The U.S. Senate on Oct. 3 voted to pass landmark legislation to fight the nation’s ongoing opioid crisis with support from U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Dean Heller (R-NV).
The comprehensive Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, H.R. 6, which includes provisions from 95 other pieces of legislation, makes several changes to state Medicaid programs to address opioid and substance use disorders, alters Medicare requirements to address opioid use, and addresses other opioid-related issues, according to the congressional record summary.
“This groundbreaking, comprehensive legislation will help deliver critical funding to states hit the hardest like West Virginia,” Sen. Capito said, pointing out that H.R. 6 supports families, infants, children, and law enforcement.
The measure, she added, also takes “a real all-hands-on-deck approach” to tackling both the causes and consequences of the nation’s opioid epidemic.
H.R. 6 includes eight pieces of legislation that Sen. Heller either authored or co-authored to help fight Nevada’s opioid crisis.
“One of my top priorities is combating the opioid crisis, which is affecting communities across Nevada,” said Sen. Heller. “I am proud to see the U.S. Senate pass – with my strong support – this bipartisan package.”
The provisions included in H.R. 6 offered by Sen. Heller are:
- The bipartisan Assessing Barriers to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Act, S. 2909, which Heller introduced on May 22 with original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), to require the Government Accountability Office to report on barriers to the provision of medication used to treat substance use disorders under Medicaid distribution models, according to the congressional record summary.
- The bipartisan Enhancing Patient Access to Non-Opioid Treatment Options, S. 2911, which Heller sponsored and introduced on May 22 with original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Robert Casey Jr. (D-PA), to require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop guidance for states on non-opioid treatments that may be provided under Medicaid, according to the congressional record summary.
- The bipartisan Securing Flexibility to Treat Substance Use Disorders Act, S. 2921, another bill sponsored by Sen. Heller, along with lead original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ). The bill, introduced on May 22, codifies regulations permitting managed care plans to cover treatment in an institution for mental disease for a certain number of days in a month in lieu of other types of services, according to a summary provided by Heller’s office.
- The bipartisan Informing Seniors about Opioids Act of 2018, S.2707, for which was introduced in April by Sen. Heller and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), updates the Medicare and You handbook to include information about opioid use, pain management and alternative pain treatments.
- The bipartisan Every Prescription Conveyed Securely Act, S. 2460, introduced on Feb. 27 by Sens. Heller and Bennet, directs health care providers to use electronic prescribing for controlled substances for Medicare Part D transactions, according to a summary by Heller’s staff.
- The bipartisan Caring Recovery for Infants and Babies (CRIB) Act, S. 2899, introduced on May 22 by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), counted Sen. Heller among the original cosponsors. S. 2899 recognizes and funds residential pediatric care centers within Medicaid to treat babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
- The bipartisan Help for Moms and Babies Act, S. 2922, ensures women who are receiving care for a substance use disorder in a treatment facility receive prenatal and postpartum services. Sen. Heller introduced S. 2922 as the lead original cosponsor. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) lead sponsored the bill.
- The bipartisan Opioid Addiction Action Plan Act, S. 2769, introduced by Heller on April 26, requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and CMS to develop a plan to prevent opioid addiction and increase access to medication-assisted treatment under Medicare and Medicaid, according to the congressional record.
“The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act has the potential to save lives by helping prevent overdoses and providing our communities with the tools they need to make sure that those who need help get it,” added Sen. Heller earlier this week.
Sen. Capito noted that her home state of West Virginia “understands far too well how this crisis is tearing apart families and communities.”
However, such experiences also have informed lawmakers’ efforts to fight back, she said.
“The SUPPORT Act is a meaningful step in our ongoing effort to combat the opioid epidemic in West Virginia and across the nation,” Sen. Capito said.
The lawmaker also said that legislators and other stakeholders have learned what’s working, what doesn’t work, and “that the ripple effects go far beyond those struggling with addiction.”
Sen. Capito added that she has “worked hard to make sure that this legislation reflects many of those lessons.”
“I’m incredibly proud to have secured so many critical provisions in the final bill and to have played a role in helping shape the legislative package we sent to President Trump,” said Sen. Capito. “While there is no silver bullet when it comes to the opioid epidemic, I know this will help make a meaningful difference, and I will continue fighting to deliver similar solutions for West Virginians and all those affected.”
The president is expected soon to sign H.R. 6 making the bill a federal law.
“This bipartisan legislation is a perfect example of what Congress can accomplish when we work together, and I’m proud to help send it to the president’s desk,” said Sen. Heller.