Association Executive Directors Community

  • 1.  PPE Impounded? SAMHSA Letter to Help.

    Posted 05-07-2020 17:03
      |   view attached

    Hi Association Executives, 

    We have heard that some members have had their PPE orders impounded. 

    SAMHSA has issued a letter (attached) from Assistant Secretary McCance-Katz clarifying that the Administration considers PPE ordered for behavioral health providers to be for a legitimate need and purpose. 

    Of course it is!

    Please encourage your members to share this letter with the impounding authority, should their PPE be seized. 

    Please let me know if you hear of these instances, and please let me know if you have any questions,

    Thank you,

    Frankie



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    Frankie Berger
    Director, State Policy and Advocacy
    National Council for Behavioral Health
    202-684-3727
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    Attachment(s)



  • 2.  RE: PPE Impounded? SAMHSA Letter to Help.

    Posted 05-07-2020 19:58
    Hi Frankie, 

    Are you hearing that members' PPE orders via Nat Con are being impounded in transit?

    Lauren Grimes





  • 3.  RE: PPE Impounded? SAMHSA Letter to Help.

    Posted 05-07-2020 22:09
    Hi Lauren,

    No, we are not aware of our National Council PPE being impounded at the member level, but this is a concern raised often enough that SAMHSA took this action. 

    Please let us know if you experience difficulties!

    Thanks you,
    Frankie

    ------------------------------
    Frankie Berger
    Director, State Policy and Advocacy
    National Council for Behavioral Health
    202-684-3727
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  • 4.  RE: PPE Impounded? SAMHSA Letter to Help.

    Posted 05-08-2020 14:10
    Frankie,

    Can you tell us what to watch for?  How will we know if our face mask order has been seized?  Have the others received some type of notification that their package(s) have been impounded?  What entity is seizing the face masks?  Is it a State entity?  UPS?   My Association Members have waited so long for the face masks, I don't know if they will recognize whether the absence of face masks is due to the fact that the masks just haven't arrived yet OR due to the fact that the masks have been seized. Thanks for any details that will help us stay on top of this. 

    Many thanks to you and to NCBH!

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    Lisa Henick
    Chief Administrative Officer
    Mississippi Association of Community Mental Health Centers
    Jackson MS
    601-321-2442
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  • 5.  RE: PPE Impounded? SAMHSA Letter to Help.

    Posted 05-08-2020 17:39

    Hi Lisa, 

    I unfortunately can't tell you what to watch for - I imagine it differs across states and municipalities, and we are hearing stories piecemeal from the field.

    Based on this letter, the impounding stems from a critical misunderstanding where the seizing authority does not recognize behavioral healthcare providers as essential and frontline providers. This letter from the Administration via SAMHSA makes clear that PPE for our providers is legitimate and necessary. 

    I'm sorry I do not have additional information, but please keep me posted on what you hear from your members. 

    Thank you,

    Frankie



    ------------------------------
    Frankie Berger
    Director, State Policy and Advocacy
    National Council for Behavioral Health
    202-684-3727
    ------------------------------