Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz, recently sent a letter to treatment providers reaffirming the position of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that treatment programs and providers are essential medical services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter also confirmed that the ordering of supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE), is necessary for substance use and mental health providers and serves a legitimate need and purpose. The purpose of the letter was to alleviate some of the reported issues facing providers who were unable to order PPE as they were not deemed to be “essential”.