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The de Beaumont Foundation and Well Being Trust released an action guide for local leaders that emphasizes the urgency of addressing the growing mental health and addiction issues in their communities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Supporting a Nation in Crisis: Solutions for Local Leaders to Improve Mental Health and Well-Being During and Post-COVID-19” includes more than 60 evidence-based policies, practices, and programs that can prevent further loss of life and livelihood from the nation’s growing mental health crisis.

This guide is a resource for health care systems to improve mental health and well-being in the communities they serve, focusing specifically on saving lives from deaths of despair. The guide endeavors to provide a comprehensive framework in which multiple stakeholders (e.g., people from marginalized populations and communities and leaders in sectors such as health care, education, justice system, local government, employers) can identify themselves and their contributions.

The CY 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule was placed on display at the Federal Register on December 2, 2020. This final rule updates payment policies, payment rates, and other provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) on or after Jan. 1, 2021. This final rule updates policies affecting the calculation of payment rates and includes misvalued codes. It also adds services to the telehealth list including a third temporary category for services added under the PHE, as well as certain other revisions to telehealth services.

This resource provides practical information about a variety of approaches to prevent addiction-related stigma. Some are especially simple and can be initiated by individuals on their own. These include tips on using stigma-free language and writing letters to the editor. Some approaches are comprehensive, such as developing a community action group and implementing a community-based campaign.

SAMHSA recognizes the challenges posed by the current COVID-19 situation and is providing the following guidance on the provision of methadone and buprenorphine for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the COVID-19 emergency for Opioid Treatment Programs.

Assists clinicians and administrators in implementing behavioral healthcare using telehealth by offering key considerations and examples of using telehealth for behavioral health

Provides an introduction to implementing telehealth services in primary care during COVID-19, including the prerequisites, policies, procedures, and practice

Outlines steps and best practices when implementing telehealth strategies to promote adoption of new technology by healthcare organizations

Guides behavioral health providers through using telehealth with their patients, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic

Guides behavioral health organizations through assessing readiness to adopt telehealth