Operators: Resources Already Low
Counseling & Drug Treatment The proposal follows recommendations by the governor’s task force. The number of available and equipped counseling programs was one of the issues discussed. “This doesn't affect anyone’s bottom line if they are providing counseling,” Doug Mayer, spokesperson for Gov. Larry Hogan, tells The Baltimore Sun. “The overall effort is to ensure that it’s not just methadone, that it is counseling as well, which is an important part of treatment.” Treatment centers and providers were involved in drafting the proposal, and received letters about the proposal when it was announced. “Providers are among the stakeholders involved in the development of this proposal,” Christopher Garrett, spokesperson with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, tells The Baltimore Sun. “It is not something the state conceived of in a vacuum, without input from the community or the provider industry.” “Equipping the patient through counseling doesn't necessarily mean a provider will lose money, even a small provider,” Garrett says to The Baltimore Sun. “The goal is for the patient to get better and to graduate from the need to receive services from the provider.” “This doesn't affect anyone’s bottom line if they are providing counseling.” —Doug Mayer | Spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Garrett notes that a wide variety of counseling is available to patients.
Drug treatment provider operators tell The Baltimore Sun that some clinics don't have the staff or resources to provide more intensive counseling, and clients might not be ready or willing to get counseling right away. Putting clients in programs to comply for reimbursements may end up hurting the client. “What this proposal will do is bankrupt every methadone clinic in the state,” Rev. Milton Williams, president of the Turning Point Clinic, tells The Baltimore Sun. “It is an effort to shut down methadone clinics in Maryland.”
INTERVIEW 3
The proposed fee reduction is seen by some treatment professionals as too much of a risk to the revenues of vulnerable treatment centers. “This could be extremely destructive,” Barbara Wahl, Concerted Care Group Business Operations director, tells The Baltimore Sun. “This is the last thing our patients need right now.” treatment professionals revenues of vulnerable treatment centers. ltimore Sun. “This is the last thin
Wahl says the proposal may leave treatment centers with fewer options to provide care, not more. Wahl says the proposal may leave treatment cen with fewer
“I think the spirit of the proposal is in the right place,” Wahl says to The Baltimore Sun. “It encourages more counseling, which is what we want to provide. It is just the way they want us to provide it that may be more burdensome than what they intended it to be.” The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is still taking recommendations on the proposal and is accepting public comments on the issue. Some clinics, reports The Baltimore Sun, are planning protests against the proposal. Wahl says to The Baltimore Sun. “It encourages more vide it that may be mor ll taking recommen accepting public comments on t clinics, reports The Baltimore Sun, are planning rotests against the proposal.
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