NJAMHAA-FY23-Annual-Report

14 Breaking Barriers in Behavioral Health Care NJAMHAA Continues to Break Down Barriers through Advocacy Efforts With the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) ending May 11, 2023, and the end of New Jersey’s State of Emergency anticipated in the coming months, NJAMHAA continues its work to make permanent many provisions that support members and their workforce and to monitor and share the ever-changing rules of operation. This is just one example of areas where NJAMHAA consistently undertakes “behind the scenes” advocacy. NJAMHAA’s connectedness to a multitude of state and national associations and stakeholder groups regularly provides an opportunity to sign on to the federal campaigns others are operating. This has been a particularly effective approach at the national level where NJAMHAA has participated in more than 40 campaigns in the first nine months of this fiscal year. Among these, campaigns regarding telehealth provisions have been most numerous, including submission of comments to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regarding elimination of the X waiver and continued telehealth options for buprenorphine, both of which were realized. As NJAMHAA regularly reminds members, when many speak with one voice, there is the greatest chance of success. This approach has also proven itself to be effective at the state level - when everyone reaches out individually with the same message, the entire behavioral health community is truly heard and experiences the most positive outcomes. As NJAMHAA continues to fight for funding and the many other priorities of members and those they serve, NJAMHAA encourages all members to add their voices to efforts at both the state and federal levels so that providers and the individuals they serve may realize many more budgetary, policy and regulatory successes!