HHS Publishes Standards for Substance Use, Mental Health, and Peer Family Worker Certification
June 8, 2023
On June 7, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), published the National Model Standards
for Peer Support Certification, applicable for substance use,
mental health, and...
President Biden Signs Debt Limit Legislation into Law
June 6, 2023
On Saturday, June 3, 2023, President Biden signed
H.R.3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023,
into law, raising the debt ceiling until 2025, avoiding national
default until at least after the next presidential election, and
adjusting the federal budget.
The legi...
Federal Ruling Lays a Path for Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlements
June 5, 2023
On May 30, 2023, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals in New York approved a plan through which Purdue
Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, may settle thousands of
claims linked to the opioid epidemic.
...
Federal Legislation Introduced to Expand Capacity for Children’s Behavioral Health Services
June 1, 2023
On May 30, 2023,
H.R.2412, the Helping Kids Cope Act, was introduced
in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is sponsored by
United States Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and
Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
The legislation would establish grant programs ...
NJ DHS Shares Resources to Support Medicaid Re-enrollment
May 31, 2023
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) has added more
resources to its Stay Covered NJ toolkit, intended to help
individuals and organizations assist NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid)
beneficiaries in staying enrolled in the program through the
Medicaid redetermination ...
FDA Approves Prescription Nasal Spray to Reverse Opioid Overdose
May 30, 2023
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved
Opvee, a nalmefene hydrochloride nasal spray for the emergency
treatment of known and suspected opioid overdose in adults and
pediatric patents 12 years of age and older.
The active ingredient, nalmefene hydr...
U.S. Surgeon General: Not Enough Evidence about Safety of Social Media for Youth Mental Health
May 25, 2023
On May 23, 2023, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy
released a new Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and
Youth Mental Health, detailing the current analysis of the
impacts of social media on children and adolescents.
The advisory notes that there ar...
Gaps in Youth Mental Health Treatment Call for Pediatricians’ Increased Role
May 23, 2023
Rose Beyer, a "pediatrician in an underserved, poverty-stricken
community in Philadelphia," published an article in the May 21,
2023 publication of The Philadelphia Inquirer, titled
"Will your teenager die waiting for a psychiatrist?"
In this article, Beyer describes ex...
Assembly Committee Passes Legislation to Establish Statewide Opioid Antidote Coordinator Position
May 22, 2023
S2808/A4237
is legislation that would establish the position of Statewide
Opioid Antidote Coordinator in New Jersey, and would appropriate
funds for this position. Yesterday, May 18, 2023, the Assembly
Health Committee voted in favor of the legislation, which was
the...
Vice Pres. Harris Hosts Briefing on Preventing Default as Debt Ceiling Negotiations Continue
May 18, 2023
Yesterday, President Joe Biden held a meeting at the White House
with Congressional leadership in continued discussions on the
debt ceiling. While a clear resolution was not achieved during
that meeting, negotiations are set to continue with all sides
agreeing that defaul...
White House Publishes Fact Sheet on Public Health Emergency Transition
May 16, 2023
The White House has published a fact sheet on actions taken by
the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure continued COVID-19
protections and preparedness after the end of the Public Health
Emergency (PHE). As the PHE ended on May 11, 2023, the fact sheet
provides informati...
Form I-9 COVID-19 Flexibilities Set to End July 31, 2023
May 15, 2023
The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizen and Immigration
Services, has announced that COVID-19 temporary flexibilities for
Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, will end on July
31, 2023.
As stated in a U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services
news rel...
Public Health Emergency Ends May 11th; Flexibilities Set to End, Some Temporarily Extended
May 11, 2023
On May 9, 2023, the United States Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) officially issued
"Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine
...
Invest to Protect Act would Fund Mental Health Care; Training and Recruiting for Small Police Dpts.
May 9, 2023
S.1144, the Invest to Protect Act of 2023, would
provide police departments with fewer than 200 sworn officers,
across the country, with federal funds for mental health care,
training, and recruiting.
The legislation would provide up to $50 million a year in federal
...
1.7 Million Could Lose Federal Medicaid Eligibility under Debt Ceiling Legislation
May 8, 2023
Under
H.R. 2811, the "Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023",
states would be required to implement work requirements for
certain Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
beneficiaries. This legislation, a bi...
