New NJ Law Requires College Initiatives: Build Awareness of Mental Health Services, Prevent Suicide
October 23, 2023
On October 19, 2023, Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, as Acting
Governor while Governor Murphy is overseas, signed A1176 into law
as P.L.2023, c.168, which requires institutions of higher
education to implement suicide prevention programs and raise
awareness of mental...
NIH Shares New Study Finding Telehealth Supports Retention in Treatment for Opioid Use
October 19, 2023
A new study conducted as part of the
HEALing Communities Study has found that telehealth
supports retention in treatment for opioid use disorder. This is
the largest addiction prevention and treatment implementation
study ever conducted. It is supported by the Nation...
SAMHSA Reinforces Commitment during Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October 17, 2023
"This year, we are joining the
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of
Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) and the
National Domestic Violence Hotline in promoting the
hashtag #1Thing, which encourages everyone to do just one thing
t...
National Disability Employment Awareness Month Focuses on Advancing Access and Equity
October 16, 2023
For this year's observance of National Disability Employment
Awareness Month (NDEAM) throughout October, the U.S. Department
of Labor's (DOL's) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
selected Advancing Access and Equity as the theme. NDEAM
"celebrates the contr...
DMAHS Shares Updated Medicaid Redetermination Data in August 2023 Report
October 12, 2023
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of
Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) has published its
August 2023 Medicaid Monthly Renewal Report, sharing
updates on Medicaid redetermination efforts and data since they
began in April of this ...
DEA, HHS Extend Telehealth Flexibilities for Prescribing Controlled Medications through 2024
October 10, 2023
On May 1, 2023, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), along with the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS), issued a temporary rule extending the allowance of the use
of telemedicine for prescribing controlled medications in
instances where ...
Governor Murphy and State Senators Announce Collaboration on Veterans’ Services Reform
October 9, 2023
On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, following both state and federal
reports criticizing the COVID-19 response at state-run nursing
homes for veterans, Governor Phil Murphy and a group of State
Senators announced a conceptual agreement to pursue structural
reforms to the de...
Governor Murphy and State Senators Announce Collaboration on Veterans’ Services Reform
October 9, 2023
On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, following both state and federal
reports criticizing the COVID-19 response at state-run nursing
homes for veterans, Governor Phil Murphy and a group of State
Senators announced a conceptual agreement to pursue structural
reforms to the de...
October 6th is Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day
October 5, 2023
Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day (KOOAD), which has
been observed on October 6th in New
Jersey since 2016, is this Friday. KOOAD is the
...
President Biden Signs Continuing Resolution Averting Government Shutdown Until at least Nov. 17th
October 3, 2023
On Saturday, September 30, 2023, after weeks of seemingly
unproductive efforts, and with just hours to spare, both houses
of Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed into law a
Continuing Resolution (CR). This temporary funding measure will
fund the federal gover...
Mental Illness Awareness Week Is Oct 1st-7th
Mental Illness Awareness Week is observed each year during the
first week of October, and will begin this year on Sunday,
October 1, 2023,
running through Saturday, October 7, 2023. On September 27, 2023,
Governor Phil Murphy signed a proclamation officially declaring
Oct. 1st - 7th as ...
Free COVID Tests Available at Covidtests.gov Beginning Sept. 25th
Beginning today, September 25, 2023, any household in the U.S.
can again order four free COVID-19 tests from Covidtests.gov. The
reopening of Covidtests.gov was announced last week by the Biden
Administration, in addition to a $600 million investment across
12 domestic COVID-19 test manuf...
Government Shutdown Looms as Congress Fails to Pass Defense and Government Funding Bills
Yesterday, September 21, 2023, the United States House of
Representatives failed to pass a procedural vote that would have
begun debate on a defense funding bill by a measure of 212 in
favor and 216 opposed. The defense funding bill would have
limited access to abortion services for servi...
Governor Murphy Signs Proclamation Declaring Today, Sept. 20th, Addiction Professionals Day
Addiction Professionals Day, part of National Recovery Month, was
established in 1992 by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction
Professionals, to show appreciation for the important work of
addiction professionals who provide clinical counseling and
support to those affected by substance u...
CMS to Establish MFTs and MH Counselors as Medicare Provider Types, Jan. 1st
September 19, 2023
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has
announced that, as directed in the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2023, a new Medicare benefit category will be established
for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health
Counselors (MHCs) for s...
