NAATP guidebook not only for residential care

The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) has released its draft guidebook for minimum standards for members (see ADAW, April 22, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.32334 ). NAATP is not only for residential treatment providers, however. “Our position at NAATP is that we are a membership association for providers along the entire continuum and that, while residential holds an important place in our work and is our historical foundation, our membership is in no way limited to residential,” NAATP Executive Director Marvin Ventrell told ADAW last week. “Even apart from our membership, we intend our resources, including ethics and the guidebook, to reach and guide the entire continuum. It is true that some of the guidelines have application more or less relative to type of care, but as a whole it should be viewed as a provider guide, not just a residential provider guide.” We regret any confusion. The field — and prominent organizations within it — is changing.     

AAC statement on NAATP lawsuit

As the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) was beginning its annual leadership meeting May 6, American Addiction Centers sued the organization in federal court (see “AAC sues NAATP for defamation,” ADAW, May 13, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.32362 ). We wanted to provide further information on the lawsuit (which we linked to in our story last week). Below is a statement provided exclusively to ADAW by AAC May 15.     

NAATP releases draft guidebook for residential treatment providers

The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) has released a draft guidebook for comment by its members. The guidebook, when finalized, will be the document treatment centers can use to determine if they are in compliance with the best practices of the organization.     

NAATP to court: AAC doesn't have a case

Citing “actions that it had every right to take, statements of opinion it had every right to make, and the actions and the conduct of third parties” for which it had no control or responsibility, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) filed a motion to dismiss the complaint against it by American Addiction Centers (AAC) filed in May (see ADAW, May 13, May 20).     

When pricing treatment,know your costs and set your profit margins

Billing, ethics and parity have been hot‐button issues for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment centers for years, but the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) is getting closer to finding solutions. At its annual leadership meeting in Washington last month, members, not to be deterred by a surprise lawsuit on opening day from American Addiction Centers (see ADAW, May 20, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.32368 ), gathered to hear from experts on how to properly conduct billing in a dynamic new environment.     

NAATP releases 3‐year pilot outcomes report

Last week, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) released the results of its three‐year Outcomes Pilot Program, in which eight pilot sites tested out a method for a standardized outcomes tracking tool. The project was a success, said NAATP Executive Director Marvin Ventrell on March 12. The project resulted in the Outcomes Measurement Toolkit: The Addiction Treatment Provider Guide to Standardized Outcomes Measurement, which NAATP members can start using now.     

Membership doubles,and NAATP plans more on ethics and outcomes for 2019

The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) has culled its membership, removing members who don't comply with its ethics guidelines — mainly for marketing purposes. But rather than reducing its total numbers, this move has doubled membership, from 450 in the fall of 2015 to more than 900, NAATP Executive Director Marvin Ventrell told ADAW last week.     

Hill Day: The three big ‘asks’ from NAATP

At the “Hill Day” event that marked the end of the annual leadership conference of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), 120 association members went to the Senate and House of Representatives to make their case. “I felt it would be successful if we had 50 members who stayed the extra day and did the Hill visits,” Mark Dunn, NAATP policy representative, told ADAW of the May 8 visits. So he was thrilled that so many went.     

Letter to the Editor

In “COMBINE follow‐up: Some heavy use of alcohol compatible with recovery” (see ADAW, Aug. 17, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.32806 ), we wrote about a study by Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, showing that some people can be in recovery but still drink heavily. We received the following commentary from Annie Peters, Ph.D., director of research and education at the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP).     

NAATP members work to support staff during changes of pandemic

Members of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) — treatment programs both inpatient and outpatient — are still open for business. In fact, business is booming, NAATP told ADAW last week. This is good for patients, and good for providers, but at the same time, it's stressful for staff. Employers are working to combat this stress by helping to obtain personal protective equipment (PPE) — masks and gloves — for staff. In addition, they are trying to ramp up with telehealth, provide supports for staff and keep paying attention to the needs of patients. Demand for treatment is increasing, as drinking is going up as well.     

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California OIG Blasts In‐Prison Treatment as a Waste of Money Leadership Change at Phoenix House Signals New Growth, National Influence New Head of ADP is Renee Zito AATOD Seeks Reconvening of Federal Opioid Treatment Panel NAATP Salary Survey Released: Resource for HR Directors Reader Responds to ADAW Article About Budget Coming up     

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Counseling on the Internet Found Effective in Small‐Scale Study In‐Prison Treatment Changing to Reflect Demands for Effectiveness Ariz. Treatment Providers Protest Against Uncompensated Care Diversification Pays? NIDA‐NIAAA Merger Would Hurt Alcoholism Issues, Says NAATP President ‘Committed’ to Filling SAMHSA Administrator Post ADAW Publisher Sponsors National Council's Excellence in Innovation Award Briefly Noted State News Resources Coming up     

NAATP members are still open,but organization is concerned

Treatment centers are small businesses, with payrolls to meet and rent to pay, like all small businesses. And even if they are protected in terms of not being required to shut down, they are losing patients as a result of COVID‐19. Patients left against medical advice, Mark Dunn, director of public policy with the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), told ADAW last week. New admissions have dwindled to nothing.     

Palm Partners sues NAATP for defamation

Palm Partners LLC, a treatment program based in Delray Beach, Florida, has sued the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) for defamation, trade libel and tortious interference. In the lawsuit filed Nov. 30, 2018, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Palm Partners asks for $75,000 plus costs in damages. NAATP firmly denies the claims.     

NAATP keeps focus on parity

We need to move beyond the principle of parity into the practice of parity.” These words from Mark Dunn, director of public policy for the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP), in an interview with ADAW last week are a sign of the frustration with how parity — the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), which guarantees that substance use disorders (SUDs) will be treated no differently from medical and surgical claims in the world of reimbursement — has been a real‐world disappointment to patients and providers alike.     

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PRIDE Still Stands Out as Site Tailored to LGBT Clients OptumHealth Uses its Pharmacy Data to Identify, Treat Addicted Patients Benefits of Recovery Checkups Presented at NAATP Casino Expansion in New York Moves Forward Building Recovery Capital in San Diego ‘Enthusiasm and Togetherness’ at NAATP Conference Briefly Noted Names in the News Coming up     

The new dropout challenge: bridging gaps among students, parents, and teachers

Interview and survey data reveal significant disconnects among the insights and perspectives of dropouts, parents, teachers, and administrators on the causes and solutions to the dropout challenge. Many educators, for example, do not see boredom as a factor for most dropouts, while young people who drop out see it as the central cause. The author argues that if these disconnects are not more fully understood and bridged, they will continue to set back efforts to keep more students in school and on track to graduate ready for postsecondary education. Models for how communities can engage these constituencies in productive dialogue and transformative action are included in reports and in Grad Nation, a guidebook that helps communities tackle their dropout crises.     

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Two Reports Criticize Drug Courts; NADCP Pushes Back SAMHSA Encourages Providers to Help Military Families Luxury Program Prepares Patients for Post‐Treatment Urine Testing Karen Carpenter‐Palumbo Appointed to Head NAATP Report Highlights Waste in SA Treatment in New York Prisons Briefly Noted In the States Coming up     

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Douglas' Case Hoped to Bring Methadone Treatment Behind Bars OTP Banks on Effectiveness of Integrated Primary Care NIDA‐NIAAA Merger RFI is Closed; Field Waits for NIH Action SBIRT Coming to Hospitals via Joint Commission NAATP Annual Meeting Focuses on Looming Changes for Field AATOD: OTPs Should Use PMPs But Not Input Data Briefly Noted Coming up     

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NAATP: Goodbye to Last Year, Hello to Health Reform, New CEO TASC Stays Focused on Reform Despite Illinois Budget Challenges Childhood ADHD Found to Predict SUDs 10 Years Later FDA Says Okay to Give Vivitrol or Suboxone Without Counseling California Set to Eliminate ADP; Counties Would Administer Funds Briefly Noted Resources Coming up