October 9, 2021

Dear Friends,

As our effort in Congress continues to uplift all our communities and build our nation back better than ever, we cannot ignore the particularly devastating impact the pandemic has had on those suffering from mental illness and addiction.

For years I have fought for critical mental health and addiction services to address the needs of millions of Americans—needs that have long been unmet and that are more urgent than ever during this COVID-19 crisis.

This week, I was honored to join New York Attorney General Letitia James to announce Capital Region funding for addiction services. Her work to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors responsible for their role in the opioid epidemic resulted in $1.5 billion settlement for New York State that will be reinvested in prevention and treatment programs to better the lives of those struggling with the disease of addiction.

While this news is a hopeful step in the path to healing, we know there is far more work ahead to save our communities from this dire situation.

On the policy front, we must push forward the bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act I authored to eliminate the unnecessary and outdated requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver (known as the X-waiver) to prescribe buprenorphine for the treatment of substance use disorder. This legislation was recognized as a COVID response priority and a short-term elimination of the X-waiver was included in the bipartisan Senate COVID proposal in the past. The bill has also garnered support from 143 members in the House from both sides of the aisle, with more members signing on in support each week.

There is simply no rationale for the existence of this waiver during this time of crisis when access to safe at-home treatment solutions can mean life or death for millions of Americans. With the COVID pandemic driving the national opioid crisis to scary new heights, delaying this lifesaving legislation is unconscionable.

Delivering assistance for mental health services through this pandemic and beyond also continues to be at the forefront of my work in Congress. Just last week, the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force that I serve on announced their legislative agenda for this Congress, which included the MAT Act and several other key bills I championed:

• The Medicaid Reentry Act that empowers states to restore Medicaid eligibility for incarcerated individuals up to 30 days before their release to ensure those transitioning will have immediate access to critical services including mental health support, addiction treatment and COVID testing.
• The Medicaid Bump Act that would increase the federal reimbursement rate for mental and behavioral health care services under Medicaid.
• The COVID Mental Health Research Act that would fund research to study the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has on the mental health of Americans, with an emphasis on its impact on children and health care providers.

These bipartisan actions are a testament to the need of our communities. But they would not have made it this far without the continuous, inspiring work of individuals facing these struggles, as well as their families, friends and advocates uplifting their stories and voices.

As we work to make these lifesaving measures law, I thank you for your continued advocacy and strength. Together we can fight for our communities and save lives.

As always, thank you for reading.

Your friend,

DID YOU KNOW?  

Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest local, state and federal updates and recommendations. With that in mind here is some information from the DOE that may be of interest to you:  

• The US Department of Education this week announced transformational changes to their Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, bringing more than 550,000 public service workers closer to loan forgiveness. 
• A limited Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) waiver will allow all payments by student borrowers to count towards PSLF, regardless of loan program or payment plan. 
• Key changes include waiving restrictions on the type of repayment plan and on the requirement that payments be made in full amount and on time for all borrowers.
• Applicants must apply for these benefits by October 31, 2022. 
  • Parent PLUS loans are not eligible under the limited PSLF waiver.
  • Applicants must have current or previous employment with a qualifying employer and have Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFEL) loans, Federal Perkins loans, or other non-direct loans.
• Visit StudentAid.gov/PSLFWaiver for further information.  
• Apply HERE.