August 09 Newsletter Web

ALCOHOLISM &

ASAP Advocacy Update

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROVIDERS OF NEW YORK

V O L U M E

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

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National Health Care Reform

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Drug Law Reform Implementati on

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Policy Issues

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Upcoming Events

2

National Health Care

3

Social Media

4

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I S S U E

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A U G U S T

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Statewide Advocacy Campaign The New York Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers (ASAP) and the Legal Action Center (LAC) are in the planning phases of launching a new initiative, “Hope for Recovery: A Campaign to Close the Addiction Treatment Gap in NYS.” This effort is part of ASAP’s grant with the Open Society Institute to Close the Addiction Treatment Gap (www.soros.org), and part of LAC’s national campaign to achieve major reforms that will significantly improve our nation's alcohol and drug public policies. The goals of this campaign are: to greatly expand access to services, improve public health responses to addiction, enhance resources to support addiction services and eliminate discrimination against

We kicked off the grassroots advocacy portion of the campaign by holding Grassroots Advocacy Trainings in the North Country, Long Island, and Brooklyn in June. We were fortunate to work with Join Together to convene these trainings, and to have speakers such as David Rosenbloom, President & CEO of CASA and Assemblyman Ortiz.

regarding the advocacy campaign and grassroots advocacy efforts, check our Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as our Advocacy and Action page located on ASAP’s website:

www.asapnys.org

This fall we plan on holding listening sessions or “town hall meetings” to discuss ideas regarding policy issues that providers may have and any ideas to improve access to treatment and increasing revenue streams to the field.

To stay connected on updates

State Policy, Budget, Regulatory Issues •

Senator Liz Krueger supports a bill (A8632) to allow wine to be sold in grocery stores. Unlike the budget initiative proposed last year, this bill allows wine and liquor stores to extend their operating hours and allow sales of

other products including food.

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The NYS Senate will be returning session on August 6 for the issue of school governance in NYC.

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Recently SAMHSA released a cost analysis of substance

abuse prevention programs, the report is available at http:// download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ prevline/pdfs/SMA074298.pdf

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Public Policy Issues ASAP has assembled a Public Policy Tasks/Strategies list outlining key policy issues that ASAP will be working on through the Summer into the Fall. We hope to take advantage of the legislative recess to examine important policy issues that impact the field and develop strategies to address them in the next session. Drug Law Reform Implementation In October 2009

implementation of the Rockefeller Drug Law reforms will begin through the resentencing and diversion processes. It is imperative to have a coordinated system involving social services programs working collaboratively with OASAS and CJ entities to ensure that implementation plans are comprehensive and responsive to provider and client needs. ASAP has convened an Implementation Workgroup

Social Work Licensure

Juvenile Justice

In June 2010, the exemption to the scope of practice provision in the NYS Education Law expires. There is great concern that a number of persons in our workforce are performing duties and tasks that would be considered illegal if persons are unlicensed or non-CASAC. ASAP is working to determine the impact a sunset will have on the field, a workforce survey is available on our website.

Juvenile Justice is the next step in shifting policy in NY from addressing substance use/abuse from a CJ issue to a public health issue. The Department of Criminal Justice Services has been holding various symposia on the issues surrounding alternatives to detention placement for youth. ASAP is working to develop a policy paper with recommendations for the proper treatment of youths and their family

which has been working on a white paper to present to OASAS and other state agencies which will address the issues of implementation and recommendations. Chemical Dependency Parity Timothy’s law recently was made permanent, and ASAP is working to ensure that chemical dependency services are covered adequately as well. Progress on legislation will be shared in the next session.

members who struggle with addiction. We will continue to work with other advocates to be on the forefront of this issue. Alcohol Beverage Tax ASAP will continue to work with Assemblyman Ortiz during the next session towards the passage of an alcohol beverage tax increase with funds dedicated to prevention, treatment, and recovery.

Upcoming Events - ASAP is planning a trip to Washington DC for a Hill Day in October 2009. A survey was sent out in July asking whether anyone has direct contacts with or knows anyone with a direct contact to the New York Congressional Delegation. If you haven't taken the survey,

ASAP

ADVOCACY

UPDATE

please do so by visiting our website: http:// www.asapnys.org - The ASAP Policy Retreat and Annual Meeting will be held on September 16, 2009 from 10:00 to 2:00 PM (Location TBA). - The A&E Recovery Rally will

be held on September 12, 2009 at the Brooklyn Bridge. More information on the walk can be found on the A&E website: http://www.aetv.com/ real-life-change/the-recoveryproject/about/index.jsp

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National Health Care Reform both of the bills being considered and in the Options Paper.

The debate over national health care continues to move forward. Currently, there are two bills being considered by Congress as part of comprehensive national health care reform and a Senate Finance Committee Options Paper. Addiction services are covered in

Congress is currently in recess for August, however the discussion is ongoing with legislators returning to their home states to discuss health care reform. The provisions of the bills being considered vary regarding substance use/abuse coverage. The various provisions of the bills will be reconciled when Congress reconvenes in September. It is very likely that all qualified

health plans including those offered in the individual and group market will be mandated to comply with the Wellstone/Domenici Parity Act. ASAP will be asking members to reach out to their Congress members, encouraging them to include equitable and accessible addiction services as part of any healthcare reform plan. Check our public policy alert page for advocacy alerts: www.asapnys.org and visit www.lac.org for updates on the healthcare reform debate.

Inclusion of Addiction in Health Care Reform Bills (From the Legal Action Center presentation on National Health Care Reform for Faces & Voices of Recovery)

Senate HELP Bill

Senate Finance Options Paper

House TriCommittee Draft Bill

Applies parity to all plans under the exchange

Applies parity to all plans under the exchange

Applies parity to all plans under the exchange

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Includes Substance Use Disorders in the Minimum Benefit Package

Includes SUDs in the minimum benefit package

Includes SUDs in the minimum benefit package

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- Includes SUD prevention

Includes tobacco prevention, but omits

SUD prevention is not

at school-based health

meaningful inclusion of

included on par with

clinics

SUDs

nutrition and tobacco

- Does not include SUD prevention under community transformation grants - Includes tobacco prevention

cessation

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Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Providers of New York

1COLUMBIA PL, SUITE 400 ALBANY NY 12207

Phone: 518-426-3122 Fax: 518-426-1046

This newsletter will be disseminated to keep members aware of ASAP’s continuous efforts to advocate for and on behalf of prevention, treatment and recovery providers throughout the state. We encourage you to respond to these newsletters and inform us of those issues affecting the field which ASAP needs to remain aware of.

http://www.asapnys.org

Social Media and Technology In June, ASAP started a Facebook page and Twitter account. Based on the popularity of blogs created by other organizations and due to the feedback from the Grassroots Advocacy Trainings, we may consider starting an ASAP blog in the future. Please contact us with any ideas or suggestions.

www.asapnys.org. The NYS Senate has created a feature on its website allowing anyone to post markups on proposed legislation. The site is available at http:// www.nysenate.gov/legislation. Currently the site features campaign finance, elections, and ethics bills.

Government Agencies (including OCFS and OASAS) utilize social media to announce upcoming events, to stay in touch with consumers, and to solicit submissions from the public.

Social Media is an inexpensive and easy way to keep in touch with people that are interested in your organization’s goals.

If your organization is already using these tools, please follow us on twitter and/or become a fan of our facebook page. The information is available on our website http://

If you are interested in starting your own pages and need assistance or have any questions or if you would like anything posted to our sites please let us know.