Policy Changes and Data re: Substance Use Disorders

As the threat of COVID-19 emerged in March 2020, states began to issue stay-at-home and social distancing policies. The impact of COVID on every sector of society has been enormous, including to the National Council’s member associations and organizations.

In an immediate response to the shutdown, federal agencies issued several points of guidance that relaxed certain federal restrictions and regulations for the duration of the public health emergency. Many of these – largely regarding general telehealth and payment structures – have affected agencies that deliver either or both mental health and SUD services.

There have also been temporary policy changes specific to substance use disorders (SUD) primarily focused on medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD). At the National Council, we are eager to know the impact of these changes, both on providers and patients. Your collected response will help craft an advocacy agenda that recommends making the changes permanent, going back to the pre-COVID policies, or some hybrid that modifies the changes. 

Our advocacy agenda is dependent on data you have collected during COVID, as well as your recommendations for what needs to happen when this public health emergency ends. To this end, we ask that you (and, if you are an association, your members) complete this survey by ­­­­­­­­August 7, 2020.

Complete the survey questions to be best of your knowledge. It's okay to leave questions blank if you are unsure of the answer or do not know how to answer.