House committee approves AHA-supported bills to address opioid epidemic

Apr 27, 2016 - 04:52 PM

The House Energy and Commerce Committee today approved five AHA-supported bills as part of its legislative package to address the opioid epidemic. The bills would: establish an interagency task force to review, modify and update best practices for pain management and pain medication prescribing (H.R. 4641); require the Government Accountability Office to report on opioid use disorder treatment availability and need (H.R. 4982); require GAO to report on the prevalence of neonatal abstinence syndrome and Medicaid coverage for the condition (H.R. 4978); permit schedule II prescriptions to be partially filled in certain circumstances (H.R. 4599); and provide for more stringent Food and Drug Administration review of new opioids without abuse-deterrent properties, pediatric opioid labeling recommendations and prescriber education recommendations (H.R. 4976). The committee approved an amendment to H.R. 4641 offered by Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) that would add a hospital representative to the interagency task force. The committee will consider three additional opioid-related bills tomorrow.

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