The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today held a hearing on the opioid crisis and “how to move forward.” Journalist Sam Quinones, author of the book “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic,” shared his recommendations for addressing the crisis, which included greater use of innovative community and law enforcement solutions, promoting a wider array of pain strategies by physicians, and urging insurance companies to reimburse for non-narcotic pain treatments. “CARA and the Cures Act make up a great start…but they are only a start,” Quinones said. “Everything I’ve learned about this issue has taught me the importance of long-term community responses and commitment.” In a statement submitted for an October hearing on the issue, AHA urged the committee to eliminate barriers to treatment created by the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Disease exclusion; align Part 2 federal regulations governing the confidentiality of substance use disorder treatment records with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; enhance access to medication-assisted treatment; and strengthen and ensure prescription drug monitoring programs can share information across state lines, among other actions.

Related News Articles

Headline
An AHA blog published Sept. 16 highlights programs and practices by Boston Medical Center leaders and staff that support residents’ mental health, emotional…
Headline
Susan Doherty, AHA’s vice president of field engagement, and Rebecca Chickey, AHA’s senior director of behavioral health services, write on the unique ways…
Blog
This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023, the latest year for which data was…
Headline
Corey Feist, CEO and co-founder of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, and Tiffany Lyttle, R.N., director of cultural integration at Centra Health, discuss…
Blog
Public
Medical residency is one of the most demanding stages in a physician’s career. Long hours, intense learning and new responsibilities often push trainees to…
Headline
The Census Bureau reported (https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2025/demo/acsbr-024.pdf) that the uninsured rate increased nationally to 8.2% in 2024…