Following President Barack Obama’s statement of concern during his State of the Union address over the rise in substance abuse nationwide, U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) has called on the president to support the TREAT Act to cut red tape for substance abuse treatment.
“In November, I introduced the bipartisan TREAT Act, which cuts red tape for substance abuse treatment,” Turner said. “I have seen the effects substance abuse can have on cities and towns across America, which is why I hope President Obama will support common sense steps like the TREAT Act. I appreciate the president taking up this important issue and I look forward to helping those Americans that need it most.”
The Reforming and Expanding Access to Treatment (TREAT) Act was introduced by Turner and Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) and Niki Tsongas (D-MA) to increase flexibility in the use of existing federal funding to combat the heroin epidemic.
“We are facing a nationwide epidemic of heroin and prescription drug abuse that is resulting in drastic increases in addiction rates, overdose deaths, and incarceration,” Turner said in November. “Sadly, unnecessary burdens stand in the way of communities seeking to fight this epidemic. This bill would take the commonsense steps to eliminate these barriers and expand access to the resources used in treating individuals suffering from substance abuse disorders.”
The TREAT Act would ensure that substance abuse treatment that is provided in correctional institutions is eligible for reimbursement. Currently, under Medicaid’s Institution for Mental Disease exclusion, facilities with more than 16 beds are not eligible for reimbursement.
The legislation also seeks to make grants available to incarcerated individuals in both community-based and institutional settings from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, which is currently prohibited by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.