The Implications Of The Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act of 2016 Outlined In Newly Released OPEN MINDS Market Intelligence Report

Gettysburg, Pa. (July 31, 2016) — The OPEN MINDS market intelligence team recently released a new report outlining the provisions of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA), which was recently passed by the U.S. Senate and sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The report provides a detailed overview of CARA and outlines the implications and possible outcomes of this new legislation.

Many view CARA as the most comprehensive reform of addiction in decades and the first to treat addiction as a disease rather than a crime. The Act makes several important policy and cultural shifts in how addiction is viewed and how it should be treated. However, the OPEN MINDS team reports that it is unlikely that CARA goes far enough to address the current opioid crisis. The Act does extend the ability to provide buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist that suppresses withdrawal symptoms and relieves drug cravings, to nurse practitioners and physician assistants who have at 24 hours of training and meet other qualifications set by the Department of Health and Human Services. However, the legislation relies on grants to implement its goals and the result will likely be patchy changes both geographically and in terms of available resources. Finally, there isn’t any actual funding for the law at this time and no guarantee of funding in the future.

The newly released OPEN MINDS Market Intelligence Report, What Is CARA & What Are The Strategic Implications?, reviews the specific grants and provisions of CARA and provides information on:

• The grants available through the Act, activities funded under the grants, eligible recipients, and the expected appropriations for the grants
• The Medicare drug management program for at-risk beneficiaries
• Specific requirements for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe buprenorphine
• Addiction treatment reforms related to the Department of Veterans Affairs

“Provider organizations should definitely keep an eye on the legislation,” explains Athena Mandros, OPEN MINDS Market Intelligence Manager and co-author of the report. “However, they should not expect CARA to make major changes to how addiction and mental health provider organizations pay for services or receive funding until Congress acts in the fall to provide funding.”

For a detailed summary of the report, check out the article, Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act – A Healthy Dose Of Skepticism Required, which is available at no cost to the public.

Published weekly by OPEN MINDS’ team of experts, the Market Intelligence Reports are provided as a free resource to Premium & Elite members of the OPEN MINDS Circle. Click here for details on how to become a Premium or Elite member. The reports are also available for purchase in the OPEN MINDS store by clicking here.

OPEN MINDS is a national strategic advisory firm specializing in the sectors of the health and human service industry serving individuals with complex support needs: mental health; addiction treatment; children & family services; intellectual & developmental disabilities; chronic disease management; long term care; social services; correctional health care, reentry & diversion; and juvenile justice.

Founded in 1987 and based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 75+ associates believe by providing the latest market intelligence and management best practices to organizations serving the health and social support needs of the most vulnerable consumers, those organizations will be better able to provide efficient and effective services. Learn more at www.openminds.com.

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