APNC is the only North Carolina professional membership organization with a legislative voice that advocates exclusively on behalf of addiction professionals, organizations, and the communities they serve.
APNC is a proud 100% state association member of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the unifying voice of organizations that deliver mental health and substance use services in America. Through this partnership, APNC elevates your voice to the national level and has access to a number of resources to help us advocate more effectively for local policies here in North Carolina.
Recent Wins
SL 2023-141: Stop Addiction Fraud Ethics (SAFE) Act
The bill was signed into law on 10/20/2023 and is a huge step forward in protecting individuals struggling with substance use disorders.
The new law:
- Increases the criminal charge to a Class G felony. This penalty carries a maximum of forty-seven months in prison, and
- Requires Truth in Marketing practices that require certain information to be readily available and advertised to consumers. This prevents patient brokers from using deceptive marketing practices to prey on vulnerable consumers in need of addiction treatment and recovery services.
SL 2022-52: Contract Reform
The bill was signed into law on 7/7/2022 and will significantly help substance use and mental health providers continue their much needed services without interruption.
- provisions for continuity of DHHS contracted services for a 2-year period
- annual contracts to be extended for up to 3 months if they haven’t been executed 10 days prior to the new start date
- requires 10% overhead rate on DHHS contracts unless there is a federally negotiated rate
2025 Legislative Agenda
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services Reimbursement Rate Adjustment
This initiative aims to strengthen North Carolina’s behavioral health infrastructure by increasing reimbursement rates for SUD treatment providers. By aligning rates with the actual costs of services and establishing fair compensation for all levels of care based on the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria, the act supports the sustainability of treatment programs, improves access to high-quality services, and addresses workforce challenges across the state.
Follow this bill: SB 567
Parity Enhancement for Addiction Recovery
To ensure equitable access to substance use disorder treatment, this proposal would update state statutes to ensure substance use and mental health parity requirements are aligned. By mandating the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Patient Placement Criteria as the only criteria to be used in determining medical necessity, it helps eliminate disparities in insurance coverage and improves recovery outcomes for individuals seeking care.
Gambling Modernization and Awareness
Passage of this bill would direct the $10 million annual tax proceeds collected under House Bill 347 (Session Law 2023-42) to support initiatives such as school-based prevention efforts, treatment programs, and recovery support services. This approach ensures that resources are strategically invested to address the complex impact of gambling addiction across North Carolina’s diverse communities.
Follow this bill: SB 533
Recovery-Friendly Workplaces
This act supports businesses in creating supportive environments for employees in recovery from substance use disorders. By providing employers with resources, training, and a voluntary certification process, the program promotes workplace stability, improves productivity, and enhances overall employee well-being.
Follow this bill: HB 351
Your priorities are our priorities. Reach out here to let us know about an issue affecting your work.
Meet APNC’s Legislative Liaisons
Logan Martin
Prior to co-founding Skyline Strategies, LLC., Logan worked in house for a service provider association doing legislative and policy work surrounding foster care, mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse disorders. Before transitioning to that role, Logan worked within the state legislature as a Policy Advisor to the Senior Appropriations Chairman Nelson Dollar, where he worked on a variety of policy topics including health care, pensions and retirement, judiciary, finance, education, and alcohol reform. Prior to that he worked for the majority whip, Representative Jon Hardister, as a research assistant handling issues surrounding labor, finance, education, and redistricting. He has also managed multiple political campaigns for members of the state legislature since his graduation from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he received his bachelor’s degree in political science.
Andrew Kessler
Andrew D. Kessler, JD, is founder and principal of Slingshot Solutions LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in behavioral health policy. With 20 years of policy experience- and over a decade in behavioral health- Kessler is a fixture in circles that advocate for substance abuse treatment, prevention, recovery, and research. He collaborates frequently with congressional offices, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and other federal actors. He is a frequent contributor to Politico, The Hill, and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Weekly.
Kessler has written legislation and report language published by both the House and Senate, and has presented orally before such bodies as the Scientific Management Review Board, the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, and the National Conference on Addictive Disorders. He is highly sought after as a speaker on substance abuse policy, as well as on advocacy training. He has presented on these subjects around the nation, and on several webinars as well.
