NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

21 In 2002, it was clear that NJAMHAA was grow- ing in size and recognition. The staff outgrew the Manasquan office and moved to a larger space in Mercerville to be closer to the state capital for its advocacy work. It was also the year Dr. Wentz first served on an incoming governor’s transition team – Governor James McGreevey’s Transition Team for DHS – which she was selected to do for the subse- quent governors as well. In regard to Governor Codey, Dr. Wentz sad, “Never has there been a governor who has made mental health their number one priority for the tenure of their governorship more than Governor Richard J. Codey has done.” Governor Codey also recognized the value of NJAMHAA’s input and selected NJAMHAA Board member Bob Davison to chair the Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health, which was established in 2004. Several other members and Dr. Wentz served on the task force, whose recommendations closely paralleled those promoted in NJAMHAA’s Broken Promises, Shattered Lives advocacy campaign. The Task Force’s efforts resulted in the FY2006 State Budget including $40 million in new funding for many behavioral health services and the creation of the $200 million Special Needs Housing Trust Fund. Nationally in 2004, the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, the first legislation to provide funding specifi- cally for youth suicide prevention programs, was signed into law and in 2005, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was created. Also in 2006, First Lady of New Jersey Mary Jo Codey was instrumental in the passage of New Jersey’s Postpartum Depression Screening and Education Law, and NJAMHAA met with Congressmen Rush Holt and Patrick Kennedy to develop strategies for gaining passage of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), which extended parity requirements to SUD treatment and was signed into law in 2008. The MHPAEA was enacted 2016 - The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) and the 21st Century Cures Act were signed into law. - The Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act continued funding for existing CCBHCs and creation of new CCBHCs. 2016 - NJAMHAA’s advocacy led to DHS’ elimination of Social Service Language Amendments. - NJAMHAA unveiled a report that demonstrated providers’ economic impact on the state. 2017 - NJAMHAA persuaded the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to postpone transitioning Community Support Services from contract-based funding to fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursement. - NJAMHAA secured and saw passed into law a bill that established the Independent Fee-for- Service Transition Oversight Board and required study of the adequacy of FFS rates. Several NJAMHAA members were appointed to the FFS Oversight Board. 2017 - Governor Chris Christie signed into law a telehealth bill. - Governor Christie announced 25 initiatives to combat the opioid crisis. - The National Certi ed Peer Specialist certi cation was created. “We were always making progress no matter who was in charge at DHS and DMHAS.” – Mike Armstrong, Former NJAMHAA Board Chair The Economic Contribution of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Industry to the New Jersey Economy January 2016 Michael L. Lahr, Will Irving