Advocacy Alert: July 2022 Legislative News Round Up

August 4, 2022

For those of you who follow us on social media know, we post news stories on a daily basis that are connected to the behavioral health and addiction treatment industry.

Many of these are news stories regarding legislation, so once a month we send out a 'news roundup' of related news stories we've posted. Unless otherwise stated, BHAP has no official stance on any of these stories: the intention is to share so that we're all better informed as to what's happening in the legislative world.

A reminder that BHAP members get access to a monthly call with our advocate in Washington, DC, to find out what is going on and ask any questions you may have. Feel free to contact us for more information on that.

NM | New Mexico Officials Look to Build Behavioral Health Facility
Shared 7/1/2022
Governing officials and some community members in Eastern New Mexico met to look at the findings of a study that could lead to a behavioral health facility in the area.

WA | HCA to Distribute $100 Million to Washington Behavioral Health Treatment Providers
Shared 7/1/2022
Washington State behavioral health treatment providers have an opportunity to acquire funding to supplement their workforce needs.

Douglas Ross Calls for Law Change to Give People a Right to Recovery
Shared 7/5/2022
Douglas Ross insisted the legislation could be a 'game-changer' in tackling Scotland's drugs deaths.

NH | New Hampshire DHHS Launches Program to Support People After Psychiatric Hospitalization
Shared 7/8/2022
This program is key to the Department advancing in its efforts to implement the State’s Ten-Year Mental Health Plan.

SD | 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Coming to South Dakota
Shared 7/8/2022
In South Dakota, for people ages 10–34 suicide is a leading cause of death, and in 2020, the state had 84 drug-related deaths.

SC | Mental Health Resources will be Printed on South Carolina School ID Cards this Fall
Shared 7/11/2022
The law requires all school issued ID cards for middle school students or older in South Carolina to have the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number printed on it.

PR | Disco Donnie & The RAVE Act, 20 Years Later: Dance Promoters Targeted by Joe Biden & The DEA Tell Their Story Like Never Before
Shared 7/13/2022
A key figure of the ecstasy-fueled early 2000s rave scene, Disco Donnie and his cohorts recount the RAVE Act's rise -- and how the legislation still affects electronic event promoters.

CO | Colorado Mental Health Providers Say They Were "Blindsided" Again by Medicaid Policies
Shared 7/14/2022
New rules about the supervision of counselors working toward their licenses could worsen the workforce shortage, private practice therapists say.

Relaxed Methadone Rules Appear Safe, Researchers Find
Shared 7/15/2022
The U.S. relaxed rules around the addiction treatment drug methadone during the pandemic, and researchers now say those changes didn't lead to more overdose deaths.

OR | State Education Department Launches Online Mental Health Care Training
Shared 7/15/2022
The Oregon Department of Education this week launched self-guided online courses for adults to help them address mental health issues among students.

AK | Dunleavy Enacts Law Changing how Alaska Police Handle Mentally Ill
Shared 7/20/2022
A bill that authorizes the creation of facilities where people deemed to be in a behavioral health crisis can be involuntarily committed and administered psychotropic medication without their consent was signed into Alaska law.

IA | Miller Proposes Legalizing Fentanyl Test Strips
Shared 7/26/2022
Attorney General of Iowa Tom Miller proposed legalizing fentanyl test strips and finding another way to increase access to naloxone.

Right to Recovery Bill Will Get 'Fair Hearing', Drugs Policy Minister Vows
Shared 7/30/2022
Scotland's drug policy minister has said she will give a "fair and sympathetic hearing" to Conservative plans for a Right to Recovery Bill for drug addicts.

Senators Seek Help for Seniors Struggling with Opioid Use
Shared 7/31/2022
Senators from Maine and Maryland have proposed legislation they say would support older residents who are addicted to opioids.

Questions? Concerns?

As always, we want your input.

A reminder that BHAP members get regular access to our advocate in Washington, DC. If you have any questions about BHAP's advocacy efforts, please contact us.