Senate Bill Would Build on CARA Programs to Fight Opioid Crisis

Feb 27, 2018 - 03:05 PM

Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today introduced the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act 2.0, legislation that would increase funding authorization levels for CARA programs and implement additional policy reforms to combat the opioid crisis. According to the sponsors, the bill would authorize $1 billion in dedicated resources to evidence-based prevention, enforcement, treatment and recovery programs. It also would impose a three-day limit on initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain; make permanent a CARA provision that allows physician assistants and nurse practitioners to prescribe buprenorphine under the direction of a qualified physician; allow states to waive the limit on the number of patients a physician can treat with buprenorphine; and require physicians and pharmacists to use their state prescription drug monitoring program when prescribing and dispensing opioids, among other provisions. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today held a hearing on the opioid crisis and the role of technology and data in preventing and treating addiction. In opening comments, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said the committee plans to markup legislation to address the opioid crisis as soon as the end of March.
 

Related News Articles

Headline
Senate report scrutinizes Medicare Advantage prior authorization denials for post-acute care services 
A report released Oct. 17 by the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s investigative subcommittee scrutinizes some of the nation's largest Medicare Advantage…
Headline
House Energy and Commerce Committee advances two-year telehealth extension, extends hospital-at-home program to 2029 
The House Energy and Commerce Committee Sept. 18 advanced legislation on expiring telehealth and hospital-at-home flexibilities. The AHA supported the passage…
Headline
Senators introduce the SEPSIS Act
Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bob Casey, D-Pa., Sept. 11 introduced the SEPSIS Act, legislation which would task the Centers for…
Headline
House Education and Workforce Committee holds hearing on contracting provisions, telehealth legislation
The House Education and Workforce Committee advanced several bills Sept. 11, including legislation that would empower commercial insurance companies at the…
Perspective
Keeping Congress Focused on Protecting Access to Care
Congress returns to Washington, D.C., next week following the summer recess, and lawmakers can expect a busy fall as they face a full plate of issues that need…
Headline
Surgeon General issues advisory on mental health and well-being of parents 
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., Aug. 28 released an advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents. The advisory highlights stressors that…