AHA Comments on Senate Finance Committee Opioid Legislation

Jun 12, 2018 - 02:58 PM
AHA-comment-opioid-bill

The AHA today voiced support for certain provisions in and proposed amendments to the Helping to End Addiction and Lessen (HEAL) Substance Use Disorders Act, which the Senate Finance Committee will begin marking up this afternoon. As introduced by Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), the legislation would require Medicare and Medicaid to provide beneficiaries better education, prevention, management and treatment options for pain and addiction; increase Medicare beneficiary awareness of non-opioid alternative treatments; increase treatment for substance use disorder; improve tracking of opioid prescriptions under Medicare Part D; expand and clarify Medicaid’s options for treating beneficiaries with substance use disorder; and improve data used to evaluate treatments for opioid use disorder. Finance Committee members have filed more than 50 amendments to the Chairman’s mark. The House of Representatives also has begun considering a number of opioid-related bills this afternoon, including four bills supported by the AHA.

Related News Articles

Headline
Shutdown continues with no significant progress toward funding deal
The government shutdown is expected to continue into next week as the Senate is expected to adjourn Oct. 23 with no plans to vote this weekend. The chamber Oct…
Headline
NETEC to award grants to 75 hospitals seeking to become Level 2 special pathogen treatment centers
The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center announced Oct. 15 that it will award $37.5 million in grants to 75 hospitals seeking to…
Headline
Government funding bill fails 10th time in Senate as chamber adjourns until next week
The Senate Oct. 16 failed for a 10th time to advance the continuing resolution to extend government funding and end the ongoing shutdown. The chamber adjourned…
Chairperson's File
Chair File: Leadership Dialogue — Legislative Outlook and Health Care Advocacy with AHA Executive Vice President Stacey Hughes
Public
There is a saying that is very timely for our field: A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. As we head into the final months of 2025, hospitals and health…
Headline
Shutdown expected to continue next week as Senate adjourns
The federal government shutdown is expected to continue into next week as the Senate adjourned Oct. 9 after failing to pass spending legislation; senators plan…
Headline
AHA calls for Senate committee to strengthen supply chain for pharmaceuticals, medical devices
The AHA provided a statement of record to the Senate Special Committee on Aging for a hearing Oct. 8 on the pharmaceutical and medical device supply chains.…