CLARKE, KINZINGER OPIOID LEGISLATION PASSES THROUGH COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, H.R. 5590, the Opioid Addiction Action Plan, which would require the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid (CMS) to develop an “Opioid Addiction Action Plan” with stakeholder feedback and then report it to Congress by January 1, 2019 passed through the House Energy and Commerce Committee by a voice vote.

Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) were joined by their colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee, Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Danny Davis (D-IL), in co-introducing this legislation last month.

The Opioid Addiction Action Plan is needed to make sure policies include coverage, reimbursement, treatments, and information that serves the overall goal of preventing opioid abuse. Under this plan, Medicare and Medicaid will better be able to identify ways to be more adaptable to innovative treatments for both pain that would normally require opioid prescriptions and for treatment of substance abuse disorders.

Congresswoman Clarke released this statement:

“I am thrilled to see the Opioid Addiction Action Plan pass through this distinguished committee by voice vote. I’m grateful to Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Pallone, and all of our colleagues for their tireless work on behalf of the American people.

“Adam and I remain committed to stopping this deadly epidemic in its tracks. Our bipartisan legislation creates a National Action Plan to help address challenges in combating this very serious, life-threatening issue. I look forward to seeing this bill progress through the United States House of Representatives.”

Clarke’s second bill H.R. 5583 also passed through committee by voice vote. The bill would require all state Medicaid programs to report the CMS behavioral health core set. Included in the behavioral health core set are measures that will provide a more complete view of Substance Abuse Disorder treatment in the Medicaid program.

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