U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) is leading the second wave of investigations into patient brokering, which occurs when individuals serve as intermediaries and profit from the recruitment of patients seeking treatment for substance use disorder.
“We must continue to fight the spread of substance use disorder in our communities, and that is exactly what we are doing with this request for information today,” said Rep. Walden and two of his Republican committee colleagues on Oct. 4. “This fight is not over; we will not let up.”
Rep. Walden, who is ranking member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, last week spearheaded a new probe with Republican Reps. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky and Michael Burgess of Texas that seeks information from the public into the quality of care that is provided by facilities, as well as common business practices in the sector. Rep. Burgess serves as Health Subcommittee Republican leader, while Rep. Guthrie is the Republican leader of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.
Additionally, Rep. Walden and the members seek public information on various aspects of the substance use disorder treatment industry to build on and continue an investigation they started during the previous congressional session on the practice of patient brokering and other areas of fraud and abuse.
The three members said in a joint statement that the request for information is an important step in the ongoing fight against the opioid crisis.