Senate-adopted SAMHSA bill stresses accountability.(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

The U.S. Senate this month passed a long-awaited reauthorization bill for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that would hold states accountable for their use of SAMHSA funds, but also would allow more spending flexibility. The bill contains no surprises for the addiction field, as controversial issues such as dual-diagnosis funding, charitable-choice provisions and the SAMHSA block grant disbursement formula to states had been worked out prior to the bill's vote.

Substance abuse advocates are generally happy with the bill, while some in the mental health field are upset that the legislation does not call for blended block grant funding for treatment of the dually diagnosed. Despite earlier indications that the House of Representatives would approve the Senate's version of a SAMHSA reauthorization bill this year, the House is …