SUD Policy in Tennessee/State Level Advocacy
- Understand the Policy Landscape: Identify key federal and state policies impacting addiction treatment and recovery services.
- Advocate for Evidence-Based Practices: Learn how to advocate for the integration of evidence-based approaches to addiction care in federal and state health systems.
- Engage in Legislative Processes: Gain awareness of the legislative processes at both federal and state levels and the role healthcare providers play in shaping addiction policy.
- Address Stigma Through Advocacy: Develop strategies to reduce stigma associated with addiction through targeted advocacy at the federal and state levels.
- Promote Access to Treatment: Identify advocacy opportunities to promote equitable access to addiction treatment, including removing barriers like insurance limitations or regulatory restrictions.
- Collaborate with Key Stakeholders: Explore ways to collaborate with advocacy groups, professional organizations, and government agencies to influence addiction policy reform.
- Monitor Policy Changes: Learn methods for tracking and responding to federal and state policy changes that affect addiction treatment and recovery efforts.
Chad Elkin Bio
Dr Elkin is Founder and Medical Director of National Addiction Specialists, is board certified in Addiction Medicine and Internal Medicine. He serves as the Legislative Chairman and President-elect of TNSAM and is chairman of the Health Technology Committee of ASAM National and is a member of ASAM’s Practice Management and Regulatory Affairs Committee (PMRAC) and State Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Committee (SALC). He also serves as Chairman of TAADAS’ (TN Assn of Alcohol, Drug, & other Addiction Services) Addiction Medicine Council.
Postgraduate:
University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama Internal Medicine Resident, 07/2006–07/2009
Graduate:
University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson, Mississippi Doctor of Medicine 08/2001-05/2006
Undergraduate:
Mississippi College, Clinton, Mississippi Bachelor of Science 01/1999-05/2001
Degree: BS in Biology
Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina August 08/1997–12/1999
Major: Biology
CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE
● Board Certified Addiction Medicine (ABPM, ABMS, ASAM) ABPM-ANHMA-17106
● Board Certified Internal Medicine (ABIM, ABMS) ABIM ID: 298327, Initial Certification: 8/26/2010
● Fellow of American Society of Addiction Medicine
● State Medical License Tennessee MD0000044447
● State Medical License Virginia 0101278350
● TN DEA FE1268881
● 2nd TN DEA for Mirror Lake Recovery FE3220403
● VA DEA FE2732774
● DEA Buprenorphine X Waiver XE1268881
● NPI 1497970636
WORK EXPERIENCE
Founder, President, and Medical Director
National Addiction Specialists Brentwood,Tennessee
04/2019–Present
- Lead the overall clinical and administrative vision for National Addiction Specialists, a national healthcare company specializing in treating substance use disorders with the vision to be the nation’s leading healthcare company in telehealth addiction services through a multi-disciplinary team of addiction specialists with a focus on decreasing patient mortality and eliminating barriers to access of care
- Lead senior management business and clinical strategy development and implementation
- Promote collaboration to both internal and external healthcare team members
- Develop and implement strategic goals related to quality, human resources changes, and expansion.
Addiction Medicine Liaison
East Tennessee Behavioral Health Hospital
Knoxville, TN
05/2023-Present
- Supervise and educate Nurse Practitioners at the hospital.
- Advise and educate on internal medicine and addiction medicine policies.
Medical Director
Mirror Lake Recovery Center
Burns, Tennessee
06/2018-09/2024
- Oversee the medical detox unit of the facility including maintenance therapy.
- Supervise nurse practitioners and physician assistants
- Manage patients across all settings in the facility
Addiction Medicine Liaison
Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital
Chattanooga, TN
06/2018-02/2024
- Supervise and educate nurse practitioners at the hospital.
- Advise and educate on internal medicine and addiction medicine policies.
Chief Medical Officer
Trustpoint Hospital Murfreesboro,Tennessee
09/2015–06/2022
- Lead the overall clinical vision and direction for Trustpoint and provide clinical direction to the Health Management, Network, Product and Credentialing divisions
- Participate in senior management business and clinical strategy development and implementation
- Promote collaboration to both internal and external healthcare team members
- Develop and implement strategic goals related to the quality improvement, management programs and accreditation standards
- Oversee the Medical Executive Committee
Medical Director
Trustpoint Hospital Murfreesboro,Tennessee
09/2014–06/2022
- Oversee the Medical Unit of the hospital
- Supervise other internists on the Medical Unit
- Admit patients to the hospital
- Manage patients across all settings in the hospital
Hospitalist
St Thomas Rutherford Hospital Murfreesboro, Tennessee
09/2009–09/2014
- Admit patients to the hospital
- Evaluate patients in the Emergency Department
- Manage patients across all settings in the hospital: ICU, telemetry, and general medical and surgical floors
- Admit patients for physicians in the community
Physician Consultant
Veterans Affairs Medical Center Nashville, Tennessee
01/2012–03/2018
- Examine and evaluate veterans
- Give opinion on compensation and pensions claims by veterans
Physician Consultant
Veterans Evaluation Services
Nashville, Tennessee
11/2017-09/2022
- Examine and evaluate veterans
- Give opinion on compensation and pensions claims by veterans
CIVIC ACTIVITIES
Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine President-elect
American Society of Addiction Medicine
12/2023-Current
President-elect of TNSAM collaborates closely with the current president and other members of the leadership team to gain insights into decision-making processes and to contribute to ongoing initiatives. start building relationships with external stakeholders, partners, and other organizations to foster collaboration and establish a positive presence in the broader community. The role includes a mentorship role for incoming leaders or other members, helping them grow and develop their skills.
Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine Legislative Committee Founder and Chairman
American Society of Addiction Medicine
10/2022-Current
Founded and currently chair TNSAM’s monthly legislative meeting that is held virtually for discussion of both national and state legislative and advocacy insights and strategies to effect change in addiction medicine.
TAADAS Addiction Medicine Council Chairman
Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug, and other Addiction Services
03/2024-current
First chairman of TAADAS Addiction Medicine Council priorities include defining best practices for Tennessee addiction providers including incorporating low threshold access to care, acting as a hub for education and training including removing stigma and addressing community barriers to MOUD, and advocacy to increase access to care.
ASAM Health Technology Committee Chairman
American Society of Addiction Medicine
02/2024-Current
Founding chairman of the PMRAC Health Technology Committee, which is charged with studying and
making recommendations regarding the use of technology within the health care system to advance addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Practice Management and Regulatory Affairs Committee (PMRAC) Member
American Society of Addiction Medicine
05/2023-Current
The charge of the Practice Management and Regulatory Affairs Committee (PMRAC) is to
respond to, and be proactive around, policies by federal regulatory agencies, public payers (e.g.,
Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare), private payers (e.g., national, regional and local insurers) and
purchasers of health care goods and services (e.g., employers, collective bargaining units) that
impact addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. The PMRAC also houses the Billing and
Coding Subcommittee, which functions as the first stop for review of CPT, billing, and coding-
related issues and functions as ASAM’s Specialty RVS Committee. Additionally, the Committee is
charged with monitoring and developing resources to address the practice management needs of
addiction medicine specialty practices to assure that they can deliver optimal quality care for the
patients they serve. PMRAC has primary jurisdiction over ASAM’s federal and state regulatory
comment letters from regulating agencies such as CMS, HHS, DOL, DOD, and state Medicaid and
health agencies.
State Advocacy Learning Collaborative Committee (SALC) Member and Keynote Speaker
American Society of Addiction Medicine
01/2023-Current
The SALC committee focuses on sharing state policy updates, encouraging best practices for state advocacy, and
providing an open forum for members of the collaborative. Have given the keynote speech and powerpoint
presentation on effective state and federal advocacy strategies for the April 24, 2023
SALC quarterly meeting.
ASAM Chapters Council Meeting Member
American Society of Addiction Medicine
03/2023-Current
The charge of the Chapters Council is to serve as a conduit for information and communication between ASAM national and its Chapters, to assist in the delivery of membership benefits, and to promote and build membership of ASAM at the national and chapter levels. The Council will be responsible for working with ASAM National to address state laws and regulations that affect the delivery of and access to addiction medicine.
Tennessee Society of Addiction Medicine Scholarship Founding Member
American Society of Addiction Medicine
07/2023-Current
Helped TNSAM create three financial scholarships for addiction medicine fellows in their final year of fellowship who meet certain criteria at the three state of Tennessee universities offering fellowships for addiction medicine.
Lipscomb University Associate Professor
05/2022-Current
Coordinated a collaboration with physician assistant programs including Lipscomb and other physician assistant
programs in middle Tennessee to have PA students rotate through Mirror Lake Recovery Center, a 30 day drug
rehabilitation facility. PA students learn about addiction medicine through hands on experience and weekly
educational presentations by myself as Medical Director and specifically using appropriate language such as substance
use disorder instead of addiction within the addiction medicine world.
Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) Buprenorphine Committee Member
07/2021-Current
Collaborate with TDMHSAS to include attending buprenorphine listening sessions and working with the state opioid authority to look at revising OBOT regulations within the state and to coordinate “Overdose Prevention” seminars that includes harm reduction and educating the public and those in the medical field in addiction medicine to decrease stigma associated with substance use disorders.
Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug, and other Addiction Services (TAADAS) Member
07/2023-Current
TAADAS “keeps alcoholism, drug abuse, and other addiction issues in the forefront when public policy decisions are made and through the collective voice of its members.
Physician Leadership Group (PLG)
St. Thomas Health January 2012–2014
The PLG acts as a brain trust for confronting future problems in health care. The PLG is headed by St. Thomas Health CEO Mike Schatzlein and works with the CEOs from St. Thomas West, St Thomas Midtown, and St Thomas Rutherford and physicians selected from each hospital.
Hospitalist Leadership Group (HLG)
St Thomas Rutherford Hospital July 2012–2014
Chairman of the Hospitalist Leadership Group, which conveys hospitalist concerns to administration.
Medical Executive Committee/Health Information Technology Committee
St. Thomas Health January 2010–2014
Chairman of the Physician Informatics Committee and Health Information Technology Committee, which helps make decisions concerning the direction of physicians converting to computerized physician order entry (CPOE). Formed the computer templates for physician orders for disease processes for St Thomas Rutherford Hospital.
Medical Executive Committee (MEC)
Trustpoint Hospital
2015–2022
Chairman of the MEC, the primary governance committee for the independent medical staff. The MEC, with input from the medical staff, makes key leadership decisions related to medical staff policies, procedures, and rules, with an emphasis on quality control and quality improvement initiatives.