The total block grant amount allocated to the states depends on what Congress includes in its budget, and given the fiscal environment, it is uncertain at this point.  However, here are the amounts the Governor proposed for this block grant for the coming fiscal year—

Local program expenditures

Substance Abuse Services-Adult: $14,258,540

Substance Abuse Treatment Alternatives for Women: $6,050,300

Substance Abuse Services—HIV and IV Drug: $5,959,934

Substance Abuse Prevention—Child: $4,940,500

Administration—$250,000

Budget Plans

A budget bill may take a little longer than planned. Rep. Harold Brubaker, R-Randolph, the chief budget writer in the House, said Wednesday that plans to try to roll out a House budget bill by next week have been put on hold. Brubaker said that the House’s proposed revisions to the two-year state budget will likely instead be before budget-writing subcommittees and the full House Appropriations Committee the following week. Trying to roll out a budget bill by next week wouldn’t have allowed enough review, he said. “I think the rank-and-file members need to see their budget,” Burbaker said. “They need to be fully informed.”

The House budget-writing subcommittee on Health and Human Services did review some of Gov. Beverly Perdue’s spending proposals on Wednesday, but a separate budget subcommittee meeting was cancelled. Two House budget subcommittee are scheduled to meet today. Legislative Republicans have made clear that Perdue’s proposal to raise the sales tax by three-quarters of a cent will not be included in any budget bill. Legislative leaders also began the short session pushing the notion that, because the two-year budget does not have to be adjusted, Perdue has less leverage when it comes to vetoing a budget bill.(THE INSIDER, 5/17/12).

Medicaid Shortfall

The Senate has approved legislation designed to a close cost overruns in the state Medicaid program that could exceed $200 million. The bill, which now goes to the House, would allow up to $205.5 million to be used to close the gap, with the money coming from five sources of state funds. The five are: $105 million from state agency reversions; $50 million transferred from other unspent pools of money within the Department of Health and Human Services; $20 million from a project revenue surplus now expected to reach $233 million; $20 million from unspent money in the state building Repair and Renovation Fund; and $10.5 million from a Repair and Renovation dollars already allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services. The initial dollars are to come from the unspent pools of money already in the Department of Health and Human Services. State agency reversions fall next on the priority list of money to be used.

The legislation avoids Medicaid provider cuts called for in the budget bill passed last year. The shortfall led to several rounds of backbiting last fall between legislative leaders and Gov. Beverly Perdue’s administration. More recently, legislators and Perdue officials have been in agreement when it comes to addressing the program shortfall. Last week, State Budget Director Andy Willis said that he expected the issue would be resolved harmoniously. Willis also pointed out that previous budgets have seen even larger Medicaid shortfalls.

Sen. Pete Brunstetter, R-Forsyth, said Wednesday that the governor’s office and House leaders backed the proposal. The legislation was approved unanimously in the Senate with little debate. Some of the money will come from pools whose final amounts won’t be known until the close of the fiscal year, but Brunstetter said he had no worries about the sources to be used. The bigger worry, he said, is the final size of the Medicaid shortfall. Right now, it is projected to reach about $150 million, but could grow larger. “That’s the softer number,” Brunstetter said. “It’s just that it is a moving target.”(THE INSIDER, 5/17/12).

The Commission on MH/DD/SAS is one of the commissions the act will downsize. You can download a draft of the bill and list of boards and commissions for downsize/elimination below.   See page 48-49 of the bill draft for information on the Commission on MH/DD/SAS downsizing.

Boards and Commissions Efficiency Act of 2012: Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

List of Boards and Commissions for Elimination/Downsize:Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

If you attended the May NCSAPA meeting at the PNC Arena with Becky Vaughn, then you know what a great opportunity the SAAS (State Associations of Addiction Services) and NIATx summit is to get prepped for the upcoming changes to our system. The summit will be in New Orleans from June 19-22.

2012 SAAS National Conference and NIATx Summit:

Rethinking the Business Model

This conference is the destination for behavioral health CEOs and senior managers who are tackling major changes at their organization and preparing for new opportunities.

Learn from management experts from around the country who will focus on the business model of addiction and mental services.

It’s not too late to consider attending this useful conference. Summit and Registration information are available here:  http://www.saasniatx.net/Content/Home.aspx

House  Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services will meet as follows:

DAY & DATE: Thursday, May 17, 2012

TIME:      9:00 am

LOCATION:    643 LOB

COMMENTS:  Budget Discussion

To listen live: http://www.ncleg.net/Audio/Audio.html

Below is a link to the handouts/presentations from yesterdays Health and Human Services Legislative Oversight Committee meeting. You can also check out live tweets from the meeting @ncsapaction.

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/DocumentSites/browseDocSite.asp?nID=144&sFolderName=\Handouts%20and%20Minutes\May%2015,%202012

For those who are following the issue of provisional licensure, the LOC adopted the Departments recommendation to introduce legislation to change titles from provisional to “associate” where needed in licensing laws, and to include this category as directly enrolled. This is a first step to a permanent fix for a problem that has existed for many years.  The Professional Association Council has been working closely with DHHS, and Dr. Beth Melcher in particular, to achieve a solution.

NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, has just announced it will drop $20 from the price of membership for the month of May only! Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC) has agreed to take an additional $5 off the price of membership in May.

As part of APNC’s May Membership Campaign, we are awarding free conference registration to the current member who recruits the most new applicants.

This is a great opportunity for nonmembers and former members whose membership has lapsed for at least one year to join North Carolina’s premier association for addiction and prevention professionals.   New members can join for the following incredible low rates:

• $95 Full Professional Membership for those already working in the SA field
• $74 Associate Membership for those working toward credentialing and not yet 5 years in the field
• $25.50 Student Membership for those enrolled in an Addictions Studies program and not yet employed

We are appealing to those of you who are current members of APNC/NAADAC to reach out to all of your colleagues in our field to encourage them to take advantage of this rare opportunity to join with us in our commitment to advancing our profession in NC.

As you think about colleagues in our field, remember there may be educators, researchers, administrators and marketing professionals, etc., in addition to treatment and prevention professionals who might join if asked. If each of us got just one new member to join this month, our organization’s size would double by June!              

Click here for Talking Points you can use with those you think may be interested in membership. However, do not stop there. Tell them how you have benefited and why you believe in our association.

This opportunity to increase significantly our membership rolls is unique, but time is of the essence. NAADAC will only honor the discount for those applications postmarked no later than May 31st. Click here for the May Membership Application. Print some copies, take them with you over the next couple of weeks, and share them with others. Once completed, prospective members can follow the instructions on the application and mail or email it to NAADAC.

Do not forget to ask them to fill out the “Name of Recruiter” space on the application. The member who recruits the highest number of new members will win free tuition to a future APNC conference of their choice.

Sincerely,

Dorsey Ward
Vice President and Chairperson, Membership Committee

Big Picture Certified Budget for 2012-13 (2012-13 budget passed by legislature last year): $19,943,327,275
Governor’s Proposed Adjusted Budget: $20,907,086,765
Difference = $969,637,390

Health and Human Services

Certified Budget – $17,697,877,744
Governor’s Budget – $17,832,571,917
Difference = $134,694,173, 0.8% expansion

Expansion Items:

• Smart Start – $18.2 million. This restores just under 50% of last year’s cut.
• NC Pre-K – $25 million. This restores around 75% of last year’s cut.
• Tobacco prevention and cessation programs – $10 million. This item maintains funding for a portion of the programs funded by the Health and Wellness Trust Fund, but an additional $7.3 million is needed to maintain all prevention and cessation programs.
• ECU High-Risk Maternity Clinic – $350,000. This item restores the state grant to the ECU High-Risk clinic, which is a critical piece of infrastructure in preventing infant mortality in eastern NC. 
• Local in-patient bed capacity – $10 million. This line-item would expand local bed capacity so patients can receive treatment in their communities.

It’s also worth noting that the Governor’s budget maintains open enrollment of Health Choice. Additionally, she includes no cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates.

Reduction Items:

• Foster Care Caseload Reduction – ($6.67 million). According the budget narrative, this funding reduction will not impact foster care services and reflects a reduction in caseload.
• LME admin reduction – ($8.5 million). As LMEs transition to Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), they will be funded with a different formula. This funding reduction is not supposed to impact services.

You can view the complete budget HERE: http://osbm.nc.gov/thebudget

Recovery NC is asking for your help. Anyone who can volunteer to staff the RecoveryNC exhibit booth is asked to contact Donna Cotter immediately, either by responding to this email or by calling her at 919-802-7972. Your job would be to hand out RecoveryNC materials and to answer any questions people might have about accessing treatment or recovery support services. Persons in recovery and those who work for providers of treatment services would be ideal candidates for this task. We will rotate staffers in 4-hour shifts, so you would only need to volunteer for  hours of your time.

The hours when the exhibit will be open are:

• Friday, May 18, from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 20, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

We also need volunteers with a large van or truck to transport the materials to the Fairgrounds on Thursday, May 17^th before 5:00 p.m., and remove whatever materials are left on Sunday after 7:00 p.m.

Please contact Donna Cotter at 919-802-7972 if you can help!

SAAS Provider Readiness and Capabilities Assessment Results: What Does the Data Tell Us?
Identifying Critical Training and Technical Assistance Needs of Behavioral Health Providers in the Era of Healthcare Reform:  http://www.saasnet.org/PDF/RCA_National_Summary_Report.pdf

Providers Readiness and Capabilities Assessment What does the data tell us?: Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Check out tweets from the meeting at @ncsapaction.

Download 2 Important Handouts from the meeting here: HHS Budget Spending Targets and HHS 2011-2013 Budget Highlights: Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

The next important Legislative meetings:

• LME (Local Management Entity) Governance Subcommitee: Monday, May 12 at 2pm, Legislative Office Building Room, 544.  This is the final meeting for this committee– after this meeting, the committee will submit its recommendations to the HHS Legislative Oversight Committee.
• Health and Human Services Legislative Oversight Committee: Tuesday, May 15 at 10am, Legislative Office Building Room 643.

*** Update: The HHS Legislative Oversight Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 15 will start at 8:30am (instead of 10am). The meeting will adjourn at 12:30pm instead of 3pm. The Agenda is posted here:Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

• House Appropriations SubCommittee on Health and Human Services: Wednesday, May 2nd at 10am, Legislative Office Building Room 643.
• LME (Local Management Entity) Governance Subcommitee: Monday, May 14 at 3pm, Legislative Office Building Room, 544.  This is the final meeting for this committee– after this meeting, the committee will submit its recommendations to the HHS Legislative Oversight Committee. Download the meeting agenda HERE:Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
• Health and Human Services Legislative Oversight Committee: Tuesday, May 15 at 8:30am, Legislative Office Building Room 643. Download the meeting agenda here: Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
  

If you cannot attend any of these meetings, you can always listen to live audio HERE, or you can follow live tweets @ncsapaction. For more information on any of the legislative meetings, check out the NC Legislative Calendar HERE.

** Don’t forget SA Federation and NCSAPA meetings both on Thursday, May 3rd at the PNC Arena (formerly the RBC Center in Raleigh), click HERE for more information. **

Click Here to download minutes from the April Meeting and Harm Reduction presentation: Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Click Here to download the meeting agenda: Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Call in info:

Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-877-668-4493

Call-in toll number (US/Canada): +1-408-600-3600

Access code: 801 716 050

Immediately following the SA Federation meeting, join us from 12:30-3:00PM at the PNC Arena in Raleigh to hear Becky Vaughn from the State Associations of Addiction Services (Washington, DC) present findings from a national survey regarding providers’ readiness and capabilities assessment / transition to a managed care environment.

Presented by DHHS Secretary Al Delia at the April 2012 Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations Meeting.

Click HERE to download the full presentation.

Please join us on Tuesday, May 22, for the Coalition’s Annual Advocacy Day and Popcorn Rally at the State Capital

What: Advocate for services and supports for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Disease at the Coalition’s Annual Advocacy Day and Popcorn Rally

Who: You! (and anyone you know interested in the delivery of MH/DD/SA services in North Carolina)

When: Tuesday, May 22

Where: North Carolina State Capitol (Legislative Building: 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh)

For more info please visit: www.thecoalitionnc.org

You can download a flyer to share with your networks HERE:
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

For more information and to apply for the NCFADS scholarship, CLICK HERE.

Visit us at ncsapa.org or our facebook page for more info and updates.

• PCS – DMA – Adult Care Home Personal Care Services and In-home Personal Care Services- i Waiver
• Dorothea Dix Proposed Legislation
• PBH/DHHS – Eastern District Court Ruling
• Local Management Entity Governance Subcommittee Update

On the Agenda:

• Review of the Purpose of the Subcommittee

• Preliminary Revisions of the Statutory Language

1.  Regarding the Governing Board
2. County Departure from the LME/MCO
3. Approval of Mergers by Constituent Counties of LME/MCO

• Meeting Four – Discussion of Potential Barriers
  • Powers of the LME/MCO
  • Personnel
  • Ownership of Property
  • Business and Reporting Requirements

Download the complete agenda HERE: Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

If you can’t attend the meeting, you can listen live HERE (click on Finance Committee Room 544), OR you can follow live tweets from the meeting @NCSAPACTION.

We look forward to seeing you there if you are unable to attend in person you are welcome to call in using the information below. Attached are the minutes from the March Meeting and the agenda for Thursday’s meeting.

Here is the dial-in info -
Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-877-668-4493
Call-in toll number (US/Canada): +1-408-600-3600
Access code:802 901 350

Download the  agenda:Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

Download March meeting minutes:Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

This meeting is geared towards Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Providers- particularly CEOs, Executive Directors, COOs, and CFOs. This meeting will be hosted by the North Carolina Substance Abuse Provider Association and made possible by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.

Download the meeting agenda HERE: Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

NCSAPA Meeting: Managing the Transition to a Managed Care Environment

What: National Trends for Assessing a Successful Transition to a Managed Care Environment (delivered by Becky Vaughn from the State Associations of Addiction Services).  This is a NCSAPA meeting.  The NC Substance Abuse Federation will host it’s May meeting just before this event at 10 am, also at the PNC Arena.

When: Thursday, May 3 from 12:30 to 3pm.  Lunch will be provided.

Where: PNC Arena (Formerly the RBC Center) in Raleigh, NC. Click HERE for Directions.

Cost:  The event is free, but you MUST REGISTER.  CLICK HERE to REGISTER

On February 13, 2012, President Obama released his Administration’s budget requests for Fiscal Year 2013.i
This document outlines the major components of the President’s proposed budget for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The budget in many ways reflects the nation’s growing concern with federal spending and the national deficit. The 2013 Budget Control Act set out a 10-year series of caps on discretionary spending, designed to save a total of more than $900 billion. Because of these caps – and because of Congressional deficit hawks’ consistent and vocal advocacy for cutting the budget – the federal spending environment has become increasingly tight over the last two fiscal years.

SAMHSA noted in the justification for its budget request that tough decisions had to be made, with an eye towards strategic reductions that maintain support for key agency priorities like prevention. Overall, this year’s budget requests represent a mixed bag for SAMHSA. Many programs have been sharply cut, while some new programs (particularly around prevention and trauma) have been created. Still other programs will see existing program activity maintained, though funding will not be available to support new grants.

At a glance: Overall, SAMHSA’s program request for 2013 is $3.4 billion, a $141.9 million (or 4%) decrease from FY 2012. The $3.4 billion is comprised of $3.2 billion in actual SAMHSA budget authority (a $195.5 million drop from 2012), plus $164.8 million in PHS Evaluation funds and $105 million from the Prevention and Public Health Fund created in the Affordable Care Act.

For more information and a more complete breakdown, click HERE.  Page 4 of the PDF  list Substance Abuse services budget information.

You can drop off your medications for safe disposal on a no-questions asked basis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside these four Raleigh area grocery stores:

• Food Lion at 5633 Creedmoor Road
• Food Lion at 2420 Wycliff Road
• Food Lion at 4510 Capital Blvd.
• Kroger at 1610 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

The event is sponsored by the City of Raleigh Substance Abuse Advisory Commission and the Police and Community Services departments.

Registration:

CLICK HERE to register.

*Up to 13 hours of continuing education credit available.

Conference Program:

NC Parent Resource Center Conference Preliminary Program

Training Stipends:

Training Stipends are available to cover the cost of registration.

Click Here to download the application.

EXHIBITOR FEE:

$100.00 (free for nonprofits)

Click Here to Download the Exhibitor Contract

Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@ncparentresourcecenter.org to reserve your space.  Space is limited.

Trauma and Addiction:
Pathways to Healing for Mothers and Children

Wednesday, April 11, 2012
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The William & Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education
Chapel Hill, NC

Join us for a day filled with comprehensive and enlightening presentations designed to help service providers empower clients to overcome the impact of addiction on their lives, and the lives of their children.

Keynote Presentations:

Stephanie Covington, Ph.D., LCSW, will present The Addiction-Trauma Connection: Spirals of Recovery and Healing during the morning keynote.  Dr. Covington is Co-Director of the Institute for Relational Development, and Co-Director of the Center for Gender and Justice. She is recognized for her research and curriculum development in the area of gender-responsive, trauma-informed treatment and author of titles including, “Beyond Trauma: A Healing Journey for Women” and “A Woman’s Journal: Helping Women Recover.”

Challenges in the Management of the Pregnant Opiate Dependent Woman and Her Newborn.  A panel of medical and behavioral healthcare providers will share their knowledge and address questions from conference participants on this topic during the afternoon keynote. *Email questions to: horizons_conference@med.unc.edu.

Choose from a variety of interactive workshops for morning and afternoon sessions.

Fees: $85 includes continental breakfast, lunch and snacks ($80 per person for groups of three or more from the same agency who register and pay together). $60 for full-time students/retirees (copy of student ID must be attached).

CEUs: Certificates of attendance for 6 credit hours will be available for those who submit a completed evaluation.  6 credit hours approved by NC Division of Child Development, and 6 SS hours from NCSAPPB (pending). Must attend entire conference – no partial credit will be given.

For more information about the conference, including information about interactive workshops and a printable registration form click HERE.

Download Registration Brochure:Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

The UNC Horizons Program
Department of OB/GYN
Campus Box 7570
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
919-966-9803

www.unchorizons.org