House passes final opioid package 

The House of Representatives today passed by a vote of 393-8 the final version of the Opioid Crisis Response Act (H.R. 6). The House-Senate agreement includes an AHA-supported provision that would allow states to receive federal Medicaid matching funds for up to 30 days per year for services provided to adults aged 21-64 for substance use disorders in Institutions for Mental Diseases. The bill also includes AHA-supported provisions addressing health insurance for former foster youth; maternal and infant health; access to telehealth and medication-assisted treatment; parity in Children’s Health Insurance Program mental health and substance use disorder benefits; a demonstration program to promote alternatives to opioids in emergency departments; revisions to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems questions relating to pain management; care coordination for drug overdose patients; and improvements to coordination of prescription drug monitoring programs. The Senate is expected to vote on the agreement in October.