Association Executive Directors Community

Good morning Association Executives - I wanted to follow-up from yesterday's meeting to share two updates:

1. Write up of the State and Local Funds Provisions from the American Rescue Plan Act
2. List of priority bills introduced in the 117^th Congress

Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

Best,

Michael

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

• Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund
• $220 billion to states, territories and tribal governments to remain available through December 31, 2024.
• $4.5 billion of which must be spent on territories.
• $20 million of which must be spent on tribal governments.
• $130 billion to cities, counties, and non-entitlement units of government to remain available through December 31, 2024.
• $45 billion of which must be spent on cities;
• $65 billion of which must be spent on counties;
• $19.5 billion of which must be spent on non-entitlement units of government.

• Allowances: States, territories, or tribal governments shall only use the funds
• To respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts including assistance to households, small business, and nonprofits or aid to impacted industries such a tourism, travel and hospitality;
• To respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID–19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers of the State, territory, or Tribal government that are performing such essential work, or by providing grants to eligible employers that have eligible workers who perform essential work;
• For the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue of such State, territory, or Tribal government due to the COVID–19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year of the State, territory, or Tribal government prior to the emergency; or
• To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.
• Note: These same allowances and restrictions listed above apply similarly to local and county funds appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act.

• Further Restrictions:
• State General Funds: A State or territory shall not use the funds to either directly or indirectly offset a reduction in the net tax revenue of such State or territory resulting from a change in law, regulation, or administrative interpretation during the covered period that reduces any tax (by providing for a reduction in a rate, a rebate, a deduction, a credit, or otherwise) or delays the imposition of any tax or tax increase.
• Pension Funds: No State or territory may use funds made available under this section for deposit into any pension fund.
• Note: The exclusion on financial aid to pension funds applies similarly to local and county funds appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act.

List of Priority Legislation Introduced in the 117^th Congress

• Mental Health Access Improvement Act. H.R. 432 would allow marriage and family therapists and licensed mental health counselors to directly bill Medicare for their services. Senate companion bill is expected to be introduced mid-March.
• Medicaid Reentry Act. H.R. 955/S. 285 would allow states to restart Medicaid coverage for eligible incarcerated individuals up to 30 days before their release from jail or prison.
• Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act. H.R. 2482/S.2074 would expand access to medication-assisted treatment for millions of Americans by removing the waiver requirement for health care providers to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.
• Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act. The bill would standardize substance use disorder training for providers that prescribe Drug Enforcement Agency scheduled medications, such as those used in medication-assisted treatment. Bill numbers coming shortly
• Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act. S. 340 would allow for the prescription of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) without a prior in-person visit, and for Medicare to be billed for audio-only telehealth services. House bill number will be available shortly
• Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act. H.R. 1868 would postpone the scheduled 2% sequestration cut from April 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 (9 months) as well as wipe the pay-go slate clean, which prevents a 4% cut that would be triggered after October 1, 2021.  Without congressional action these two policies would result in cuts to Medicare totaling $55 billion ($17 billion sequestration/$36 billion pay-go).

Michael Petruzzelli
Director, Federal Policy and Advocacy
National Council for Behavioral Health
Direct: (202) 774-1660
Email: MichaelP@TheNationalCouncil.org

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Neal Comstock
Director of Membership
National Council
NealC@TheNationalCouncil.org
202 748-8793
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