SUD Crisis

The Department of Justice (DOJ) should establish federal requirements for the trauma-informed care and treatment of pregnant prisoners or prisoners who are primary caretakers with mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUD). Congress should provide whatever additional authority the Department needs to establish such requirements.[1][2]

The Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA), within the Department of Health and Human Services, should educate mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) professionals about Public Service Loan Forgiveness for work in the criminal legal system.[1] Congress should expand National Health Service Corps (NHSC) eligibility to local and county corrections and a wide range of SUD treatment and recovery support professionals and make permanent the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 NHSC expansion of eligible participating sites to include SUD treatment facilities.[1]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should encourage the use of case rates for substance use disorder (SUD) care that set a predetermined rate for each level of care once prior authorization has been approved, eliminating the need for further utilization review in levels of care including detoxification, rehabilitation, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient services.[1]

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) should create distinct categories for addiction Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) that are different from mental health HPSAs.[1]

Congress should pass the bipartisan Medicaid Reentry Act to connect Medicaid-eligible individuals with access to mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) treatment and resources 30 days prior to release from jail or prison.[1][2][3][5][8][9] In addition, Medicaid services should be maintained for incarcerated individuals who are not adjudicated or convicted of a crime by passing the Due Process Continuity of Care Act.[2][6][7][10][11]

Congress should enact the critical insurance protections to ensure access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) as a new section within the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 300gg et seq).