The American Society of Addiction Medicine sent a letter to Senators Pat Toomey and Joe Manchin and Representatives Harley Rouda and Markwayne Mullin thanking them for sponsoring the Improving Medicaid Programs’ Response to Overdose Victims and Enhancing (IMPROVE) Addiction Care Act.

ASAM, the American Medical Association, and 86 other organizations sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to oppose passage of H.R. 884 / S. 2772, the “Medicare Mental Health Access Act,” which would change the definition of “physician” under the Medicare program to include clinical psychologists.

The Mental Health Liaison Group, of which ASAM is a member, sent a letter to Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Todd Young (R-IN) thanking them for introducing the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act (S.4349).

On September 6, ASAM, the Kennedy Forum, and 36 other organizations submitted a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to sign legislation which would require insurers to follow generally accepted standards of care for mental health and substance use disorder.

ASAM and 124 other organizations urged congressional leadership to pass legislation that would permit Medicaid to support essential health care for 30 days prior to release and upon reentry.

On August 7, ASAM board member Dr. Stephen M. Taylor, AMA’s immediate past president Dr. Patrice A. Harris, and Dr. Charles Reznikoff discussed the nation’s drug overdose crisis and COVID-19.

ASAM and 11 other organizations urged the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act Working Group of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to highlight a tool for insurers to prospectively demonstrate compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA).

HHS announced changes to Provider Relief Fund application deadlines and plans to reopen the application portal for certain providers.