On May 31, ASAM wrote a letter to MACPAC in response to MACPAC's request for information on the Medicaid IMD Additional INFO Act, which requires that MACPAC conduct a study on institutions for mental diseases (IMDs) that receive Medicaid payment under fee for service or managed care.

In its letter, ASAM urged MACPAC to support the standardization of the delivery of addiction medicine so that more patients receive high-quality, evidence-based care. Additionally, ASAM highlighted the patchwork of state laws currently regulating IMDs across the country, as well as the importance of implementing nationally recognized addiction treatment standards such as the ASAM Criteria. The ASAM Criteria is the most widely used and comprehensive set of guidelines for placement, continued stay and transfer/discharge of patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions. It is a fundamental tool for the standardization of addiction medicine, and is used in some way, shape, or form by state regulators, clinicians, and payers across all care settings. 

Read the letter here.