[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50100-50101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23971]


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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 (http://www.NaTxPlan.org); or (3) in 
person at one of the remaining three public hearings scheduled at 
locations across the country. 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

[[Page 50101]]

five substance abuse treatment domains discussed below.

DATES/LOCATIONS: In addition to the public hearings held on July 8 in 
Hartford, Connecticut, and on September 16 in Chicago, Illinois, CSAT 
plans to conduct three more public hearings in 1999--October 18 in 
Washington, DC; October 26 in Portland, Oregon; and November 9 
(tentative date) in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. The next hearing 
will be held at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 777 
N. Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4226, on October 18, 1999, 
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Specific details regarding 
subsequent hearings will be published in the Federal Register 
approximately one month prior to each hearing.
    Requests to testify at the Washington, DC, public hearing must be 
submitted to the addressee indicated below by October 12, 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 INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information regarding 
the hearing and/or testimonies, as well as requests to testify must be 
addressed to: Cynthia Graham, [Tele: (301) 443-8390; e-mail: 
[email protected]; 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. Five 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: September 3, 1999.
Richard Kopanda,
Executive Officer, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-23971 Filed 9-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P