After decades of a worsening drug overdose crisis, primarily driven by opioids, state health officials are observing an encouraging shift. Recent national data show a significant decline in overdose deaths, with a reduction of over 10 percent. This decline may be linked to state policy responses, such as expanding access to naloxone — a drug that reverses overdoses — and increasing availability of medications for addiction treatment.
Recognizing that state policymakers, and Medicaid programs in particular, are well-positioned to address inequities in substance use disorder (SUD) care and strengthen SUD care systems, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is launching the Substance Use System Transformation and Integration Network (SUSTAIN) Learning Collaborative. Supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the learning collaborative will work with up to four state or U.S. territory teams to advance equitable access to SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery supports for adults. Selected teams will work toward achieving SUD-related policies in two or more of the following areas:
- Expand access to team-based behavioral health care in community-based treatment settings;
- Promote access to contingency management services;
- Reduce SUD-related racial and ethnic disparities; and
- Enhance data collection/monitoring in impacted communities.
Over 12 months, participating teams will participate in virtual learning collaborative meetings, providing an opportunity to learn from their peers, receive feedback on their SUD policy planning approaches, and discuss how to pursue opportunities and tackle challenges. Teams will receive tailored technical assistance from CHCS to think through SUD policy design decision points and considerations, and troubleshoot emerging challenges.
The learning collaborative draws on themes from a recent CHCS report, State Principles for Financing Substance Use Care, Treatment, and Support Services, that outlines strategies for states to strategically invest Medicaid dollars and other public funding to promote greater access to evidence-based SUD care and services.
Call for Applications: SUSTAIN Learning Collaborative
CHCS welcomes applications from all states and U.S. territories to participate in this 12-month collaborative beginning in February 2025. States and territories that are looking for timely support with planning, developing, or refining SUD-related policies for adults that advance health equity and promote prevention, treatment, or recovery supports should consider applying.
To learn more and apply, download the Request for Applications.
IMPORTANT DATES
- November 12, 2024 – Request for applications released.
- December 6, 2024 – Optional letter of intent to apply due by 5:00 pm ET
- December 20, 2024 – Applications due by 5:00 pm ET.
- January 2025 – Selection notification.