MADC 2012 Advocacy Platform
Mission: The Maryland Addictions Directors Council advocates for quality addictions services that promote healthy individuals, strong families and thriving communities.
Vision: People in need of services will have timely and easy access to high-quality services at the appropriate level to meet their needs.
A continuum of services will be available that begin with prevention and include intervention, treatment, recovery, support and wellness. Treatment will be available and accessible at all American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) levels of care for substance use disorders.People will be aware of services and will access them at an earlier stage, without the barriers of shame or inability to pay. Access to the right service at the right time will reduce costs and increase quality and availability of services.Public policy will address treatment for substance use, co-occurring disorders and process addiction as any other health issue. Laws will include alternatives to punishment and provide more opportunities for the courts to choose treatment solutions. People in need of services will be treated by highly qualified specialists who are recognized and utilized as a critical part of the health care team. Multiple levels of certification will correspond to similar levels in the medical profession. Professionals will be knowledgeable and highly skilled, based on their education, certification and access to ongoing professional development. Access to treatment for all who need it will benefit society and the economy by boosting worker productivity, reducing crime and incarceration costs, improving infant and child health, advancing achievement for children and youth, and strengthening families and communities.Legislative Priorities
1.System: Advocate for a fair and transparent system that ensures a full continuum of services for treatment of substance use disorders. Advocate for full funding of the ADAA budget and for continued support of block grant funding to ensure that all ASAM levels of care are funded and that those without Medicaid or other insurance have access to treatment.
System: Advocate for a fair and transparent system that ensures a full continuum of services for treatment of substance use disorders. Advocate for full funding of the ADAA budget and for continued support of block grant funding to ensure that all ASAM levels of care are funded and that those without Medicaid or other insurance have access to treatment.a.Advocate for full funding of the ADAA budget and for continued support of block grant funding to ensure that all ASAM levels of care are funded and that those without Medicaid or other insurance have access to treatment.
Advocate for full funding of the ADAA budget and for continued support of block grant funding to ensure that all ASAM levels of care are funded and that those without Medicaid or other insurance have access to treatment.b.Advocate for transparency in Medicaid funded managed care organizations regarding medical necessity criteria and public access to utilization and outcome data.
Advocate for transparency in Medicaid funded managed care organizations regarding medical necessity criteria and public access to utilization and outcome data.2.Workforce: Advocate for respect and support of professionals who provide prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services for persons with substance use disorders and for honoring and utilizing the judgment of these professionals regarding appropriate levels of care for those with substance use disorders.
Workforce: Advocate for respect and support of professionals who provide prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services for persons with substance use disorders and for honoring and utilizing the judgment of these professionals regarding appropriate levels of care for those with substance use disorders. a. Advocate for amending laws and regulations to facilitate the development of a strong and effective provider network and workforce by removing legal barriers related to credentialing and program operation.
Advocate for amending laws and regulations to facilitate the development of a strong and effective provider network and workforce by removing legal barriers related to credentialing and program operation. b.Advocate for procedures that would ensure that managed care organizations and insurers honor the professional judgment of substance use disorder professionals regarding appropriate ASAM levels of care.
Advocate for procedures that would ensure that managed care organizations and insurers honor the professional judgment of substance use disorder professionals regarding appropriate ASAM levels of care.3.Affordable Care Act: Ensure that substance use disorder professionals have genuine and meaningful input into the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the development of the health benefit exchange in Maryland.
Affordable Care Act: Ensure that substance use disorder professionals have genuine and meaningful input into the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the development of the health benefit exchange in Maryland. a.Advocate in favor of the development of a robust and large Health Benefit Exchange.
Advocate in favor of the development of a robust and large Health Benefit Exchange.b.Advocate for incentives and policies that address the workforce shortages and challenges as health care reform is implemented.
Advocate for incentives and policies that address the workforce shortages and challenges as health care reform is implemented. c.Support the new role of public substance use disorder providers in the context of health care reform.
Support the new role of public substance use disorder providers in the context of health care reform.d.Advocate for health care reform policies that address gaps in coverage for the safety net population.
Advocate for health care reform policies that address gaps in coverage for the safety net population. e.Advocate in favor of person centered health homes and for Maryland to apply for federal grants to support that program.
Advocate in favor of person centered health homes and for Maryland to apply for federal grants to support that program. 4.Behavioral Health Integration: Ensure that substance use professionals have genuine and meaningful input into the transformation of the substance use disorder and mental health systems in Maryland and the provision of integrated behavioral health services.
Behavioral Health Integration: Ensure that substance use professionals have genuine and meaningful input into the transformation of the substance use disorder and mental health systems in Maryland and the provision of integrated behavioral health services. a.Support policies that facilitate the provision of services to dually diagnosed individuals.
Support policies that facilitate the provision of services to dually diagnosed individuals. b.Support aligning laws and regulations to remove undue barriers.
Support aligning laws and regulations to remove undue barriers.c.Ensure that providers who serve only persons with substance use disorders do not have additional burdensome requirements.
Ensure that providers who serve only persons with substance use disorders do not have additional burdensome requirements. d.Provide information and support to consultants studying the integration of behavioral health in Maryland and support legislation consistent with our goal to provide accessible and effective treatment to those with substance use disorders.
Provide information and support to consultants studying the integration of behavioral health in Maryland and support legislation consistent with our goal to provide accessible and effective treatment to those with substance use disorders. The Ideal Treatment System
Download the MADC Ideal Substance Use Disorder Treatment System in Maryland
MADC Position Statement
Regarding Carve-In versus Carve-Out of
Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services
Every Marylander, with or without insurance, needing substance use disorder treatment must have easy access to all appropriate levels of care based on their assessed needs. MADC is in full support of quality, integrated care, both within the behavioral health arena and with primary care.
MADC does not endorse a formal position in favor or against substance use disorder treatment financing in a carve-out system. We do not believe that the carve-out system for mental health providers, as it currently exits, would be fully supportive of an ideal substance use disorder treatment system.
MADC members are eager to be active participants in the research and review of innovative funding models that exist as a result of the ACA.
MADC Position Regarding Behavioral Health Integration Efforts Initiated by DHMH
MADC is in full support of the integration of services for patients in need of substance use disorder and mental health prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services. Individuals with co-occurring disorders should be able to have their behavioral health needs addressed in a comprehensive and integrated fashion. The current system presents barriers to providers to effectively deliver these services. MADC recognizes a need for changes in regulations, system development and health care delivery models to meet the goal of providing more effective integrated services.
Providers are seeking genuine and meaningful input into any and all processes surrounding integrations considerations. Providers expect to actively participate in all stages of the decision making process including evaluation of options, development of a plan, proposing regulations and developing implementation strategies for providing improved integrated services.
Regulations Integration
DHMH is planning to integrate regulations for mental health and substance abuse services.
MADC has not endorsed a plan for the integration of behavioral health regulations, as no plan has been presented.
MADC has been granted our request to Deputy Secretary Henry to appoint providers to the Regulations Workgroup headed by Kathy Rebbert-Franklin. Deputy Secretary Henry has extended and invitation to one provider and one consumer member from the stakeholder community. Tracy Schulden will be serving as a provider representative.
MADC has requested a full list of members on the Regulations Workgroup and we are awaiting this information.
System options
DHMH is hiring a consultant to meet with stakeholders and develop options for financing an integrated system of care.
MADC is seeking genuine and meaningful input into this process.
Chronic care medical home model
DHMH is considering developing a chronic care medical home pilot to provide integrated care.
MADC is in support of further review of a chronic care medical home pilot. MADC further supports substance use providers serving as chronic care medical homes.
Agency Collaboration
ADAA and MHA will be collaborating in implementing steps for integration in Maryland.
MADC has not endorsed a plan for the integration of ADAA and MHA, as no plan has been presented.
MADC is seeking genuine and meaningful input into this process.
Please include the name of our organization as a supporter of the Maryland Stakeholders for Substance Use Disorder Services Position Statement on the Delivery of Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health and Health Services under Health Care Reform
Supporters of Maryland Stakeholders for Substance Use Disorder Services Position Statement on the Delivery of Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health and Health Services under Health Care Reform
A Better Way Counseling Services
ADEPT
Baltimore City Substance Abuse Directorate
Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc.
Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, Inc.
The Carol M. Porto Treatment Center
Center for Addiction Medicine
Crossroads Centers
Dorchester County Addictions Program
Dorchester County Drug & Alcohol Abuse Council
Dorchester Recovery Initiative
Drug Policy and Public Health Strategies Clinic University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Epoch Counseling Center/Friends Research Institute
Gale Recovery, Inc.
Garrett County Health Department's Behavioral Health
Gaudenzia, Inc.
J. David Collins and Associates LLC
The Jude House Inc.
The Maryland Addictions Directors Council
Maryland Women's Coalition for Health Care Reform
Medicaid Matters! Maryland
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence - Maryland Chapter
On Our Own, Inc.
Power Inside
Queen Anne's County Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services
Reflections Clinical Counseling, LLC
Second Wind, Inc.
Universal Counseling Services, Inc.
University Psychological Center- Recovery Network
Warwick Manor
Worcester County Drug and Alcohol Council
