Deadline Extended: 988 Stakeholder Survey

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is seeking feedback from stakeholders as part of the development of a statewide public awareness and outreach campaign for the Ohio 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. By understanding your needs, as well as the needs of the communities you serve, OhioMHAS can develop communications that will be most beneficial to everyone. 

This survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to Friday, Nov. 3. If you have any questions, please contact the survey vendor point of contact: [email protected].

Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications Extended Through End of 2024

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an extension of current telemedicine flexibilities for controlled substances through Dec. 31, 2024.

This second extension will allow patients and practitioners time to adapt to the final set of telemedicine regulations that the DEA and HHS are expected to release in fall 2024. To view the full article, click here.

Investors Foresee Cost of Care Attribution, Payer Landscape As Thorniest Issues for Behavioral Health Value-Based Care

Value-based care has been a buzzword for decades in behavioral health, but the bulk of providers have yet to make the leap from fee-for-service to a risk-bearing or even cost-savings model.

This could be changing as payers begin to prioritize value-based care contracts. In turn, this could reshape dynamics between providers and their investor partners.

While some investors are ready to dip their toes into the value-based care market, many question the evolving payer landscape and how behavioral health providers get credit for physical health outcomes.

Although there are some prime examples of value-based care models in behavioral health, primary care remains the hot spot for these arrangements and investments. For more information, click here.

Community Action Plan for Expanding Naloxone & Fentanyl Test Strip Access for Community Partners

The Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is working to curb unintentional drug overdoses by increasing access to naloxone and fentanyl test strips for ADAMHS Boards, Behavioral Health providers, and other community partners.

Ohio’s illicit drug supply (including cocaine and methamphetamines) has become increasingly contaminated with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 100x stronger than morphine. Individuals using any illicit substances for any reason, whether recreationally or due to dependence, are at high risk of unintentionally encountering fentanyl.  Fentanyl test strips give persons using any drugs the ability to test for fentanyl and minimize the risk of accidental drug overdose. Naloxone is the life-saving medication that can reverse the effect of an opioid-overdose.

OhioMHAS’ overdose prevention strategies include:

• Naloxone Access: OhioMHAS is strongly encouraging Ohio’s ADAMHS Boards and treatment providers to register to become Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) programs, which would enable them to freely obtain and distribute large amounts of naloxone for their community.
• Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution: Additionally, registering to become a Project DAWN site allows access to free fentanyl test strips for ADAMHS Boards, treatment providers, and community partners. Organizations or individuals who are not Project DAWN partners may also obtain Fentanyl Test Strips from your local Project DAWN program.
• Media Plans: OhioMHAS has also developed OH Against OD, a harm reduction campaign communities can use to help others understand the issue and share information about resources; with the goal of increasing messaging about resources and help that is available to support people actively misusing substances as a key method to reduce overdose death.

For additional information, please see OhioMHAS’ Community Action Plan for Expanding Access to Naloxone and Fentanyl Test Strips, which is part of Ohio’s Strategic Plan on Opioid & Stimulant Use Disorder.