McMorris Rodgers seeks answers on SAMHSA spending

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is seeking detailed answers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on how it spent billions of dollars in taxpayer money that it was allocated in COVID-19 supplemental funds.

The congresswoman led Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittees on Health and Oversight and Investigations in requesting a full accounting for the expenditures in an Aug. 10 letter to Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Administrator of SAMHSA and Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

“Unfortunately, even after prompting by the Committee staff, SAMHSA is not providing the full accounting for billions of dollars in expenditures as requested,” the letter said. “SAMHSA needs to be fully forthcoming with information about nearly $8 billion in COVID supplemental funds received by SAMHSA and awarded to states.”

The letter also stated that SAMHSA has not produced specific data showing how more than $900 million has been invested in the 9-8-8 crisis care system since fiscal year 2022. In addition, the lawmakers expressed concern about SAMHSA’s description of a December 2022 cybersecurity incident that impacted the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 

“Given that this incident is being investigated by law enforcement, this indicates a much more significant and concerning event,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers and her colleagues wrote.