September is National Recovery Month
National Recovery Month is an annual observance to celebrate individuals who are in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD) or mental illness, to educate the public, and combat stigma.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) define recovery as a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery signals a dramatic shift in the expectation for positive outcomes for individuals who experience mental health and/or substance use disorders. SAMHSA shared the following statistics regarding recovery:
- 31.9 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (or 8.3 million people) received mental health treatment in the past year, an increase of more than 500,000 from 2022
- 23.0 percent of adults aged 18 or older (or 59.2 million people) received mental health treatment in the past year, an increase of 3.4 million from 2022
- Among people aged 12 or older in 2023 who were classified as needing substance use treatment in the past year, about 1 in 4 (23.6 percent or 12.8 million people) received substance use treatment in the past year. People were classified as needing substance use treatment in the past year if they had a substance use disorder (SUD) or received substance use treatment in the past year.
- 30.5 million adults aged 18 or older (or 12.0 percent) perceived that they ever had a substance use problem. Among these adults, 73.1 percent (or 22.2 million people) considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered.
- 64.4 million adults aged 18 or older (or 25.3 percent) perceived that they ever had a mental health issue. Among these adults, 66.6 percent (or 42.7 million people) considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered.
- There were no racial ethnic differences among adults aged 18 or older in 2023 who perceived that they ever had a substance use problem or problem with their mental health who considered themselves to be in recovery or to have recovered from their drug or alcohol use problem or mental health issue.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Behavioral Health Strategy focuses on three key areas:
- Substance use disorders prevention, treatment, and recovery services
- Ensuring effective pain treatment and management
- Improving mental health care and services
These areas are aligned with CMS’s overall focus on four health outcomes-based domains: coverage and access to care, quality of care, equity and engagement, and data and analytics.
The CMS Behavioral Health Strategy Mission and Vision are as follows:
- Mission: To ensure that high-quality behavioral health services and supports are accessible to CMS beneficiaries and consumers
- Vision: Beneficiaries and consumers with behavioral health needs have access to person-centered, timely, affordable care that enables optimal health and wellness
As per CMS: “We are focused on the needs of people of all ages who we serve at every stage of life — people with or at risk of developing substance use disorders, people with acute or chronic pain, and people with mental health challenges.”
As a trusted source, provider recommendation and assistance with recovery is the most important factor in increasing the use of preventive and screening services. Please ensure that all Medicare beneficiaries are aware of the covered benefits and encouraged to take advantage of the preventive services.
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