Americans See Opioids, Fentanyl As Top Threat, Mental Health Not Far Behind

Americans see poor mental health as one of the biggest threats to public health. This is especially true for young adults, who were twice as likely to identify it as the most pressing public health issue today.

Even more pressing for Americans are opioids and fentanyl, which topped the list of most significant threats to public health in the Axios-Ipsos American Health Index.

The poll also found that nine out of 10 Americans support health insurers covering mental health care on par with physical health care.

The Axios-Ipsos poll also found that while Americans are comfortable with some AI applications in health care, they remain wary of machine learning’s place in the doctor’s office.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly commonplace in the behavioral health industry, generating attention and millions in funding.

Pennsylvania Courts to Pay $100,000 to Settle DOJ Lawsuit Alleging Opioid Discrimination

Pennsylvania courts will pay $100,000 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging that people with opioid use disorder under court supervision were prevented from taking prescribed medicine, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday.

Experts say the lawsuit represents a nationwide issue where people with substance use disorders seeking jail alternative programs such as drug court, probation or parole are restricted from using federally approved addiction treatments that contain opioids.

Sally Friedman, senior vice president of legal advocacy at the Legal Action Center, said the lawsuit in Pennsylvania was the first of its kind, noting she has seen similar issues arise in courts across Ohio, South Carolina, Louisiana, New York, Florida and other states.

“All too often, people taking medication to treat their OUD are subjected to discrimination based on unfounded stigma associated with these medications,” said Jacqueline C. Romero, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “It is a violation of the ADA to deny someone access to programs and services simply because they are taking medication their doctors have prescribed to get and keep their OUD in remission.”

Medicaid Coordination of Benefits with New Medicare Behavioral Health Coverage

Beginning January 1, the Medicare program began covering services provided to Medicare beneficiaries by marriage and family therapists (MFT) and mental health counselors (MHC), and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) services authorized under Sections 4121 and 4124 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. These provisions are implemented as part of two recently published final rules:

• CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
• CY 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS 1786-FC).

As of January 1, Medicare became the primary payer for Medicare-covered services furnished by MFTs and MHCs to individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, Medicare became the primary payer for IOP services furnished to individuals eligible for Medicare and Medicaid by hospital outpatient departments, Medicare community mental health centers (CMHC), opioid treatment programs, rural health clinics (RHC), and federally qualified health centers (FQHC).

CMS recently provided guidance to states regarding coordination of benefits between Medicare and Medicaid and third-party liability under the Medicaid program. In accordance with this guidance, to allow providers time to complete the Medicare enrollment process:

• Ohio Department of Medicaid and MyCare Ohio plans will continue to pay claims for services to Medicaid enrollees with dual Medicare and Medicaid eligibility for impacted providers and services for claims submitted through June 30, 2024.
• Once practitioners are enrolled with Medicare, claims must be submitted to Medicare prior to seeking cost-sharing reimbursement from Medicaid, starting on the effective date of the provider’s enrollment with Medicare.

For any payments made by Medicaid (before or after June 30, 2024), including payments made by Medicaid managed care entities, if Medicare is later found to be the liable payor because the provider’s Medicare enrollment was active and the service was Medicare-covered, the Medicaid payment will be recouped as required by CMS.

To ensure secondary payments by Medicaid can be made, eligible practitioners that provide services to individuals who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid should also be enrolled with Medicare. Eligible practitioners can apply to become Medicare providers through the Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) at Provider Enrollment Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS). The PECOS website offers tutorials regarding enrollment in Medicare.

Information on CMS’ coverage of these new Medicare providers is found below:

https://www.medicaid.gov/sites/default/files/2023-12/cib12142023.pdf

https://www.cms.gov/files/document/marriage-and-family-therapists-and-mental-health-counselors-faq-09052023.pdf

Empowering Communities: OneOhio Recovery Foundation Announces 2024 Regional Grant Process

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation recently announced news that we have all been waiting for: the start of its grantmaking process.

Soon, the Foundation’s 2024 Regional Grant Request for Proposals (RFP) will be released publicly, and the new OneOhio Grant Portal will go live, inviting organizations on the frontline lines of Ohio’s opioid epidemic to register in preparation for the application process set to launch in early April. It is all expected to start on March 4, when the RFP will be posted on the Foundation’s Grant Headquarters webpage: OneOhioFoundation.com/Grants.

Here is an overview of the timeline and process we can expect:

• March 4: The 2024 Regional Grant RFP will be posted online, and prospective applicants can access the registration form on the OneOhio Grant Portal.

• April 2: The 2024 Regional Grant application will go live, giving eligible entities until May 3 to apply for funding.

• Following the application submission deadline, the 19 OneOhio Region Grant Review Committees will diligently review and recommend funding for projects within their respective regions.

• The Foundation’s Expert Panel will then evaluate nominations, ensuring alignment with evidence-based practices and Ohio Abatement Strategies, leading to recommendations by the OneOhio Grant Oversight Committee and final approvals by the Board of Directors.

The 2024 Regional Grant funding cycle will allocate up to approximately $51 million in awards and will be open to a diverse range of Ohio-based organizations, including non-profits, for-profits, and government entities. All grantees must adhere to the Ohio Abatement Strategies and pass compliance checks, with funds designated for evidence-based interventions in prevention, treatment, recovery, and substance use disorder abatement.

A careful, thorough effort has been made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and staff to create a grantmaking process that helps support prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts in every corner of Ohio. The Foundation’s grants can only be gamechangers in the epidemic, however, if they are put to work. That’s why it is incumbent upon us to spread the word and apply for grants. Please consider sharing information about the Foundation, the start of its grant process and then applying for grants that can help our communities move forward.

The opioid epidemic has left a tragic mark on every person, family and community it has touched, but that damage doesn’t need to be the last word. There can be healing, recovery and new resilience going forward, and with the significant resources of the Foundation applied to innovative efforts across Ohio, we can move forward together in strength.