As the Senate Finance Committee deadline to collect recommendations on improving mental health and substance use services, the House Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force package may offer some bicameral agreement and strategies. On September 29, 2021, the Bipartisan Addiction & Mental Health Task Force, led by Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), Rep David
Negotiations continued into the weekend as the White House and Democratic leaders from the Senate and House continued to work on what gets in the final reconciliation legislation. Most if not all proposed programs will be at least reduced in size or length of time while other issues could be left out altogether. One of
The Democratic strategy to try and keep as much and as many parts of the original House reconciliation bills, meant that many program will be reduced in length. Perhaps the prime example is the fate of the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Continuing and making permanent the CTC has been one of CWLA prime issues this
On October 19, 2021, CMS put out a new, Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) Reimbursement: Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Requirements, Q & A. The new question and answer appear to be an attempt to address the conflict that some states are facing that by adhering to the new Title IV-E foster care Qualified
The HHS Prevention Services Clearinghouse released more program evaluations last week. The clearinghouse identified Familias Unidas as a “well supported.” Familias Unidas is a “family centered intervention that aims to prevent substance use and risky sexual behavior among Hispanic adolescents” by empowering parents with adolescents aged 12-16. The program implements five steps: parent support network
On Monday, October 18, 2021, Senate Democrats put out a series of 12 appropriations bills that would fund the government through the rest of FY 2022 (September 30, 2022). The Labor-HHS-Education numbers are similar to the House numbers; however, any final Senate bills will have to have at least some agreement with Senate Republicans. The
On October 19, 2021, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) hosted a panel discussion that included health care and policy experts focused on mental health needs. The discussion focused on integration of behavioral health care into the overall health care system, how to expand such services and how to improve community knowledge and involvement. The group tackled
On October 20, 2021, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on “Health Insurance Coverage in America: Current and Future Role of Federal Programs”. Witnesses included former Congressional Budget Office Director (CBO) Dr. Douglas Holltz-Eakin, Executive Director of Families USA, Frederick Isasi, Vice President for healthcare coverage and access at the Commonwealth Fund Dr. Sara
On October 12, 2021, Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau Aysha Schomburg, issued a letter to the child welfare community urging continued vigilance in assisting young people who exit foster care and to be proactive in reaching out and helping. The end of federal fiscal year 2021 on September 30, 2021, meant the expiration of
Domestic violence is a critical issue that, according to recent reports, has been made worse since the pandemic. On average, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience intimate partner violence. Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner (NCADV). Escaping domestic violence can result in homelessness as many