Senate Hearing Focuses on State Strategies to Address Opioid Crisis

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today held the sixth in a series of hearings on the opioid crisis, which focused on state strategies to address the crisis. Witnesses included Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. Among other strategies, Maryland has allowed all pharmacies to dispense the overdose drug naloxone without a prescription, and opened an Opioid Operations Command Center to coordinate the state and local governments’ response to the crisis. Oregon has prioritized improving the state’s prescription drug monitoring program and is working with the state legislature on a peer mentoring program for individuals struggling with addiction. Today’s hearing followed a roundtable discussion committee leaders held with 13 governors and 32 senators on the issue last week. Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said the committee hopes to report out legislation this spring.