Announcing BSAS FY22 Nicotine Replacement Therapy Program Application- Rolling Application Opens today October 4, 2021

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  General Information: 

Application submission opens on October 4, 2021.  This program is rolling and applications can be submitted at any time after October 4, 2021.  The first round of applications will be evaluated at the end of November 2021.  See below for application submission instructions.

The goal of the BSAS NRT Program is to increasing NRT access and utilization among priority populations disproportionately impacted by nicotine use in BSAS licensed and funded programs, regardless of insurance coverage. Priority populations include:

  • BIPOC individuals, individuals with a history of incarceration, homeless/housing insecure individuals, individuals with co-occurring disorders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, postpartum women, individuals living with HIV and/or Hepatitis C, individuals with disabilities, and veterans (and any intersections of these categories)

Eligible BSAS licensed, funded and non-licensed, funded programs may apply to receive NRT at no cost through BSAS on an as-needed basis. Priority will be granted to programs demonstrating dedicated service to one, or several, of the aforementioned priority populations.

Program Eligibility:

  • Licensed, funded BSAS treatment programs
  • Non-licensed, funded BSAS programs
  • Client average length of stay/program participation of 14 days or longer
  • Compliance with BSAS Standards of Care Tobacco Guidelines (https://www.mass.gov/doc/dph-bureau-of-substance-abuse-services-standards-of-care/download - pgs. 43-44)
  • Infrastructure that supports tobacco assessment, education and treatment
  • Continued eligibility will be contingent upon attendance at meetings/trainings, and compliance with documentation requirements

BSAS NRT Program Participation Requirements:

Participating programs must identify an NRT Program Coordinator. Any staff person can serve as the NRT Program Coordinator, including the Tobacco Education Coordinator (TEC) in BSAS licensed programs.

Designated NRT Program Coordinators will be required to:

  • Attend an initial NRT orientation training upon acceptance along with their Clinical or Program Director
  • Attend an annual NRT Coordinator meeting
  • Attend a monthly 30 minute check-in to review clinical and logistical issues with members from IHR’s TAPE Project (frequency subject to change after one year of participation)
  • Attend one training related to health and racial equity through any source (ex. AdCare, internal staff training, etc.)
  • Schedule FY22 program all-staff training with IHR’s TAPE Project (if program hasn’t had a tobacco/nicotine-related staff training from IHR’s TAPE Project in the past two years)
  • Track the NRT distribution internally. Based on this tracking, coordinators will electronically submit an NRT Monthly Summary Report at the end of each month to IHR’s TAPE Project and BSAS.

Clinical or Program Directors must contact IHR’s TAPE Project to let them know about any changes in NRT Program Coordinators and to schedule an orientation for the new NRT Program Coordinator. This is to ensure continuity of a program’s NRT project and the continuity of NRT treatment.

Submission Instructions: This application is rolling. Application submission opens on October 4, 2021. Please email the completed, signed application and a copy of your program’s written tobacco policies to BSAS.Applications@mass.gov.   

If you have any questions regarding this application please contact BSAS.Applications@mass.gov. If you would like to receive technical assistance regarding addressing nicotine addiction in your program, please contact Louise Katz at the Tobacco, Addictions, Policy, & Education (TAPE) Project at the Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR) (louisekatz@healthrecovery.org).