[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