NJAMHAA Addictions Practice Group Meeting Agenda
March 12, 2015, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Welcome, Introductions
Co-Chairs Linda Leyhane, CDA, and Alan Oberman, LCSW, LCADC
Approval of the Minutes from theFebruary 12, 2015
- Board Elections
- Discussion about the NJAMHAA IMD Roundtable
- Discussion of the Interim Managing Entity
▪Meetings of the Professional Advisory Committee
▪Meetings with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care
- Peer Credentialing: Discussion with Rich Bowe, LPC, LCADC, Executive Director, The Certification Board
Updates
State Budget: FY 2015 and FY 2016
- Legalization of Marijuana
Standing Agenda Topics
Co-Occurring Disorders (Mental Illness/Substance Use Disorders)
Developmental Disabilities/Mental Illness
Clinical Documentation
Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
Workforce Development
Consolidation and Strategic Alliances in the Behavioral Health Industry
- Old and New Business
Update on the 21 Opiate/Heroin Bills and Action by Governor Christie
Update on A-3227 (Adds substance use disorder to the criteria for involuntary commitment)
Feedback for the Division of Community Affairs on State Law 1334 on Reciprocity
- Attend Open Board Meetings
Annual Membership Meeting, April 15, 2015 at 9:15 a.m., Day One of the Annual Conference, Inspiring Progress, Seizing Opportunities,Woodbridge Renaissance
June 17, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at NJAMHAA
NextPractice Group Meeting Date: May 14, 2015 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
COMMITTEE NAME: Addictions Practice Group
Date:February 12, 2015 / Time:
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. / Presiding:
Alan Oberman / Recorded By:
Shauna Moses
Present: Milissa Aronson, Iris Aybar, Nadine Bennett, Mary Catherine Bohan (via conference call), Kim Borges (via conference call), Ileen Bradley, Bob Budsock (via conference call), Marjorie Burgasser (via conference call), Carolann Cavaiola, Jean Hennon (via conference call), Kelly Lauletta (via conference call), Kendria McWilliams, Linda Mur (via conference call), Christopher Mussell, Alan Oberman, Linda Reynolds, Debbie Ruisard, Barbara Schlichting (via conference call), Sue Seidenfeld (via conference call), Rob Snyder (via conference call), Linda Voorhis, Mary Gay Abbott-Young (via conference call)
Staff and Consultant:Mary Abrams, Shauna Moses, Mary Lou Powner, Debra Wentz
AGENDA ITEMS / DISCUSSION / ACTIONS AND OUTCOMES / TIME-FRAME / WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
Approval of the minutes from the December 11, 2014 meeting / N/A / The minutes were m/s/p. / N/A / N/A
Interim Managing Entity (IME) / Concerns were shared and Debra Wentz noted that these issues continue to be discussed with the Department of Human Services (DHS) leadership staff. In addition, Chris Kosseff, President and CEO of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, which will operate the IME, had requested to meet with a small group of the Addictions Practice Group members to provide feedback on the IME design and operation. Meetings will also be held with the Professional Advisory Committee, which NJAMHAA staff will also attend. / Kendria McWilliams, Ileen Bradley, Linda Voorhis (with Barbara Schlichting and Alan Oberman as alternates if needed), Milissa Aronson, Jacques Hryshko, Linda Leyhane, Mary Gay Abbott-Young, Bob Budsock and Earl Lipphardt will meet with Chris Kosseff. / March 4, 2015 / Members listed along with Debra Wentz and Shauna Moses
21 addiction bills / Mary Abrams provided the status of these bills (see the chart sent with these minutes) and reported that NJAMHAA testified on 17 of the bills and in several cases requested funding and made other recommendations; the other four bills have not advanced. / Talking points on S-2381 (mandates that correctional facilities offer medication-assisted treatment) and Senate and Assembly Budget and Appropri-ations Committee member lists to engage NJAMHAA members in advocacy. / Action alert: following this meeting
Advocacy: immediate and ongoing / Action alert: Mary Abrams
Advocacy: NJAMHAA staff and members
AGENDA ITEMS / DISCUSSION / ACTIONS AND OUTCOMES / TIME-FRAME / WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
21 addiction bills (cont.) / Mary Lou Powner will contact the Office of Legislative Services for information about funding for S-2381.
Members are strongly encouraged to participate in NJAMHAA’s advocacy training on March 2nd. / Following this meeting
March 2, 2015 / Mary Lou Powner
Members with Debra Wentz and Mary Abrams
A-3227, which would add substance use disorders to the criteria for involuntary outpatient commitment / Debra reported that she, Linda Leyhane and Jim Romer, President of the Mental Health Emergency Services Association, met with Assembly-man Raj Mukherji, who agreed to slow down progress of the bill. / A follow-up meeting is planned with Asm. Mukherji and Asm. Gary Schaer, the Budget Committee Chair. The legislators are considering adding to the bill the addition of a substance use disorder expert at each screening center. / To be scheduled / Debra Wentz, Mary Abrams, Jim Romer, Kendria McWilliams
State budget / Debra urged everyone to advocate for a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) because funding is scarce.
DHS is not satisfied with the rates that Myers & Stauffer developed. The rates should be released in May or June.
Substance use treatment rates for Medicaid covered services and services contracted with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services will be increased to match the state Medicaid Fee-for-Service rates, to be effective when the IME is in operation on July 1, 2015. Rates for slot based services will remain the same. / N/A
N/A
N/A / Ongoing
N/A
N/A / Members
N/A
N/A
AGENDA ITEMS / DISCUSSION / ACTIONS AND OUTCOMES / TIME-FRAME / WHO IS RESPONSIBLE
Substance Abuse Initiative (SAI) / Mary Gay Abbott-Young reported that she followed up on a request from DHS Commissioner Jennifer Velez for more information supporting presumptive eligibility for General Assistance (GA) clients and the SAI issue as it is difficult to get people on GA and it is difficult to get people into the SAI.
Linda Mur noted that CURA in Camden is closing due to a lack of referrals. / N/A / N/A / N/A
Board elections / Alan Oberman encouraged members to select someone to run. He requested that recommen-dations be sent to him and/or Linda Leyhane. / Shauna will provide Alan with the group’s contact information and he will e-mail the entire group with this request. / Following this meeting / Shauna Moses, Alan Oberman
Case manage-ment and social services and substance use disorder treatment / A concern was shared about the perception of addiction medicine specialists being low level social service providers, in response to the National Council for Behavioral Health’s call for speakers who are both addiction treatment and supported employment service providers. / NJAMHAA will see how high of a priority this is for the National Council for Behavioral Health and determine if any action steps need to be taken. / As National Council information on the topic becomes known / Addictions Practice Group, NJAMHAA staff
Reciprocity/
Law 1334 / Rich Bowe from The Certification Board will be at the March 12th meeting to provide the status on the upcoming status of this law.
Rich will also discuss the peer credentialing issue. / Carolann Cavaiola offered to work on the response to this law. / March 12, 2015 / Rich Bowe, Members
Standing agenda items / Debra noted that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers technical assistance on consolidation and strategic alliances.
She stated that NJAMHAA’s Annual Conference, Inspiring Progress, Seizing Opportunities, will feature presentations and workshops designed for both executives and line staff. / N/A
Click here for details and to register. / N/A
It will be held April 15-16, 2015 at the Woodbridge Renaissance. / N/A
Members
Upcoming Meeting Dates
All Addictions Practice Group meetings will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at NJAMHAA on the following dates:
- March 12, 2015
- May 14, 2015
- June 11, 2015
- Sept. 10, 2015
- Nov. 12, 2015
- Dec. 10, 2015
Open Board Meetings
- April 15, 2015 – This will be the Annual Membership Meeting at the Annual Conference, Inspiring Progress, Seizing Opportunities, at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel.*
- June 17, 2015 – 10 a.m. to noon at NJAMHAA
Contact Shauna Moses at 609-838-5488, ext. 204, or if you plan to participate in any of these meetings, either in person or via conference call (please specify). Thank you.
* Conference call-in will not be available for the Annual Membership Meeting.
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