Letter to Senate HELP committee supporting S. 2516

As the nation continues to struggle with the devastating public health crisis created by the opioid epidemic, it is encouraging to see the Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions take constructive action. The American Hospital Association (AHA) appreciates your interest and commitment to action and welcome this opportunity to work with you. The AHA thanks you for your leadership in addressing the nation’s opioid epidemic.

The AHA is pleased to strongly support S. 2516, the Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act, introduced by Senators Booker, Capito, Bennet, and Gardner. This important legislation would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a demonstration program to test alternative pain management protocols to limit the use of opioids in emergency departments (EDs).