NJAMHAA 75th Anniversary

Commemorative Journal 33 • Association Advance America – Honor Roll – Di erent Class of Classes (Conference Agenda) • Community Mental Health Foundation Award for tireless and invaluable work to advance and support the position of those with mental illness – Debra Wentz • ASAE – Associations Advance America Award of Excellence – Balancing Lives and Dollars • APEX Awards for Publication Excellence – Award of Excellence for Most Improved Brochures, Manuals & Reports – NJAMHAA – A Powerful Voice that Commands Attention 1998 • ASAE Gold Circle Awards Certificate of Achievement for Public Relations/ Informational Campaign for a Single Purpose – Erasing Stigma and Discrimination – Debra Wentz • Health Improvement Institute – Aesculapius Awards Certificate of Appreciation – Famous Faces Erasing Stigma and Discrimination video public service announcement (PSA) – Debra Wentz • ASAE – Honor Roll – Erasing Stigma and Discrimination – PSA Campaign • ASAE – Honor Roll – Knowledge is the Key to Survival – Conference Agenda • ASAE – Honor Roll – Staying on Top of the Issues – Newsletter • ASAE – Honor Roll - A Marriage of Mutual Need – Managed Care Council • COMHCO – Recognition Award – Debra Wentz NJAMHAA Awards (continued) FY2022 FY2023 NJAMHAA continued to be a leading advocate to sustain and expand CCBHCs. A three-year extension of the demonstration program through September 30, 2023 was included in the December 2020 federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which also added two states to the demonstration program and increased funding for expansion grants. Many successes were realized in CMS’ Calendar Year 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. These included extension of flexibilities that were implemented under the Public Health Emergency and the following allowances: Behavioral health clinicians to offer services incident to Medicare practitioners under general (rather than direct) supervision; Licensed Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists to bill Medicare for their services; and opioid treatment programs to use telehealth to initiate treatment with buprenorphine for patients with opioid use disorder. FY2021 NJAMHAA successfully advocated for behavioral health workers to be included in definitions provided in a broad array of grant announcements, bills and guidance. In addition, many items that NJAMHAA persistently advocated for were included in the final American Rescue Plan, which was a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that provided aid to state and local governments; New Jersey received $10.2 billion. The American Rescue Plan also included funds to produce and distribute COVID-19 vaccines and increase testing, as well as several provisions for mental health and substance use disorder services: $3 billion for the SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment block grant and Community Mental Health Services block grant; $420 million to SAMHSA to fund Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) expansion grants; $8.5 billion to the Provider Relief Fund for those who serve rural communities; and $450 million in additional funding for SAMHSA and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programming. The funding also included increased federal reimbursement for Home and Community Based Services under the Medicaid program for one year. The state created the Department of Children and Families to improve the child welfare system. 2006 New Jersey’s First Lady Mary Jo Codey was instrumental in the passage of New Jersey’s Postpartum Depression Screening and Education Law.