MAADAC  News

Massachusetts Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors

        PO Box  741                                                                        Ware, MA 01082

                                                 November 2001     

 

MAADAC Announcements:

 MAADAC Holiday Breakfast – December 7 – Radisson Milford – Don’t Miss It!

 h CORI Update: DPH Hearing Held November 9th

hLADC  Regulation:  Next Step BSAS Review

hMAADAC Website: http://www.maadac-ma.org

iBoston MAADAC Business Meeting December 12, 3:30  PM, Atrium 2, Faulkner

iNAADAC Annual Conference  ~ Boston, MA ~ July 3-6 , 2002 – Save The Dates!

iNAADAC New Executive Director ~Pat Ford-Roegener, ACSW,RN, FAAN

 

Criminal Offender Report Information Update

The Department of  Public Health held another Emergency CORI Regulation Hearing 

November 9th in Worcester. Please see enclosed MA Law Reform Update. DPH Council will vote on CORI Regulation by mid - December.

 

LADC Regulation Draft Hearings Held – Next Step:  BSAS Review 

Licensure for Alcohol and Drug Counselor Hearings  held September 24 and 28

 n Next Steps

          Bureau of Substance Abuse Services reviews testimonies to finalize draft

              Public Health Council reviews finalized draft

              Approved draft must go through an authorization process

          Authorization allows for LADC Regulation to be put into effect

What You May Want to Know?

hH2184  was filed to broaden the grandparenting criteria. Questions about H2184

    should go to: Recovery Homes Collaborative President,  John Brennan, 617-321-2600.

 

Third Party Payment Legislative Proposal Initiated by MAADAC  

H2191   An Act Authorizing Certain Licensed Alcohol and Drug  Counselors  To 

             Receive Certain Insurance Payments, Rep. Kevin Fitzgerald  and others

Present Status

H2191 placed in “active study” by The Joint Insurance Committee. This means that the Insurance Committee will continue to review the proposed legislation. 

           Please Help:  Keep the momentum going!  Ask Your Legislators to

support H2191~   Please thank Representative Fitzgerald for leading the effort.

  Send your letters to The State House, Boston, MA 02133.  

 

Support The Following to Pass in Budget Conference Committee

Please Note with The Current Economic Strains Advocacy Might Prevent Cuts

The Conference Committee resolves the differences between the House and Senate

versions of  the Budget. House Conferees are Ways and Means Chairman John Rogers of Norwood, Representative Nancy Flavin of Easthampton, and Representative John Lepper of Attleboro.  Senate Conferees are Ways and Means Chairman Mark Montigny of New Bedford, Senator Fred Berry of Peabody, and Senator Michael Knapik of Westfield. If   aforementioned are your district legislators- great.  If not, you can still contact them and your elected legislators.

                                So Please ask for The Following to be Passed

        The MA Senate Passed Substance Abuse Services Line Item Increase  

Bureau of Substance Abuse Services Line item 4512-0200- by $3 million for 3 family treatment residences with childcare, plus expand transitional support and residential services., as passed in the Senate.   Project ABLE, Mental Health Substance Abuse Corp (MHSACM),Recovery Homes Collaborative, MA Housing and Shelter Alliance are leading this move.  More Information?  Please call:  MHSACM, 508-647-8385.

 

More Legislation to Support

 S763/H2544 An Act to Provide Equitable Coverage for Substance Abuse (SA Parity), was placed into active study by The  Insurance Committee.   

Info: David Matteodo, MA Association of Behavioral Health Systems, 617-855-3520.

 

 S611, A Health Protection Fund- (Senator Marian Walsh) taxes alcohol, funds treatment. Taxation Committee moved it into active study. Senator Walsh is Chair.

 

National Legislative Proposals –

     Congress has Experienced Severe Challenges From The September 11th Tragedy 

Call  your Congressmen!!     The U.S. Capitol Switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.

 

What You Need to Say:

Thank you for putting our Nation’s security as a priority measure. I understand that

Capitol Hill – legislators and staff are experiencing painful challenges.  As a caring

citizen and constituent, I send you my personal support.  I, also, hope when considering budget decisions – that it is not the time to cut alcohol and drug treatment, prevention, education and research.  These services save lives and money by reducing crime, welfare, health and social costs.- improve quality of life. .... very much needed by our nation.

 

 Support National Parity for Addiction Treatment-

Go to WWW.NAADAC.Org- Make your voice heard to Congress on line!

MAADAC represented  you at a Parity Coalition Meeting with Senator Kennedy!

 

 And MAADAC Boston Region elected Linda Mazak as President,

Joe Kelleher as Vice President, Tom Delaney as Secretary for 2002 and 2003. The Boston Region wants you to come 12/12 , 3:30 PM, Atrium 2, Faulkner to know when   what would entice you to attend MAADAC meetings. A time suggestion: holding monthly meetings on a Monday night  at 6 PM. What time works for you? In fact, NAADAC Northeast members met, October 20th, at Bill Wilson’s Place in Vermont. We want to know as a region-

                                        how we can better support our membership!

 

 Please Come to The MAADAC Holiday Breakfast – December 7th to have this conversation!!

 

 

                             From The Office of The MAADAC President.

                                                        Russell Viveiros

                 978-851-0180  ~ Russellv@centerforlifemgtskills.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               

 

 

 

 

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 Send Counselor of the Year Nominations to MAADAC,  PO Box  741  ~ Ware, MA 01082. Enclose short nomination summary, and biography for your nominee.  Person must be a member for three years. The recipient will be nominated for NAADAC Counselor of The Year.