Balderson’s bipartisan bill would study the monitoring of opioid patients

A bipartisan bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH) would initiate a federal study focused on monitoring people who are prescribed opioids.

“The opioid epidemic has been indiscriminate, impacting every community across the country,” Rep. Balderson said on June 28. “Preventing addiction and abuse from the outset is the most effective way to combat this crisis.”

Rep. Balderson on June 14 sponsored the Remote Opioid Monitoring Act of 2023, H.R. 4093, with lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) to determine the feasibility of enabling healthcare providers to track such patients, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“This legislation would give healthcare providers the opportunity to oversee the treatment of their patients and observe how they respond to their prescribed medication,” said Rep. Balderson.

Specifically, H.R. 4093 would require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct the study, which would look at the efficacy of remote monitoring programs, the prevalence of existing programs and provide recommendations for improving existing federal healthcare programs, the bill’s text says.

“The right medication can be life-changing, and even life-saving, but we must ensure that medication like opioids are used safely,” said Rep. Kelly. “I’m proud to lead this legislation, which will bring us closer to overcoming the challenges of substance abuse faced by so many Americans.”

H.R. 4093 is supported by the Consumer Technology Association and has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The committee’s Health Subcommittee included the bill for consideration during a June 21 legislative hearing entitled, “Responding to America’s Overdose Crisis: An Examination of Legislation to Build Upon the SUPPORT Act.”