[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52339-52340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25229]
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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 two 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 five
substance abuse treatment domains discussed below.
DATES/LOCATIONS: In addition to the public hearings held on July 8 in
Hartford, Connecticut; September 16 in Chicago, Illinois; and October
18 in Washington, DC, CSAT plans to conduct two more public hearings in
1999--October 26 in Portland, Oregon, and November 8 in Tampa, Florida.
The next hearing will be held at The Portland Building, 1120 S.W. Fifth
Avenue, Meeting Room C-Second Floor, Portland, Oregon 97204, on October
26, 1999, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 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 Portland, Oregon, public hearing must be
submitted to the addressee indicated below by October 20, 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: Carol Coley, [Tele: (301) 443-6539; e-
mail: [email protected]; Fax: (301) 443-8345], Center for Substance
Abuse Treatment, SAMHSA, Rockwall II Building, Suite 880, 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,
[[Page 52340]]
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 22, 1999.
Richard Kopanda,
Executive Officer, SAMHSA.
[FR Doc. 99-25229 Filed 9-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P