Senate approves Portman amendment to curb Medicare drug abuse

The Senate approved an amendment on Thursday that was cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) to curb drug abuse within the Medicare system.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Portman cosponsored the Stopping Medication Abuse and Protecting Seniors Act, S. 1913, which was approved as an amendment to the larger Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA).

The Portman-Toomey amendment is expected to save taxpayers approximately $96 million over 10 years by curbing drug abuse within Medicare.

Under the bill, Medicare Advantage and Part D plan sponsors would be authorized to use tools already in use by state Medicaid programs and private plans to pinpoint enrollees with a history of drug abuse. Those beneficiaries would be placed into a single pharmacy under a single prescriber.

In addition, plan sponsors would be required to inform beneficiaries of the status change with a notice that includes information about state and federal mental health and drug abuse resources to help treat addiction. The notices would also include information about appeals and plan selection.

The overall goal of CARA is to ensure that federal resources support evidence-based education, treatment and recovery programs. The Obama administration and more than 130 national anti-drug groups have backed the legislation.