition can access critical SUD services under Medicare. ASAM wrote a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) covering revisions to opioid treatment program (OTP) services, a proposal to establish physician payment for the management of chronic pain, and a request for information on intensive outpatient (IOP) services, among other items. ASAM joined a coalition of public health, medical, and professional organizations in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supporting its intention to issue a proposed rule to reduce the nicotine level in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels. ASAM joined a letter addressed to Senator Schumer, requesting support of civil monetary penalty authority for the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to enforce the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). ASAM joined a letter to Congressional leadership regarding additional investments in the health care workforce, in particular Medicare-supported GME. ASAM joined a letter to Senate HELP leadership requesting support for funding to enhance the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), which integrates behavioral health with primary care. Specifically, the letter recommended inclusion of bipartisan language found in Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301 of H.R. 7666 that provides grants to primary care to implement the CoCM. ASAM joined a letter to HHS, supporting the elevating of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response into a separate division, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and urging proactive steps to integrate mental health and substance use throughout the operations of ASPR. ASAM joined a letter to CMS, providing input on the Conditions of Participation for Rural Emergency Hospitals and recommending that CMS increase access to evidence-based treatment by clarifying in the Conditions of Participation that emergency departments operated by Rural Emergency Hospitals must meet the existing standard of care when treating patients with an opioid use disorder. ASAM joined a letter to bill sponsors supporting S. 4472, the Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act, which would make investments in mental health and substance use disorder care for kids and teens while providing support to the pediatric health professionals who serve. Advocated for HR 6279/S 3629 - Opioid Treatment Access Act which would make permanent certain COVID-19 flexibilities allowed to states for unsupervised doses, as well as "time in treatment" regulatory changes and to permit pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder treatment for certain experienced cohorts of prescribers. Advocated for release of implementation rules regarding the CARES Acts amendment of 42 CFR Part 2 to advance further alignment of 42 CFR Part 2 (Part 2) with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations (TPO). Advocated for federal clarification of suspicious order rules to break down perceived and real barriers to buprenorphine access at pharmacies Advocated for passage of HR 3441/ S 1438 the Opioid Workforce Act/Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to increase Medicare supported GME slots for addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain medicine. Advocated for draft legislative text that would close severe MH/SUD coverage gaps in Medicare. Advocated for federal agency guidance on CAPTA reporting vs. notification requirements.

Advocated for Increased appropriations for HRSAs Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program. This program provides student loan repayment for addiction treatment professionals who commit to working in underserved or high-risk communities. Advocated for increased appropriations for HRSAs Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. This program provides grants to institutions with training opportunities for fellows in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry who have demonstrated interest in providing addiction treatment in underserved communities. Advocated for S 2235/HR 2067 - Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act of 2021: This legislation would ensure most Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) controlled medication prescribers have a baseline knowledge of how to identify, treat, and manage patients with SUD and would allow accredited health professional schools and residency programs to fulfill the training requirement through their own curricula, as well as provide them with resources to do so. Advocated for simultaneous passage of S 445/HR 1384 - Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which would eliminate the requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver through the DEA to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction and eliminate the patient limits on buprenorphine prescribers. Advocated for S 285/HR 955 - the Medicaid Reentry Act: This legislation would allow for reestablishment of health insurance coverage under Medicaid for eligible individuals who are incarcerated, during the 30-day period preceding their release from jail or prison. Advocated for HR 1364/S.4804 - the Parity Enforcement Act: This legislation would expand the U.S. Department of Labors authority to hold health insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that violate the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 or for employing utilization review processes that prove more restrictive for mental health and addiction care than for other medical care in violation of the MHPAEA. Advocated for S 340/HR 1674 - TREATS Act: This legislation would make permanent a new, audio-video, telehealth evaluation exception to the Ryan Haight Acts in-person exam requirement, which would allow clinicians to prescribe certain addiction treatment medications, like buprenorphine, to new patients through telehealth. Advocated for legislation that would prohibit states receiving Federal funding for medication-assisted treatment under Medicaid from imposing utilization control policies or procedures (as defined by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services), including prior authorization requirements, with respect to such treatment. ASAM wrote a letter to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee regarding the Committees markup of worker and family support and health legislation aimed to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care under Medicare. ASAM requested several, specific clarifications to be made to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of SUD or with no co-occurring mental health condition can access critical SUD services under Medicare. ASAM wrote a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) covering revisions to opioid treatment program (OTP) services, a proposal to establish physician payment for the management of chronic pain, and a request for information on intensive outpatient (IOP) services, among other items. ASAM joined a coalition of public health, medical, and professional organizations in a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), supporting its intention to issue a proposed rule to reduce the nicotine level in cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels. ASAM joined a letter addressed to Senator Schumer, requesting support of civil monetary penalty authority for the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to enforce the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). ASAM joined a letter to Congressional leadership regarding additional investments in the health care workforce, in particular Medicare-supported GME. ASAM joined a letter to Senate HELP leadership requesting support for funding to enhance the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), which integrates behavioral health with primary care. Specifically, the letter recommended inclusion of bipartisan language found in Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301 of H.R. 7666 that provides grants to primary care to implement the CoCM. ASAM joined a letter to HHS, supporting the elevating of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response into a separate division, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and urging proactive steps to integrate mental health and substance use throughout the operations of ASPR. ASAM joined a letter to CMS, providing input on the Conditions of Participation for Rural Emergency Hospitals and recommending that CMS increase access to evidence-based treatment by clarifying in the Conditions of Participation that emergency departments operated by Rural Emergency Hospitals must meet the existing standard of care when treating patients with an opioid use disorder. ASAM joined a letter to bill sponsors supporting S. 4472, the Health Care Capacity for Pediatric Mental Health Act, which would make investments in mental health and substance use disorder care for kids and teens while providing support to the pediatric health professionals who serve. Advocated for HR 6279/S 3629 - Opioid Treatment Access Act which would make permanent certain COVID-19 flexibilities allowed to states for unsupervised doses, as well as "time in treatment" regulatory changes and to permit pharmacy dispensing of methadone for opioid use disorder treatment for certain experienced cohorts of prescribers. Advocated for release of implementation rules regarding the CARES Acts amendment of 42 CFR Part 2 to advance further alignment of 42 CFR Part 2 (Part 2) with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations (TPO). Advocated for federal clarification of suspicious order rules to break down perceived and real barriers to buprenorphine access at pharmacies Advocated for passage of HR 3441/ S 1438 the Opioid Workforce Act/Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to increase Medicare supported GME slots for addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, and pain medicine. Advocated for draft legislative text that would close severe MH/SUD coverage gaps in Medicare. Advocated for federal agency guidance on CAPTA reporting vs. notification requirements.