CMS Builds on Whole-of-Government COVID-19 Response with Vaccination Education, Offering, and Reporting
As part of the ongoing response to address the COVID-19 pandemic and to improve health care access and reduce the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, CMS issued a rule that will ensure long-term care facilities, and residential facilities serving clients with intellectual disabilities, educate and offer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents, clients, and staff. These requirements apply to Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) and align with existing requirements for influenza and pneumococcal vaccines in LTC facilities.
The rule also requires LTC facilities to report weekly COVID-19 vaccination status data for both residents and staff. The new vaccination reporting requirement will not only assist in monitoring uptake amongst residents and staff but will also aid in identifying facilities that may be in need of additional resources and/or assistance to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These new requirements reinforce CMS’ commitment of ensuring equitable vaccine access for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries,” said Dr. Lee Fleisher, MD, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of CMS’ Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ). “Today’s announcement directly aids nursing home residents and people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Our goal is to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence and acceptance among these individuals and the staff who serve them.”
To ensure LTC facilities receive support for COVID-19 vaccination efforts, they are now required to report weekly vaccination data of residents and staff to the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), the nation’s most widely used healthcare-associated infection tracking system. LTC facilities are already required to report COVID-19 testing, case, and mortality data to the NHSN for residents and staff but have not been required to report vaccination data. As data becomes available, CMS will post facility-specific vaccination status information reported to the NHSN for viewing by facilities, stakeholders, and the public on CMS’ COVID-19 Nursing Home Data website.
While this announcement is specific to LTC facilities and ICFs-IID, CMS is also seeking comment on opportunities to expand these policies to help encourage vaccine uptake and access in other congregate care settings, such as psychiatric residential treatment facilities, group homes, and assisted living facilities. By requiring vaccine education and offering within LTC facilities and ICFs-IIDs, CMS is improving health care access and reducing the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.
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BARBOUR COUNTY, WV (May 5, 2021) — Eric Ruf, CEO of Barbour Community Health Association has been appointed as President of the West Virginia Primary Care Association, a private, non-profit membership association that represents safety-net health care providers. He is succeeding John Schultz, CEO of New River Health Association.
When asked about his new role, Ruf said, “I’m very honored to be serving in this role for the next 2 years. Community health centers serve 1 in 4 West Virginians across the state and provide a full range of health services to all ages from all walks of life. Working closely with my peers, we wish to continue growing and spreading the message that everyone deserves quality health care in our home communities so that our friends and families can live long productive lives.”
Prior to his current employment at Barbour Community Health Association, Ruf worked at Alderson-Broaddus College, where he served as director of admissions and director of alumni relations for fourteen years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Alderson-Broaddus College and a Master of Arts degree in educational leadership studies from West Virginia University.
Professionally, he is a member of the following organizations: National Assembly on School-Based Health, National Association of Community Health Centers, Barbour Healthy Communities Collaborative, North Central WV Community Health Collaborative, and serves on the board of directors of the West Virginia Primary Care Association.
Locally, Ruf is involved in many community organizations. He is a member of the Barbour County Chamber of Commerce and serves as secretary/treasurer of the Mountain Living Community Board and recently joined the Board of Directors for the Tygart Valley United Way. He is an active member of Asbury United Methodist Church, where he serves as choir director and the Philip Barbour High School band boosters. He is a member of the Belington Masonic Lodge AF & AM #125, Philippi Chapter # 41 Order of the Eastern Star, and the Sons of the American Revolution.
In his spare time, Ruf enjoys singing and performing locally with his family. He and his wife, Jana, reside in Belington and have one daughter, Anna, who attends Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WVa.
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About the Barbour Community Health Association
Belington and Myers Clinics are federally qualified health centers that provide medical and behavioral health care and wellness programs to patients with insurance, Medicare and/or Medicaid and for those without health insurance through the clinic’s Health Access program.
The organization also operates Belington Wellness Center, Brandon Wellness Center, Philippi Wellness Center and AB Wellness Center. Belington Wellness Center is located adjacent to Belington Medical Clinic and offers a wide variety of exercise equipment, exercise programs and a swimming pool. Brandon Wellness Center is a school-based health center that offers a variety of nursing, preventive and acute care medical and behavioral health services to the students and staff at Philip Barbour High School. Brandon School-based Health Services are offered to all Barbour County School students and families. AB Wellness Center offers acute and chronic medical services to all currently enrolled Alderson Broaddus University students and staff. The Philippi Wellness Center is located in the back of Barbour Chiropractic Center at 206 N. Main Street and has services designed to improve physical condition and health through exercise equipment and periodic workshops and seminars.
May is Mental Health Month!
SAMHSA is observing Mental Health Month in several exciting ways—
The symposium is hosted by the National Council on Aging and cosponsored with the U.S. Administration for Community Living and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This virtual event will provide professionals with the latest tools to improve the lives of older adults in their communities.
NPW is an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness and action around substance use prevention and the promotion of positive mental health.
SAMHSA’s New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center and New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center partner to bring you this webinar on suicide prevention. Learn from experts about the latest research and evidence-based approaches for suicide prevention.
Suicide is largely a preventable cause of death, and you are more able to help prevent it than you might think.
This guide provides mental health decision-makers (e.g., state/local mental health directors, treatment facility clinical directors, and other stakeholders) with rationale and evidence to support the widespread expansion of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) across mental health systems.
Funding
Application Due Date: Monday, May 17, 2021
SAMHSA is accepting applications for First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Grants (FR-CARA). The purpose of this program is to allow first responders and members of other key community sectors to administer a drug or device approved or cleared under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) for emergency reversal of known or suspected opioid overdose. Recipients will train and provide resources to first responders and members of other key community sectors at the state, tribal, and local governmental levels on carrying and administering a drug or devices approved or cleared under the FD&C Act for emergency reversal of known or suspected opioid overdose. Recipients will also establish processes, protocols, mechanisms for referral to appropriate treatment and recovery support services, and safety around fentanyl, carfentanil, and other dangerous licit and illicit drugs
SAMHSA plans to issue approximately 15–20 awards of up to $250,000–$800,000 per year for up to 4 years.
Application Due Date: Friday, May 21, 2021
SAMHSA is accepting applications for the Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) grant program. The purpose of this program is to enable community mental health centers to support and restore the delivery of clinical services that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and effectively address the needs of individuals with serious emotional disturbance (SED), serious mental illness (SMI), and individuals with SMI or SED and substance use disorders, referred to as co-occurring disorder (COD).
SAMHSA plans to issue approximately 165–825 awards of up to $500,000–$2,500,000 per year for up to 2 years.
Application Due Date: Monday, June 21, 2021
SAMHSA is accepting applications for the National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Expansion Grants (TTA‑CCBHC). The purpose of this program is to provide training and technical assistance to active SAMHSA CCBHC Expansion (CCBHC-E) grants in the following domains:
- implementation and adherence to the CCBHC model;
- utilization and integration of evidence-based services in CCBHC-E grant programs; and
- sustainability and alignment of practices with CCBHC and/or state certification criteria.
SAMHSA plans to issue 1 award of up to $3,000,000 per year for up to 5 years.
SAMHSA is allowing flexibility for grant recipients affected by the loss of operational capacity and increased costs due to the COVID-19 crisis. These flexibilities are available during this emergency time period. Flexibility may be reassessed upon issuance of new guidance by the Office of Management and Budget post the emergency time period. Continue to check for updated information and resources to assist grant recipients during the COVID-19 emergency.
These FAQs address general questions associated with the award and management of SAMHSA discretionary grants that may arise in relation to COVID-19. This information does not apply to SABG, MHBG, PATH, or PAIMI grants. Applicants and grant recipients are strongly encouraged to continue to check for updated information and resources.
Training & Events
Training and events are available for practitioners through SAMHSA’s Training and Technical Assistance Centers. Some of these are highlighted below. Visit SAMHSA’s Practitioner Training webpage for a more complete listing.
SAMHSA Headlines offers you a biweekly update of selected upcoming trainings and webinars. However, for a broader range of activities, visit this website, as well as the training sections of individual technical assistance center websites.
Selected events are highlighted below. Note that some of them require advance registration.
Note: If you are unable to access an event or webinar or have questions, please contact the source given at the individual event URL
Friday, May 7, 2021 11:00 a.m. ET
The participants will receive an overview of the current concept of what is called Schizophrenia.
The limitations of the current name Schizophrenia as an appropriate title for this illness will be reviewed. Several alternative names to Schizophrenia will be listed along with results of a recent survey by our group, followed by discussion.
Friday, May 7, 2021 12:00 p.m. ET
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a relatively new and promising evidence-based approach to the treatment of severe mental illness such as schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and major depression with psychotic features. While medications have traditionally been the treatment of choice for persons with symptoms of psychosis, they are frequently not enough. ACT can be integrated or used adjunctively with the interdisciplinary treatment modes commonly used in inpatient and outpatient settings. ACT for psychosis does not directly target reduction of psychosis symptoms; rather, ACT aims to improve the ability to cope with psychotic symptoms and to reduce distress associated with psychotic symptoms.
Friday, May 7, 2021 5:00 p.m. ET
This discussion is designed to promote interactivity through an informal “round table” conversation. Attendees will be given the opportunity to speak directly with the presenter to ask questions and discuss issues.
Monday, May 10, 2021 12:00 p.m. ET
Although a variety of in-person, virtual, and hybrid learning has occurred throughout the Southeast and the United States this school year, many schools are still shifting between learning models and/or starting to return to in-person learning. This Virtual Listening and Learning Session is designed to support school and district leaders, educators, student support personnel and other professionals to promote safe, supporting learning environments during these transitions. Following brief didactic information on best practices for school programming during COVID and other community-wide adversities, we will facilitate open discussion of strategies being put into place right now in the Southeast.
Monday, May 10, 2021 2:00 p.m. ET
Learn what it means to be part of the AA, NH & PI communities, how each community self-identifies, unique strengths and challenges, and different mental health and social inequities associated with the COVID pandemic. Part II Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Self-Care and Healing will take place Wednesday, May 19, 2021 4:00 p.m. ET.
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET & Tuesday, May 18, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET
Ready or not, we are now living with online service delivery. Supervisors and the supervision they provide are especially critical at this time. This practical and interactive learning-community conversation provides guidance for preparing and maximizing the impact of online supervision. This conversation assumes prior supervisory training and/or experience.
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 3:00 p.m. ET
A national three-digit 988 behavioral health and suicide prevention crisis hotline is probably the most significant public policy initiative impacting behavioral healthcare since Medicaid expansion. This presentation discusses the upcoming 988 call as a critical alternative to calling 911 for mental health crisis situations and key strategy for justice diversion.
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 3:00 p.m. ET
This discussion is designed to promote interactivity through an informal “round table” conversation. Attendees will be given the opportunity to speak directly with the presenter to ask questions and discuss issues.
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 12:00 p.m. ET
Before the U.S. entered the COVID-19 pandemic, it has long suffered the epidemic of opioid deaths. This webinar will address the impact of COVID-19 on individuals who misuse opioids and how the sudden change in everyday life increases their usage. It will explore how the pandemic has exacerbated mental instability and caused interruptions in potential treatment for people who misuse opioids. In addition, the webinar will present methods and resources to mitigate the risk of opioid deaths associated with vulnerable populations.
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 5:30 p.m. ET
New understanding about pain is beginning to shift pain care itself. Evidence indicates that patient and clinician knowledge of pain science can move those receiving services toward self-care and supports a more positive conversation about opioid tapers as well. This presentation will explore the use of Oregon State tools and resources for clinician and patient pain education to develop a biopsychosocial-oriented pain care treatment plan.
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 1:00 p.m. ET
This is a free web panel for non-clinicians, case managers, clinical supervisors, health providers, program directors, administrators, and personnel who provide post-release services to unaccompanied minors. It will focus on key aspects of mental health assessment strategies for unaccompanied minors in the United States, introduce participants to a definition of assessment, and provide an overview of best practices for cross-cultural assessment.
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 1:00 p.m. ET
Three of the six New England states have legalized adult-use cannabis, which has paved the way for commercial cannabis industries in these states. Meanwhile, other New England states are contemplating joining the ranks. How do we need to shift cannabis prevention strategies in an era of commercial cannabis? Join us for a panel of prevention professionals from legalized New England states to learn how they have approached cannabis prevention in this new environment.
Thursday, May 13, 2021 12:00 p.m. ET
COVID-19 is a novel virus. Over these months of the pandemic, examples of persistent central nervous system-mediated disease and disability have been identified. Many of these individuals will find their way to behavioral health offices in need of medical care, emotional support and understanding of unusual syndromes weeks to months after “recovery” from COVID-19. This presentation will provide the tools necessary to offer comprehensive care to this population.
Thursday, May 13, 2021 1:00 p.m. ET
By developing Latino cultural competence, services that are respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, cultural and linguistic needs of diverse students and families can be effectively delivered. This one and a half-hour online session discusses the use of Culturally Modified-Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CM-TFT). CM-TFT is an Evidence-Based Therapy proven to be effective for Hispanic and Latino children and adolescents who experienced traumatic events.
Friday, May 14, 2021 8:15 a.m. ET & Friday, May 21, 2021 8:15 a.m. ET
This two-part conference will focus on the integration efforts that support a collaborative healthcare approach. Current medical updates in services for STIs, HIV, TB, hepatitis, family planning and addictions will be discussed. After completing this conference, the learner should be able to:
- State current practice in the care and treatment of STDs, HIV, opioid addictions and mental health;
- Explain how to screen clients for substance abuse issues;
- Identify Population at risk for HIV/STIs/Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder; and
- Demonstrate effective team skills by sharing information effectively, listening and responding to feedback from others, and using simple communication.
Monday, May 17, 2021 12:00 p.m. ET
Screening for depression symptoms without established plans for follow-up interventions can create challenges and anxiety for providers working in a variety of settings. This training will review best practices when screening perinatal populations for depression, and when needed, how to implement a team-based response to patients expressing thoughts of suicide. This session will also examine unique barriers experienced by perinatal persons when seeking care and discuss the importance of referral pathways for connecting individuals to care.
Monday, May 17, 2021 12:00 p.m. ET
This one-hour virtual support group session offer service providers an opportunity to share experiences, exchange resources, develop skills, and provide and receive mutual support during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Many of you have developed unique strategies for meeting the needs of service participants over the course of the year, but you may still be struggling with maintaining your own wellness and self-care. This group meets the third Monday of each month. Upcoming meetings include 6/21; 7/19; 8/16; 9/20.
Monday, May 17, 2021 6:00 p.m. ET
Transborder students, like immigrant children, often live in the shadows. Their lives are complex, and navigating some of the busiest ports of entry in the world while balancing not being seen and at the same time being successful in school, can take a toll. This webinar addresses common school mental health challenges and celebrations of immigrant, mixed status, and transborder students. Together, we explore how to develop environments in schools that are trauma sensitive and reinforce sustainable systems of support via a cultural lens of the transborder and immigrant experience, while taking into consideration the challenges that have been exacerbated through COVID-19 and distance learning.
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 2:30 p.m. ET
This online session will provide information on the Hispanic and Latino Caribbean population and their specific mental health needs. In this workshop, we present the similarities and differences among the Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican cultures. Language, traditions and customs, cultural values, spirituality, and the social, historical, and political context that led them to migrate to the United States will be discussed. The presentation will address the intersection of these factors with mental health and mental health treatment among Latinos of Caribbean descent.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 11:00 a.m. ET
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how mental health services are provided worldwide, leading many providers to adapt their traditional in-person services by implementing telehealth services (e.g., via videoconferencing platforms). However, little is known about the effectiveness of telehealth services for youth in the early stages of psychosis — young people experiencing subthreshold or initial, full symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, disorganization, etc. This webinar will cover telehealth considerations for youth in the early stages of psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Related and complementary interventions for this group, including smartphone apps and other virtual interventions, will also be discussed.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 12:00 p.m. ET
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. For many Asian Americans, Asian cultures have shaped their explanatory models of health including mental health. In this event, the presenter will provide a brief analysis on how Asian religious and philosophical traditions affect the understanding, clinical manifestation, and treatment-seeking behaviors of mental illness. In addition, the mental health toll of anti-Asian racism and being a “model minority” will be presented. During the second part of the event, the presenter will lead a clinically oriented discussion to address the barriers to improve mental health care for Asian Americans.
Thursday, May 20, 2021 1:00 p.m. ET
Families of persons with serious mental illness play an important role in the lives of their loved ones. In addition to being caring siblings, parents or spouses, they often function as caregivers and can be an asset to any mental health team to ensure optimal benefit of treatment. A new workforce is emerging to support these families. Family peer support workers are persons with a lived experience trained to provide support to other family members who are caring for a person with a serious mental illness. Presenters will demonstrate ways in which family peer support empowers families to support their loved one’s desire to live independently.
Thursday, May 20, 2021 2:00 p.m. ET
Attendees will define reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, attendees will apply supports and accommodations based on the functional implications related to the mental health condition. Attendees will also gain an understanding of the resources available to help with identifying and requesting a reasonable accommodation.
Friday, May 21, 2021 1:00 p.m. ET
These monthly trainings will cover topics such as crisis response, creating safe spaces to heal, sexual assault awareness, youth engagement, food sovereignty, etc. We will be sharing resources, and encourage peer support among participants. Trainings are held monthly, with upcoming trainings on Jun 18, 2021; July 16, 2021; Aug 20, 2021; Sep 17, 2021; Oct 15, 2021; Nov 19, 2021; and Dec 17, 2021.
Resources
In an effort to get evidenced-based treatment to more Americans with opioid use disorder, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing new buprenorphine practice guidelines that among other things, remove a longtime requirement tied to training, which some practitioners have cited as a barrier to treating more people.
These prevention core competencies and accompanying knowledge, skills, and abilities offer professional direction to the prevention field, affecting staff development and career ladders and pipelines, and providing guidance for training programs and service delivery qualification.
SAMHSA has a number of products for serving older adults with mental and substance use disorders that can be useful to clinicians, other service providers, older adults, and caregivers.
CMS Proposes to Enhance the Medical Workforce in Rural and Underserved Communities to Support COVID-19 Recovery and Beyond
Proposed rule would require hospitals to report vaccination rates among health care staff
On April 27, CMS issued a proposed rule (CMS-1752-P) for inpatient and long-term care hospitals that builds on the Biden Administration’s key priorities to close health care equity gaps and provide greater accessibility to care. Major provisions in the proposed rule would fund medical residency positions in hospitals in rural and underserved communities to address workforce shortages and require hospitals to report COVID-19 vaccination rates among their workers to contain the spread of the virus.
CMS recognizes the importance of encouraging more health professionals to work in rural hospitals and underserved areas and the need to retain and train high-quality physicians to help address access to health care in these communities. In accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, CMS is proposing to distribute 1,000 additional physician residency slots to qualifying hospitals, phasing in 200 slots per year over five years. CMS estimates that the additional funding for these additional residency slots, once fully phased in, will total approximately $0.3 billion each year to fund medical residency positions in hospitals to address the workforce shortages.
“Hospitals are often the backbone of rural communities – but the COVID-19 pandemic has hit rural hospitals hard, and too many are struggling to stay afloat,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “This rule will give hospitals more relief and additional tools to care for COVID-19 patients, and it will also bolster the health care workforce in rural and underserved communities. The Biden Administration is committed to expanding health equity in communities across the country, especially in rural America.”
Consistent with President Biden’s Executive Order 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, CMS is also committed to addressing significant and persistent inequities in health outcomes in the U.S. through improving data collection to better measure and analyze disparities across programs and policies. In this proposed rule, CMS is soliciting feedback on opportunities to leverage diverse sets of data (race, Medicare/Medicaid dual eligible status, disability status, LGTBQ+, socioeconomic status, etc.) and new methodological approaches to advance equity through the quality measurement and value-based purchasing programs.
The rule also proposes to implement section 9831 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to permanently reinstate the imputed floor-wage-index for all-urban States for FY 2022.
Additionally, the rule proposes to update Medicare Fee-for-Service payment rates and policies for acute care inpatient hospitals and long-term care hospitals for fiscal year 2022. CMS estimates total Medicare spending on acute care inpatient hospital services will increase by about $2.5 billion in fiscal year 2022.
Strengthening COVID-19 Ongoing Response
In November 2020, CMS established the New COVID-19 Treatments Add-on Payment (NCTAP) to mitigate any potential financial disincentives for hospitals to provide new COVID-19 treatments during the Public Health Emergency (PHE). The proposed rule would extend the NCTAP for certain eligible technologies through the end of the fiscal year in which the PHE ends.
In addition, the proposed rule seeks to strengthen the ongoing response to the PHE and future health threats by leveraging meaningful measures for quality programs. CMS is proposing the adoption of the COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Measure to require hospitals to report COVID-19 vaccinations of workers in their facilities. This proposed measure is designed to assess whether hospitals are taking steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 among their workforce, reduce the risk of transmission within their facilities, help sustain the ability of hospitals to continue serving their communities through the PHE, and assess the nation’s long-term recovery and readiness efforts.
Additionally, CMS is proposing to modify the Promoting Interoperability program requirements for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals to expand reporting within the Public Health and Clinical Data Exchange Objective. The proposal would require hospitals to report on all four of the following measures: Syndromic Surveillance Reporting, Immunization Registry Reporting, Electronic Case Reporting, and Electronic Reportable Laboratory Result Reporting.
Requiring hospitals to report these four measures would help to prepare public health agencies to respond to future health threats and a long-term COVID-19 recovery by strengthening public health functions, including early warning surveillance, case surveillance, and vaccine uptake, which will increase the information available to help hospitals better serve their patients. Requiring these measures would enable nationwide syndromic surveillance for early warning of emerging outbreaks and threats; automated case and laboratory reporting for rapid public health response; and local and national visibility on immunization uptake so public health can tailor vaccine distribution strategies.
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Charleston, WV – The West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute (WV DII) has launched an online naloxone training course. Anyone throughout West Virginia is invited to participate in the training. Upon
completion of this online course, participants will be mailed a training certificate and two doses of auto-
injector naloxone free of charge.
Naloxone, an overdose reversal medication, is available in West Virginia through a standing order issued
by the State Health Officer, Dr. Ayne Amjad, or through area pharmacies without a prescription.
Recently, new legislation expanded the ability for certain non-profits and community organizations to
distribute naloxone to the community under Dr. Amjad’s standing order.
“Naloxone is a life-saving drug that we must continue to offer our loved ones and community members who are suffering from substance abuse disorder. We appreciate WV DII’s efforts to expand education around this life-saving intervention, especially in light of the tragic increase in overdose deaths,” said Dr.
Matthew Christensen, Director of the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy. “Recovery happens
every day and, in many instances, naloxone makes that possible.”
“While online (Zoom) trainings and face-to-face trainings are held throughout the state, the WV DII
wanted to create an opportunity for West Virginians to get trained on proper naloxone use and overdose
response immediately by creating an on-demand online course that can be accessed anytime and from any
computer,” explained WV DII President, Dr. Susan Bissett.
West Virginia experienced a 45% increase in the number of overdose deaths in 2020. In fact, according to
a report released by the United States National Office of Drug Control Policy last month, more West
Virginians died of drug overdoses last year than in any previous year on record—an estimated 1,275
deaths in 2020.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Institute’s President, Dr. Susan Bissett at: susan@wvdii.org or
(304) 941-4182. To participate in the training visit: https://wvdii.thinkific.com/courses/naloxone-training.
The West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute (WV DII) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in
Charleston. The Institute’s mission is to reduce deaths in West Virginia from opioid and drug abuse by being (a) an independent advocate for life-enhancing drug policies, and practices, (b) a hub for coordinating drug response activities, and (c) an educational center to address the prevalence of drug abuse and the stigma of drug addiction.
