Senate approves legislation to address opioid epidemic

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.