The Senate last night voted 92-2 to approve the conference report to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S. 524), legislation designed to help stem the epidemic of opioid abuse through education, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The bill incorporates several key AHA-endorsed measures, including the creation of a multi-agency task force with a hospital representative that will develop best practices for prescribing and pain management; more stringent pre-market review of new opioids by the Food and Drug Administration; increased access to opioid overdose reversal drugs and medication-assisted treatment; and expanded research and treatment for vulnerable populations. The House passed the conference report last week and President Obama is expected to sign it into law. AHA members today received a Special Bulletin with more on the legislation, as well as recent actions by the administration and AHA to combat the opioid abuse epidemic. 

Related News Articles

Headline
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., July 15 introduced legislation that would repeal some of the Medicaid funding reductions included in the recently enacted One Big…
Headline
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health today held a hearing to discuss legislative proposals on health care, including two AHA-supported bills…
Headline
In his latest AHA Cyber and Risk Intel blog, Scott Gee, AHA deputy national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, explains how hospitals can prepare for and…
Headline
The AHA July 16 announced () five winners of the 2025 AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award for their hospital-led collaborative efforts to improve community…
Chairperson's File
Public
This month Congress enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — a sweeping package that contained many of President Trump’s legislative priorities on taxes,…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 15 issued a proposed rule that would increase Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system…