Position: Mental Health Program Administrator I
Working Title: Mental Health Admin I
Vacancy Number: 60043378
Salary Grade: 78
Salary Range: $53248 – $88715
Hiring Range: $53248 – $88715
Department: Health Human Services
Division: HHS SO HS MH CPM Best Practices
Type of Appointment: Perm Full-Time
Location: Raleigh
Posting Date: 09/22/2011
Closing Date: 10/06/2011
Number of Positions: 1

Description of Work

Position provides direct clinical, programmatic and administrative review, coordination, technical assistance, and training for opioid treatment/recovery services and professional practices in the state’s 45 plus licensed/certified Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP). Position ensures program and professional compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, regulations, guidelines, accreditation standards, policies, and communications including best practice and treatment improvement protocols. Position travels frequently across the state for timely and comprehensive program reviews, consultations, and responses to concerns related to patient, family and community health safety and wellbeing including review of OTP clinical treatment and administrative practices. Position involves daily review and consultation regarding OTP patient referral, admission, treatment, and discharge practices, as well as program complaints and incident reports. Position responsible for web-based review and approval of OTP physician take-home medication exception requests under 42 CFR 8.11

For more information on this job posting and how to apply, click HERE.

From the North Carolina News Network 9.22.11

North Carolina lawmakers are gearing up to look at privatizing the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control system. Critics of privatization say it will ultimately lead to more public safety problems linked to higher alcohol consumption.

Democratic Sen. Clark Jenkins, a member of the ABC study committee, said he does not buy that argument. “Some people think, well it’s alright to drink beer but it’s not alright to drink whisky. Both of them can get you in trouble if you abuse them.  It doesn’t make much difference,” said Jenkins.

Critics also claim that privatizing the system could jeopardize revenue for local governments. “The county could get the same revenue and not have the cost of operating the system, I would assume they might be interested in it.  I didn’t ask but several county managers in our neighborhood and they said, yeah, if you can protect the income then I don’t care to run ‘em,” added Jenkins.

To link to this story, click HERE.

Three States and the District of Columbia Send High-Level Teams to ASP for the States

This Year, NIDA-Funded Workshop Brings Science-Backed Policy Assistance to State Leaders on Opportunities for Substance Use Programming during Health Reform and Nationwide Economic Downturn

Philadelphia; September 21, 2011: The states of Georgia, Maryland and North Carolina, and the District of Columbia, sent teams of high-ranking policy makers to the annual Addiction Studies Program (ASP) for the States.  The worshop was held September 15-17 in Washington, D.C. during National Recovery Month.

Like the April 2011 workshop, this one continued the theme of making the most of opportunities to advance effective addiction programming in the context of health reform.

Co-directed by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and National Families in Action, the highly successful ASP series features presentations from leading researchers and policy makers on the many policy issues related to addiction. In addition to framing discussion around the possibilities of programming during health reform, the two and one-half day program was also devoted to advancing substance abuse programming when significant funding restrictions face most states.

Presentations included a neurobiological discussion of why addiction to alcohol or other drugs is now considered a brain disease; why new treatment approaches for substance abuse work and are worthy of smart funding at the state level, especially in a recession-strapped economy; how to integrate such treatment with primary healthcare; uses of medication assisted treatment; advances in substance use/abuse prevention; the focus on “recovery-oriented” approaches for addiction to alcohol or other drugs; workforce changes that will be coming; and others.

The Treatment Research Institute, which sends several researchers to make presentations, and National Conference of State Legislatures, are partners on the project.

“Science can point the way for state policy makers who increasingly feel the burdens and responsibility for crafting effective (and cost effective) responses to addiction and substance use within their states,” said David Friedman, Ph.D., leader of ASP for the States. “State policy makers also want to hear from their colleagues in other states as to what they learned – and what to avoid. ASP gives them both opportunities,” he said.

“Health reform portends so many opportunities for states to make good policy around substance abuse and addiction,” added Sue Rusche, President and CEO of National Families in Action and co-lead on the project. “It’s important for state policy makers to know why substance abuse needs attention, particularly when so few dollars are available, as well as the opportunities health reform affords,” she concluded.

The next ASP for the States workshop will be held in 2012 and announced in advance to state policy makers. For more information visit the ASP website at www.addictionstudies.org.

LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
MEETING SCHEDULE
2011 – 2012
Click Here to download the schedule:  HHS LOC meeting schedule [39.8 KiB]