SUPPORT Act reauthorization bill passes in House, advances in Senate

The House Dec. 12 voted 386-37 to pass AHA-supported legislation (H.R. 4531) that would reauthorize key SUPPORT Act programs for patients with substance use disorder and permanently extend required Medicaid coverage for medication-assisted treatments. The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee today advanced its own SUPPORT Act reauthorization bill (S. 3393). In comments  submitted to the committee, AHA voiced support for provisions in the Senate bill that would reauthorize grants to help states enhance the collection of overdose data and improve their prescription drug monitoring programs, and require agencies to finalize regulations for prescribing controlled substances over telemedicine, among other proposals.