NJAMHAA FY2022 Annual Report

9 • Having changes issued to multiple regulations to indefinitely extend waivers that would otherwise lapse suddenly with the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). NJAMHAA continues to work with multiple Departments, the Legislature and the Governor’s office to review waiver provisions and their potential permanency. • Securing legislation to extend the temporary certification process for Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADCs) and the Emergency Gradu - ate Licensure program through June 30, 2022. • Having DMHAS fee-for-service (FFS) align with Medicaid by adding the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) and Physician’s Assistant (PA) roles to the Evaluation and Management (E&M) Medical Visit service descriptions for new and existing consum - ers. In addition to the budget advocacy and other ongo - ing efforts already mentioned, NJAMHAA is currently working on the following fiscal, policy and regulatory items: • Passing legislation (A508) to establish a formula for automatic upward rate and contract adjust - ments that is indexed to actual costs • Allowing Psychiatric APNs to fill the roles of Psy - chiatrists on Programs for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) Teams • Passing legislation to reinstate the 70+ year exemption of vehicle registration fees for non - profit organizations’ vehicles that was reversed in 2017 • Shaping legislation that will implement New Jer - sey’s 988 Crisis Response System • Addressing the licensing backlog for both individu - als and facilities • Extending the temporary certification process for Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) interns and the Graduate Emergency Licensure program • Allowing APNs to bill for medication assisted treat - ment services in non-opioid treatment program settings • Establishing regulations for the Integrated Case Management Services program, with a draft set of regulations completed to present to DMHAS Federal Budgets and COVID Relief Bill Deliver Significant Wins Signed into law in March of 2021, the American Rescue Plan’s (ARP’s) impact on behavioral health services has been felt throughout FY2022. Many items that NJAMHAA persistently advocated for were included in the final package. Among them were: • $15 billion for the Community Mental Health Ser - vices Block Grant • $15 billion for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant • $420 million for expansion grants for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics • $100 million for behavioral health workforce edu - cation and training