Substance Use Disorder

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated Medicare.gov with an easy-to-navigate section highlighting the mental health and substance use disorder services covered by Medicare. This is part of CMS' Behavioral Health Strategy to ensure that high-quality behavioral health services and supports are accessible to the people CMS serves. This section includes information on: Services & programs Medicare covers; Types of mental health care; Preventive screenings & counseling; Finding a mental health care provider

On May 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Informational Bulletin encouraging states to leverage available opportunities in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services for eligible individuals experiencing homelessness. Topics covered include: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Demonstration ; Section 1115 Demonstrations for Improving Community Reentry Following Incarceration ; Addressing Health-Related Social Needs ; Section 1115 Demonstrations Focusing on Improving Treatment for Substance Use ; Additional Resources

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has recently released resources to guide individuals in understanding mental health benefits and their rights. One such publication, "Understanding Your Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits," provides information on accessing mental health services covered by job-based health plans. Additionally, for parents, family members, or other caregivers for someone in need of or using mental health or substance use disorder benefits, "Understanding Parity: A Guide to Resources for Families and Caregivers," provides information and tools necessary to secure behavioral health services for their loved ones.

CMS recently released a Report to Congress highlighting approaches five state programs implemented to address housing instability and improve treatment outcomes for people with Substance Use Disorder. Initiatives mentioned in the report focus on: providing housing-related supports that facilitate access to community resources; sharing data across systems to identify and target those in need for resources; and partnerships building across state and local health and housing systems and providers.

CMS provided the president and Congress a report detailing the center’s action plan to provide support and technical assistance to states delivering supports to Medicaid beneficiaries with substance use disorder (SUD). The report outlines how CMS plans to implement requirements of Section 1018(a) of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act in 2020-2021.

This letter from CMS is about how they will offer additional flexibilities to help states improve access to and quality of substance use disorder treatment through Medicaid 1115 demonstrations. CMS’s main goal is to support state initiatives to improve access to treatment by requiring less upfront administrative process barriers for approvals of state initiatives to improve access to treatment by requiring less upfront administrative process barriers for approvals of state initiatives.