[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 12, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 55301-55302] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-26504] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Call for Public Comment: Changing the Conversation--A National Plan to Improve Substance Abuse Treatment
Agency
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, DHHS.
Action
Request for public comment on five issues (domains) of concern to the substance abuse treatment field when assessing substance abuse treatment.
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Summary
This notice announces that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is formally inviting public comment on five issues (domains) that are of concern to the substance abuse treatment field and require development and exploration. Via several mechanisms, including public hearings, CSAT intends that findings from the exploration of individual domains will ultimately be synthesized into a coherent national strategy to guide substance abuse treatment program and policy development for the future. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to comment in one of several ways: (1) in writing, by submission through the U.S. Mail or courier service; (2) via the National Treatment Plan web site (www.NaTxPlan.org); or (3) in person at the remaining public hearing. The final cutoff date for comments is December 1, 1999. This notice discusses the public hearings at which interested individuals/organizations may testify regarding the five substance abuse treatment domains discussed below.
www.NaTxPlan.orgDATES/LOCATIONS: In addition to the public hearings held on July 8 in Hartford, Connecticut; September 16 in Chicago, Illinois; October 18 in Washington, DC; and October 26 in Portland, Oregon; CSAT plans to conduct a public hearing on November 8 in Tampa, Florida. The hearing will be held at the County Center, Corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Pierce Street, Tampa, Florida 33602 on November 8, 1999, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Specific details regarding any subsequent hearings will be published in the Federal Register approximately one month prior to the hearing. Requests to testify at the Tampa, Florida, public hearing must be submitted to the addressee indicated below by November 2, 1999. Seating is limited. In the event that interpretive services for the hearing- impaired are required, please indicate these special needs to the addressee.
For Further Information Contact
Requests for additional information regarding the hearing and/or testimonies, as well as requests to testify must be addressed to: Marjorie Cashion (Tele: (301) 443-3821; e-mail: mcashion@samhsa.gov; Fax: (301) 480-6077), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, SAMHSA, Rockwall II Building, Suite 618, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. Written comments (without a request to personally testify) will also be accepted by the above addressee. Written testimonies are limited to five (5) typed pages using 1.5 line spacing and 12 point font.
Supplementary Information
Background
Building on recent advances and studies, CSAT has initiated plans to focus on how to apply its extensive knowledge to the practical objective of improving treatment outcomes. The plans include synthesizing current knowledge and recommendations about treatment, service systems, application of best practices, diffusion methods, and organization and financing of substance abuse treatment services. Federal Government and outside experts, as well as the interested public, will explore the current state of the knowledge, resources, needs, and service and organizational capacity. The objective is the culling of priorities for action by the government and by others in the substance abuse treatment field. As noted above, CSAT is inviting the public to comment on five domains as part of the initial step of the plan. The domains, as well as some initial questions for exploration, include: (1) Closing the Treatment Gap: Where are the gaps? How big are they for different populations? For different types of settings and treatment modalities? How big are gaps in other related systems of care, e.g., welfare, child welfare, housing? What are the policy, organization, and financing issues that must be addressed in the private and public systems, including Medicaid and Medicare, to close the treatment gap? (2) Reducing Stigma and Changing Attitudes: What are the nature, causes and consequences of addiction stigma? What can CSAT, the treatment field, consumers and families do to address stigma related to addiction, substance abuse treatment and individuals with substance abuse disorders? How do other stigmas impact/compound the stigma of addiction? (3) Improving and Strengthening Treatment Systems: What are the clinical and organizational challenges facing treatment organizations in the public and private sectors? What can CSAT, the treatment field, consumers and families do to improve and strengthen treatment organizations so that they can adapt to the new imperatives of the changing treatment system, and to improve the relationship between the general health care system and the specialty substance abuse treatment system? What should be done at the State, county and/or local levels to improve and strengthen substance abuse treatment? (4) Connecting Services and Research: What are the best methods by which CSAT, the treatment field, consumers and families can foster and support evaluation of proven research findings in community-based settings and identification and adoption of best practices? (5) Addressing Workforce Issues: What are the issues facing clinicians treating addictions? What can CSAT, the treatment field, consumers and families, and professional associations do to foster training, appropriate credentialing, and licensure in all settings in which treatment occurs, and to support treatment organizations in developing appropriate policies for clinical training?
Hearing Format
The hearings will be divided into five segments (i.e., the five domains described above) of approximately 60 minutes each. Each individual/organization participant will be limited to three (3) minutes of oral testimony and five (5) pages of typed testimony per domain. All oral testimonies must be accompanied by a written testimony of no more than five (5) typed pages using 1.5 line spacing and 12 point font. Four copies of written testimonies may either be submitted before the hearing to the addressee listed above or to the
registrar at the hearing. As the hearing schedule allows, unscheduled testimonies will be accommodated. All testimonies (recorded and written) will become a part of the public domain.
Dated: October 4, 1999. Richard Kopanda, Executive Officer, SAMHSA. [FR Doc. 99-26504 Filed 10-8-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4162-20-P