House panel holds hearing on bills to address substance use disorder

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee today held a hearing titled “Combatting an Epidemic: Legislation to Help Patients with Substance Use Disorders.” 

Witnesses included officials from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Subcommittee members inquired about the status of several not yet implemented provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act and Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act. They also discussed 14 bills to further expand access to substance use disorder treatment, including two bipartisan bills supported by the AHA. 

The Opioid Workforce Act (H.R. 3414/S.2892) would add 1,000 Medicare-funded training positions to approved residency programs in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry or pain management over a five-year period. The Ways and Means Committee, which also has jurisdiction over the bill, reported it favorably last June.

The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act (H.R. 2482/S. 2074) would eliminate a requirement that practitioners apply for a separate waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe buprenorphine for SUD treatment.