SUD Treatment Services Strategic Priorities
The “system” – namely state regulators, managed care organizations, and county administrators – asks more and more of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers, and little of it objectively improves the quality of treatment and services.
In fact, it can be argued that much of what our providers are forced to do by regulators and payers – an ever-increasing administrative burden – actually hinders access to quality treatment. Decades-old regulations that have long outlived their utility have gone beyond burdensome to become significant barriers to accessing addiction treatment for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable people.
We face an unprecedented workforce crisis that prevents people from receiving the services they need. Reimbursement rates are still inadequate, and staff are leaving for higher-paying jobs. Addiction treatment providers’ current inability to fill open positions as a result of an unprecedented workforce crisis have forced providers to turn patients away from their facilities, despite having the capacity to treat them.
Against this backdrop and in collaboration with its provider members, RCPA has identified the following strategic priorities for the SUD Treatment Services Division.
Payment Reform and Funding
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Regulatory Reform and the Workforce Crisis
Jason Snyder, RCPA and Justin Wolford, CenClear testified on regulatory reform and the workforce crisis. See media coverage below:
- Staff shortages, ‘burdensome’ regulations among top hurdles for addiction treatment providers (Penn Capital-Star)
- Recovery industry execs say regulations stymy addiction recovery (CNHI News)
- Regulations forcing Pa. opioid treatment facilities to turn patients away, experts say (Fox News video)
- Addiction treatment providers stress need for regulatory changes to meet need in rural Pa. (WESA)
Administrative Relief
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