Advocacy Alert: April 2022 Advocacy Update for BHAP Members

April 15, 2022

Greetings, BHAP Members!

On behalf of Slingshot Solutions, thank you for your membership in BHAP and your commitment to advocacy that will shape the future of behavioral health. As your advocate in Washington, D.C., it is my responsibility to keep you informed when it comes to policy developments, and to represent your interests before the federal government. We do this by working with Congress, the White House and executive agencies, and other interest groups and coalitions.

Andrew Kessler
Principal
Slingshot Solutions LLC

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In his State of the Union Address in March, President Biden painted some broad strokes on his commitment to SUD treatment and recovery services. Later in the month, the White House released its proposed federal budget for FY 2023, where we received more details about the administrations’ priorities. The President’s proposed budget carries no force of law, but rather a reflection of policies the White House would like to see prioritized. Congress will create their own priorities during the appropriations process, and eventually the two sides will produce a budget that is agreed upon.

As he did last year, the President proposed a sizeable increase for SAMHSA’s SAPT block grant, to be funded at $3 billion (up from $1.8 billion). Along with this increase, again there is a request to set aside 10% of these funds to be dedicated solely to the funding of recovery support services. While the President made this proposal last year only to see them rebuffed by congress, it is critical that the request was repeated. This assures us of the policy position of the White House, and their commitment to funding recovery.

Other programs of interest to BHAP also fared well in the budget, as the STAR loan repayment program also received a recommended increase, from $24 million to $28 million. An estimated 21 million Americans needed treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) in 2017, but only 4 million received any form of treatment for SUD. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data has cited tremendous shortfalls in the SUD treatment profession. Without strategic investments in the SUD workforce, this gap will not close and more lives will be lost.

Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways from the budget is not a monetary request for a specific program, but one that is administrative in nature. Every federal agency that contained the word “Abuse” in its name has had it removed in the budget. Budgets were revealed for the National Institute on Drugs & Addiction, The National Institute on Alcohol Effects and Alcohol-Associated Disorders, and the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration. This reflects a culture shift, as the federal government continues to learn more about the condition we advocate for and utilizes language with less stigma attached. According to the White House, “It is a high priority for this Administration to move past outdated and stigmatizing language that is harmful to the individuals and families that suffer from addiction.”

BHAP will now turn its attention to Congress as we advocate for these increases during the appropriations process, which has already begun. At the same time, the House of Representatives is considering the re-authorization of the SAPT block grant, which is another opportunity to establish a set-aside of funds for recovery support services.

BHAP is encouraged by the President’s recognition of Americans in recovery and looks forward to supporting this ambitious agenda.

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Questions? Concerns?

As always, we want your input. Please contact us with any questions or concerns you have about our advocacy efforts.