Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Despite Discord Over Funding, Congress Sends Opioid Bill To President's Desk
The New York Times: Senate Approves Bill To Combat Opioid Addiction Crisis
The Senate on Wednesday approved a bill to tackle the nation’s opioid crisis, sending to the president’s desk the most sweeping drug legislation in years in a rare instance of consensus in Congress. The measure, which passed, 92 to 2, would strengthen prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, largely by empowering medical professionals and law enforcement officials with more tools to help drug addicts. It would also expand access to a drug that emergency medical workers could use to help reverse overdoses and improve treatment for the incarcerated. (Huetteman, 7/13)
The Wall Street Journal: Congress Passes Bill To Fight Opioid Abuse, But Funding Clash Continues
The legislation will authorize almost $900 million over five years for prevention, treatment and law enforcement efforts to fight the health crisis. “This is a historic moment, the first time in decades that Congress has passed comprehensive addiction legislation, and the first time Congress has ever supported long-term addiction recovery,” said Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio), who along with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.) introduced the Senate version of the bill. (O'Keeffe, 7/13)
Stat: Senate Sends First Major Opioids Legislation To Obama’s Desk
The legislation would create a $100 million-per-year grant program within the US Department of Justice to support states in fighting opioid addiction. Programs that offer an alternative to jail time, overdose training for first responders, and prescription drug-monitoring programs are some of the efforts that could be funded. Other provisions include allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to administer medication-assisted treatment, undertaking awareness campaigns to try to deter opioid abuse, and requiring the US Department of Health and Human Services to set up a task force on pain management. (Scott, 7/13)
Politico Pro: Without Money, CARA Not Expected To Impact Opioid Crisis Soon
The catch is it doesn’t include a penny to fund them, although Republicans are pledging to provide resources to back up the bill through appropriations later this year. But when Congress returns in September, it’s expected to keep the government running with a continuing resolution, which typically keeps funding flat. “After the confetti has fallen and the champagne corks have popped, people are going to look back and say, ‘Where is this new funding? What are these new programs?’” said Daniel Raymond, policy director of the Harm Reduction Coalition and a supporter of the legislation. (Norman, 7/13)
The Hill: Congress Sends First Major Opioids Bill To Obama's Desk
The slow pace of action from Congress has, at times, drawn fierce criticism from advocates, particularly the families of people who have died of overdoses, who say national and state leaders have ignored the warning signs. Many say the Obama administration and the GOP-led Congress are not thinking big enough to tackle the problem. “I don’t think the speed at which the solutions are being adopted are even close to what they should be based on the enormity of the issue,” Gary Mendell, the founder and CEO of an anti-addiction group called Shatterproof, told The Hill earlier this year. “It’s not right, in relation to the amount of suffering that’s going on.” (Ferris, 7/13)
The Associated Press: Congress Sends Obama Compromise Drug-Abuse Bill
In a statement, the White House said Obama would sign the bill while expressing disappointment that it failed to provide significant money to deal with the epidemic. "Some action is better than none," the White House said, but Obama "won't stop fighting to secure the resources this public health crisis demands. Congressional Republicans have not done their jobs until they provide the funding for treatment that communities need to combat this epidemic." (Daly, 7/13)
Meanwhile, governors are also uniting to battle the epidemic —
The Associated Press: In Rare Show Of Unity, Governors Vow To Fight Opioid Crisis
Nearly every U.S. governor pledged Wednesday to combat the opioid crisis that is leaving a trail of overdose deaths and misery in their states. At least 45 state governors signed on to the Compact to Fight Opioid Addiction committing to fight the epidemic, fueled by the overprescribing of prescription pain relievers. The National Governors Association released the compact ahead of its summer meeting, which starts Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa. (7/13)
