Advocacy Alert: August 2022 Advocacy Update for BHAP Members

August 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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As the appropriations process continues, we continue to receive promising news about the funding of recovery support services across the country.

Last month, we informed you as to the intentions of the House of Representatives. Late last month, the Senate released their recommendations. While the news was good, the process is far from over, as the two chambers will need to have contentious meetings before the end of the year that will determine final spending amounts. Funding for SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery support services, as with all other federal funding, is impacted by decisions at high levels, such as how much is available to spend overall by the federal government.

On the larger programs that provide funds for treatment and recovery, the Senate recommendations closely mirrored those of the House. $2.4 billion was recommended for the SAMHSA SAPT block grant, a $500 million increase over the previous fiscal year. For the State Opioid Response grants, the figure from the Senate is $2 billion, slightly more than the $1.775 billion figure from the House. Of great importance is the language that accompanies the block grant appropriation: As the House did, the Senate proposes that 10% of all block grant funds be “set aside” for the funding of recovery support services in the states. During last year’s appropriations process, both chambers produced the very same language in their respective bills. Yet the final appropriations bill, after a conference between the two chambers, did not include this language.

The continued strengthening of the SUD workforce continues to be a BHAP priority. The STAR loan repayment program at HRSA, which is open to professionals at every level, is only three years old but continues to grow rapidly. While the House only saw fit to give the program (funded at $23 million this current fiscal year) only a $5 million increase, the Senate heeded our request and recommended $50 million. Where the final number falls after conference remains to be seen, but we applaud the Senate for its ambitious plans.

In another matter of note, the Senate appropriations bill removed all references to the term “Substance Abuse” in the title of federal agencies and programs, in favor of “Substance Use”. This includes references to both SAMHSA and the SAPT block grant (referred to as SUMHSA and SUPT, respectively). While these name changes are not official, this is indicative that Congress is open to our recommendations that how we choose to phrase and define the condition that impacts those in need of recovery support services is a matter of great import, as we seek to lessen stigma and discrimination.

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Questions? Concerns?

As always, we want your input. hat topics would you like to see us cover in future Advocacy Alerts? Please contact us with any questions or concerns you have about our advocacy efforts.