The Partnership to Amend 42 CFR Part 2 sent a letter urging Senator Lamar Alexander to use the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 as an opportunity to align 42 CFR Part 2 with HIPAA.

ASAM took the opportunity to advocate for standardization of addiction treatment when MACPAC released its request for information on the Medicaid IMD Additional INFO Act.

ASAM sent a letter to Congressional leaders requesting various improvements to policies created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.

ASAM sent a letter to Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Tim Kaine expressing support for the Tobacco-Free Youth Act.

ASAM sent a letter to Representatives Frank Pallone and Donna Shalala expressing strong support for the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019 (H.R. 2339).

ASAM praised the House Appropriations Committee for including full funding for two new critical substance use disorder (SUD) workforce programs in its FY 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

ASAM commended Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representatives Elijah Cummings, and all original co-sponsors for introducing the CARE Act of 2019. Modeled on successful, bipartisan legislation passed in 1990 to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the CARE Act would authorize $100 billion in federal funding over the next decade to states, local governments, and other organizations and institutions to support substance use disorder treatment programs, improve training for addiction treatment professionals in communities across the US, and expand access to treatments that meet national standards and are proven to save lives. 

ASAM joined 145 members of the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose and other organizations in sending a letter voicing support for the CARE Act of 2019. This legislation 2019 would provide $100 billion in federal funding over the next ten years to support federal research and programs to prevent drug use while expanding access to prevention, harm reduction, addiction treatment, mental health services, and recovery support services.