NJAMHAA-FY23-Annual-Report

MESSAGE FROM THE President and Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair June 2023 Dear NJAMHAA Members: As we begin to fully embrace the post-pandemic era, it is clear that our daily lives, including our work lives, have been permanently impacted in numerous ways. This is true for the behavioral health field as a whole as well, which has seen many barriers broken down and others on their way out. Perhaps most significant are the strides made against stigma, as unprecedented attention is given on a daily basis to mental health and substance use at the federal, state and local levels. Other barriers to access to care have been overcome with new telehealth flexibilities; the first steps by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow Medicaid to fund services to address social determinants of health; and in-reach to jails and prisons that work to reduce high levels of overdose upon release, as well as recidivism. NJAMHAA has been working hard to translate this new level of awareness into policy action and funding, particularly for the behavioral healthcare workforce, as difficulties with recruitment and retention exacerbated by COVID-19 continue unabated. We are glad to report that those efforts have been met with great success! With a laser focus on the need to sustain the current workforce and build the workforce of the future, we have secured funding increases, telehealth flexibilities, program expansions and policy changes, with many more gains on the horizon. Among the items we expect to secure for fiscal year 2024 are further increases to rates and contracts and greater flexibilities in staffing requirements. We are also working to expand the availability of the rich reimbursement rates afforded by the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic demonstration model to more organizations; to ensure interns will continue to be able to provide telehealth services; and to support all aspects of integrated care, including financing for necessary IT and other infrastructure. Our advocacy continues to help shape the new 988 crisis response system as we look forward to the development of mobile teams and crisis stabilization centers. With strong NJAMHAA representation on the recently established Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council, the invaluable input you bring to us will be at the forefront of how to best utilize the opioid settlement funds coming to New Jersey. While we continue these many ongoing advocacy efforts, we also have been out in front on issues surrounding managed care carve-ins, which are more imminent now that the 1115 Waiver has been approved by CMS. We reliably remain available to support you in all you do through our advocacy, training and networking opportunities, and as a conduit to take your input to state and federal policymakers and, always, to provide you with the latest information affecting your work! We value your membership and promise great value in return as NJAMHAA continues to address your needs and priorities. As we continue breaking through stigma and other barriers, we are optimistic that our relentless advocacy will continue to realize many successes on behalf of our members and those they serve! Sincerely, Jacques Hryshko, LPC, ACS FY2023 NJAMHAA Board Chair Debra L. Wentz, PhD President and CEO