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Tags Posts tagged with "Funding"

Funding

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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is announcing the notice of a funding opportunity (NOFO) for a new Hepatitis C Elimination Initiative Pilot. SAMHSA estimates awarding between 13 to 40 grants. This grant will be up to three years, and the amount funded will be based on a tiered system explained in the NOFO. Applications are due no later than August 1, 2025.

The purpose of the Hepatitis C Elimination Initiative Pilot is to leverage existing health care institutions’ capacity to prevent, test for, treat, and cure Hepatitis C (HCV) in individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) and/or severe mental illness (SMI), particularly in communities severely affected by homelessness, as well as to gain insights on effective ways to identify patients, complete treatment, and reduce reinfection. Recipients of this program are expected to implement a holistic approach that integrates HCV and HIV testing, comprehensive prevention treatment, and recovery support services for SUD, SMI, hepatitis C, and HIV as needed. Through this initiative, SAMHSA aims to increase the number of individuals who are cured of HCV, reduce the incidence of HCV and HIV in grant-funded communities, and help address the intersection of SUD, SMI, infectious disease, and homelessness in high-need populations across the nation.

The NOFO and application details can be found at the following websites:

This is a unique opportunity for Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHC), as many CCBHCs may have the infrastructure to support this grant and may find this pilot to be aligned with their CCBHC programming.

To prepare and submit an application for the Hepatitis C Elimination Initiative Pilot, it is essential to refer to the specific NOFO and the FY 2025 NOFO Application Guide. The Application Guide provides detailed instructions on the application process, including registration requirements, attachment completion, budget preparation, and adherence to federal policies and regulations.

SAMHSA requires applicants to download application forms from the Grants.gov website and may need additional forms from the SAMHSA website. It is crucial to ensure that all required forms are completed and included in the application. Incomplete applications without all the necessary forms may be deemed ineligible for review.

Young Girl Talking With Counselor At Home

This week’s Mental Health Safety Net (MHSN) Coalition weekly advocacy communication focuses on the Commonwealth’s need for an increase in funding for children’s mental health services. The full advocacy letter can be read here.

The MHSN Coalition is a group of stakeholders participating in a joint advocacy effort to protect and preserve our mental health service delivery system. RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the Mental Health Safety Net Coalition meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities.

Please contact Emma Sharp with questions or if you would like to join the coalition.

The Senate today approved the “Big Beautiful Bill” with the collateral impact of taking away health care from hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians. The bill will now return to the House for a final vote before it goes to the President’s desk for signature and approval. The House is expected to act quickly.

The Senate bill makes even more drastic cuts to health coverage than the House version, totaling over $1 trillion, including Medicaid. Millions of Americans will lose access to health care; specifically, these cuts will take away health care from more than 600,000 Pennsylvanians and could double health insurance premiums for many more. In addition, the bill adds trillions to the growing Federal deficit by way of sizable tax cuts.

This will deeply impact our most vulnerable individuals and families that our members serve in the Commonwealth. We must act now to save access to health care. Find your legislator and their contact information here to let them know that you do not support the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

MEDICAID text on a keyboard with stethoscope , medical concept

The Mental Health Safety Net (MHSN) Coalition’s weekly advocacy communication focused this week on the Commonwealth’s need for an increase in Behavioral Health Capitation to ensure sound rates to sustain providers and access to services. The full advocacy letter can be read here.

The Mental Health Safety Net (MHSN) Coalition is a group of stakeholders participating in a joint advocacy effort to protect and preserve our mental health service delivery system. RCPA invites all members, non-members, and systems-wide behavioral health stakeholders to participate in the MHSN Coalition meeting on Monday, June 30, 2025, from 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. This meeting will serve to update the group on strategy, activities, and engagement opportunities.

Please contact Emma Sharp with questions or if you would like to join the coalition.

Earlier this week, the Senate Parliamentarian advised lawmakers that several provisions in the budget reconciliation bill will not be able to pass with a simple majority vote. This includes the Senate’s proposed reductions to state provider taxes that were expected to result in billions of cost savings to the federal government. Senate Republicans now have several options to consider before moving forward, including removing key Medicaid provisions in the bill or re-drafting and re-submitting them to try to earn Parliamentarian approval. Other policies that were ruled unallowable under the Byrd Rule included the exclusion of specific groups of immigrants from Medicaid and withholding federal funds from states that use their own funds to provide coverage.

Senators are expected to vote in the coming days. While Pennsylvania Federal legislators are hearing the message from RCPA and other state associations, they are hearing very little from the constituencies in their home districts.

To assist with outreach and to help tailor the letter provided above, National Council and RCPA have provided additional resources below:

  • Find your US legislators here.
  • Call or write to your legislators here.

Your outreach TODAY is critical. If hundreds of billions of dollars are cut:

  • Millions of people are expected to lose access to lifesaving care and services;
  • Community behavioral health providers, operating on the thinnest of margins already, will face additional financial hardship; and
  • The cuts are unlikely to save any money overall because costs will simply shift to states, who will be forced to try and make up the funding difference.

Specific proposals under consideration, like mandatory work requirements and provider tax policy changes, are expected to create huge administrative burdens that are likely to result in eligible people losing their coverage, plus massive funding losses for states that could result in reduced availability of mental health and SUD services.