Newly proposed legislation from U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA) would provide opioid-addicted Medicaid recipients with additional treatment options.
“Combatting America’s opioid epidemic means ensuring those battling addiction have ready access to quality treatment,” said Rep. Walters, who on May 15 introduced H.R. 5797, a bill that would amend the Social Security Act to allow states to provide services under Medicaid in institutions for mental diseases (IMDs) to certain individuals with opioid use disorders.
“Unfortunately, current law prevents some Medicaid recipients battling opioid addiction from receiving the treatment they need to reclaim their lives,” the congresswoman said. “Sadly, an inability to receive proper care can be fatal.”
IMDs are hospitals, nursing care facilities, or any other site that cares for or treats people with “mental diseases,” which the federal law definition says includes substance abuse disorders such as opioid addiction, according to information provided by Rep. Walters’ office.
However, states currently cannot receive federal matching funds for Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries aged 21 through 64 who receive inpatient treatment at IMDs unless such a facility has less than 16 inpatient beds, according to Walters’ staff.
H.R. 5797 would authorize federal Medicaid matching funds for IMDs to provide Medicaid-eligible recipients up to 30 days of inpatient opioid abuse treatment over a 12-month period, through the year 2023, according to the lawmaker’s staff.
Specifically, H.R. 5797 would expand the IMD treatment option to people battling addiction to prescription opioids and related drugs, such as fentanyl and heroin.
Original cosponsors U.S. Reps. Steve Knight (R-CA) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY) joined Rep. Walters in introducing H.R. 5797, which has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.
“Ending the opioid crisis means providing treatment options, including inpatient care, to those seeking help,” said Rep. Walters, who also is the original cosponsor of the related H.R. 5800, introduced on May 15 by U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI).
H.R. 5800 would authorize a Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission study of IMDs and their operations to ensure compliance and adequate oversight, and to inform possible legislative reforms.
“My bill, combined with the oversight study legislation I cosponsored, will move us toward our shared goal of saving lives from the scourge of opioid addiction,” she added.
H.R. 5800 also is under consideration by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.