NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

23 health care. It’s critical to people’s well-being and being healthy mentally and physically,” said Mike Armstrong, MA, MBA, a former NJAMHAA Board Chair and former CEO of Community Hope. “We were al- ways making progress no matter who was in charge at DHS and DMHAS.” In fact, Armstrong and Manny Guantez, PsyD, LCADC, Consultant for Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and a former NJAMHAA Board member, were two of the NJAMHAA members who championed for SUD treatment providers to join the association in 2010. “NJAMHAA effectively addressed addiction treat- ment providers’ fear of the focus on SUD services being lost if they joined the association,” Dr. Guantez said. “We also saw SUD treatment providers repre- sented in the media more than in earlier years. We felt that we got more exposure and this was before the opioid crisis,” he added. NJAMHAA had several significant achievements in 2012. The IT Project established a partnership with the New Jersey Health Information Technology Extension Center (HITEC) and EHR vendors, and June Noto, Vice President, IT, Human Resources and Administrative Services, was selected to serve as a statewide HIT Champion. On the policy side, NJAMHAA successfully advocated for the elimination of proposed restrictions to Medicaid eligibility and copayments for non-emergent use of emergency rooms. As further evidence of its equal commitment to representing SUD treatment providers, NJAMHAA advocated for state legislation to increase access to these vital services, which the association continues 2020 - The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention launched its Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19. - The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act was signed into law. - Medicare expanded telehealth access - The Jim Ramstad Model State Parity Legislation was released by The Kennedy Forum. - The Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2020 was enacted. - Increased appropriations were invested in the SAMHSA Mental Health and SUD Block Grants as part of the Omnibus Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief Package. - The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act was signed into law. 2020 - NJAMHAA helped draft a bill to establish a grant program for screening centers. - NJAMHAA received the Advocacy Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence by the National Council for Behavioral Health. - NJAMHAA led the successful campaign to reinstate full funding to the School Based Youth Services Program in the Governor’s proposed Revised FY2021 budget. 2021 - NJAMHAA advocated to have legislation drafted that would tie rates and contracts to an in ationary index. - NJAMHAA secured amendments to the telehealth bill that allows clients to receive services at any location and via audio-only. 2021 - SAMHSA invested in the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funds in the American Rescue Plan. “We had great leadership with Len and Deb. We were able to influence legislation and regulations, and see our impact.” - Vicki Sidrow, former NJAMHAA Board Chair