SAMHSA Finalized Take-Home Methadone Flexibilities, But Challenges to Access Persist

As fentanyl proliferates the illicit drug market and opioid-related overdoses surge, access to the life-saving medication methadone is more critical than ever.

Efforts to increase access to take-home methadone have paid off, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) cemented COVID-era flexibilities earlier this year.

For substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers involved with methadone prescribing, SAMHSA’s final rule simplified processes and extended significant benefits for patients. Still, pain points remain for this segment of the SUD industry.

Methadone can reduce opioid cravings and sustain recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD). Patients are required to receive the medication under a clinician’s supervision, but daily visits to OTPs can profoundly impact a patient’s life by making achieving employment difficult, for example. Older patients or those with limited mobility can also struggle to attend in-person visits. SAMHSA’s final rule enabled OTPs to provide more personalized care, including the removal of length-of-treatment guidelines for take-home methadone.

Open Discussion: Youth Mental Health and Social Media: From Posting to Influencing

Parents, caregivers and providers play an important role in guiding how teens use social media. But it can be hard to know where to start! How are youth developing their online presence? What are the risks and rewards of posting and creating content? What does it mean to be an “influencer”?

Continue the conversation with Pam Pietruszewski and Dr. Willough Jenkins in the Open Discussion on Wednesday, July 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET. This will be a chance to ask follow-up questions and discuss what you have learned.

Funding for the Center of Excellence was made possible by Grant No. SM087180 from SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, SAMHSA/HHS or the US Government.

Click here to register!

The Ohio Council Welcomes New Member Provider, Mentor Behavioral Health

Mentor Behavioral Health in Independence, OH - Lisa Clark, State Director, Behavioral Health Services can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at (440) 465-8739. 

Mentor Behavioral Health is a for-profit organization for Sevita Health, which provides behavioral health services in all Ohio counties. 

Click here to learn more about Mentor Behavioral Health!

Supreme Court’s Decision to Overrule Chevron Doctrine Set to Impact Behavioral Health Regulations

After a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, lower courts will now have more say in behavioral health care regulation.

In a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court overruled a 40-year decision known as the Chevron doctrine that required lower courts to defer to federal agencies on the interpretation of unclear statutes.

The decision could impact regulations governing Medicaid and Medicare payment rates and insurance coverage of mental health services, according to KFF.

In a post-Chevron world, federal agencies can issue regulations interpreting legislation, but courts will decide whether the agencies’ interpretation is lawful.

A group of health care organizations including the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the American Cancer Society and the American Public Health Association wrote a letter defending Chevron in January.

The group stated that overruling Chevron would cause “tremendous disruption” to publicly funded health insurance programs, the stability of the U.S. health care system and the health and wellbeing of patients.

“Overruling Chevron would have enormous impact on the administration of federal programs – including Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP – that are critical to public health,” the letter read.