Rand Paul Pushing Through Heroin Legislation

[AZJoe]

But reducing the number of heroin addicts will cut into the CIA's earnings.

 

[jct74]

Sens. Paul, Markey Introduce Legislation to Expand Treatment for Heroin and Prescription Drug Addiction

TREAT Act would increase access to evidence-based medication-assisted treatment

05.27.15

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and a bipartisan group of their colleagues introduced new legislation, S.1455, the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT Act) to expand specialized treatment for prescription drug and heroin addiction.

The legislation would expand the ability of addiction medical specialists and other trained medical professionals to provide life-saving medication-assisted therapies such as buprenorphine (also called Suboxone) for patients battling heroin and prescription drug addiction. Unfortunately, due in part to federal restrictions, of the approximately 2.4 million people dealing with prescription drug and heroin dependency in 2013, only half received specialty treatment for their condition.

“Heroin addiction is on the rise in Kentucky and throughout the country, and government’s solution of locking up people with addiction is not solving the problem. The TREAT Act will remove a roadblock to getting people the help they need to break the cycle of addition and get on a path to recovery,” said Senator Paul.

“When effective medication-assisted treatment is made available, people’s lives can be saved,” said Senator Markey. “Treatment for prescription drug and heroin addiction should not be harder to access than the actual drugs destroying lives and communities. The TREAT Act will expand access to medical treatment that works, removing outdated limits on trained health professionals, allowing them to treat more patients and address this opiates crisis. I thank Senator Paul and my Senate colleagues for their partnership as we fight this battle of prescription drug and heroin addiction and reduce the tragic effect of this epidemic.”

Specifically, the TREAT Act would help increase the number of patients who have access to treatment by allowing substance abuse treatment specialists and certain other trained physicians who are practicing in a team-based facility that has built in quality measures to see a greater number of patients. Physicians under the bill are also required to fully participate in state-based prescription drug monitoring databases to track prescription drug use. The bill would also allow trained nurse practitioners and physician assistants to treat, for the first time, opioid dependent patients with approved medication assisted treatments. Combined with behavioral therapy, effective medication assisted treatment programs for opioid addiction can decrease overdose deaths, be cost-effective, reduce transmissions of HIV and hepatitis C, and reduce other social harms such as criminal activity. While emphasizing addiction medicine expertise and quality, the legislation lifts existing and arbitrary federal restrictions that are non-existent for any other disease and limit access to life saving therapies.

A copy of the TREAT Act can be found HERE. A one-page summary of the legislation can be found HERE.

The TREAT Act is co-sponsored in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.). A companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), and John Katko (R-N.Y.).

https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/pr...nt-for-heroin-and-prescription-drug-addiction

 

[jct74]

Senators Paul, Hatch, and Markey Call on HHS to Follow Senate Lead in Increasing Access to Opioid Addiction Treatment

Senators lead bipartisan group of 22 Senators in calling on the Department to raise the cap on prescribing buprenorphine to 500 patients

06.01.16

Today, Senators Paul (R-KY), Hatch (R-UT), and Markey (D-MA) led a bipartisan group of 22 Senators in writing to Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to call on HHS to allow for greater access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) in the Department’s proposed rule on the topic published on March 30, 2016.

The proposed rule on MAT would increase the highest limit on the number of patients waivered practitioners can treat with buprenorphine from 100 patients per practitioner to 200 patients. However, in recognition of the huge disparity that exists between those who can prescribe opioids for treatment of pain and those who can prescribe treatments for opioid use disorders, and the large gap between those with opioid use disorders and those recieve treatment for their illness, the Senate is advancing legislation that would raise this patient cap to 500 patients. The letter sent by the group of Senators today urges HHS to take into account the bipartisan work done by the Senate on this legislation, S. 1455, the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT) Act, when finalizing their proposed rule.

“Heroin addiction is on the rise in Kentucky and throughout the country, and government’s solution of locking up people with addiction is not solving the problem. Getting people the help they need to break the cycle of addition and on a path to recovery is extremely important,” Sen. Paul said.

“I'm glad the Department is taking action to expand access to medication assisted treatment under the authority Congress provided through the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000," said Senator Hatch. “However, if we are going to provide patients with the treatments they need to succeed in their battle against heroin and prescription drug abuse, we must open greater access to medication assisted treatment by setting a more appropriate cap on the number of patients to whom an eligible physician can prescribe buprenorphine.”

“We don’t restrict doctors from prescribing life-saving medication for any other medical condition, so it makes no sense to limit medication-assisted therapies for those suffering from the disease of opioid addiction”, said Senator Markey. “The current artificial caps on treatment not only hurt access, but they also reinforce the stigma that accessing treatment for substance use disorders should be different than for any other chronic illness. I thank the Obama administration for responding to my call to act administratively to address limitations on medication-assisted therapies for opioid addiction, but we must ensure that the final rule addresses this outdated federal restriction in a manner reflects the immense crisis we are currently facing.”

The letter to HHS is also signed by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

In August 2015, Senators Hatch and Markey led a group of 13 Senators in urging HHS to use the authority granted to the Department under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 to raise the buprenorphine patient cap. In April 2016, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced the TREAT Act, which was introduced by Senators Markey and Paul and cosponsored by Senator Hatch at the HELP Committee markup of the legislation. In addition to raising the maximum cap for physicians from 100 to 500 patients, the TREAT Act also authorizes nurse practitioners and physicians assistants to provide medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders in accordance with state law.

https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/pr...creasing-access-to-opioid-addiction-treatment

 

[BarryDonegan]

Pills are anything but "safe" with all the Tylenol added to induce liver failure........

Be very careful if you or anyone you know is taking any, the opioid won't kill you nearly as quickly as the Tylenol...

Def. true that the tylenol itself is what's risky on them, but what I mean is that the actual opoid dosage is safer in the pills.

 

[jct74]

Dr. Rand Paul: HHS Rule-Change Victory a “First Step”

07.06.16

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul applauded the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement changes called for by Dr. Paul and a bipartisan Senate coalition to increase access to much-needed treatment for those battling an opioid addiction. The Administration announced today that HHS will raise the number of patients to whom a doctor can prescribe buprenorphine, also known as Suboxone, from the current 100-patient barrier to 275 patients.

“As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand how well-intended but misguided federal interference restrains doctors from providing patients with the help they need. The current patient cap is keeping too many Kentuckians from treatment that could free them from addiction. Today’s rule change is an important first step to unshackling and better empowering physicians to confront the growing epidemic of opioid addiction. Congress should pass the bipartisan TREAT Act to further increase the cap and expand the number of providers who can prescribe these important treatments,” said Dr. Paul.

“This final regulation is a result of Sen. Paul’s common-sense proposal that passed the Senate Health Committee this spring and should be a great help to Kentuckians and Tennesseans alike working hard to beat addiction and lead healthier lives. I was glad to support Sen. Paul’s proposal in committee—and I look forward to soon getting a result on bicameral legislation to provide substantial support to states and local communities on the front lines of America’s opioid abuse epidemic,” Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said.

Dr. Paul is the lead Republican sponsor of the TREAT Act, which, along with increasing the patient cap and number of providers, would give states greater flexibility to adjust their state patient caps and require HHS and the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress about the legislation’s effects on treatment and services. Dr. Paul and Senator Edward Markey originally introduced the TREAT Act in 2015. The TREAT Act unanimously passed the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in March.

When Dr. Paul learned HHS originally intended to only increase the cap to 200 patients, he joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to extend the cap to 500, the limit included in the TREAT Act.

Click HERE to read the TREAT Act in its entirety. Top-line bullet points and background information on the TREAT Act can be found below.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE TREAT ACT

•Expands the maximum allowable patient cap from 100 to 500 maximum patients.

•Changes the initial (first year) allowable patient load under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) from 30 to 100, and after one year a physician may request to treat up to 500 patients.​

•Allows certain physicians, after one year, to request to treat up to 500 patients. To be eligible:

•Physicians must be substance abuse treatment specialists, as recognized by specific board or society certifications, or
•Non-specialist physicians must complete 24 hours of approved training.​

•Physicians must also maintain records about whether they provide counseling services on site or refer patients elsewhere for such services, and how frequently such patients use those services, and the frequency with which patients terminate treatment against medical advice.
•Provides states the flexibility to set the patient cap for their state at higher or lower than the cap under the CSA (but no lower than 30 patients and no more than 500). -States may also set requirements about the types of facilities or practice settings physicians can use to treat addiction patients, required education, or reporting requirements.
•Allows nurse practitioners (NPs) and physicians assistants (PAs) to be able to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction for the first time. NPs and PAs would be qualified to treat up to 100 patients if they complete 24 hours of education on the treatment of addiction patients.
•Requires HHS, after 2 years, and GAO, after 4 years, to issue reports to Congress about the effect of this legislation in terms of availability of treatment, quality of treatment programs, integration with other health care services, diversion, state-level policies, and use of nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants to provide this treatment.

https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/press/dr-rand-paul-hhs-rule-change-victory-a-first-step

 

[jct74]

Dr. Rand Paul Urges Senate to Expand Access to Opioid-Addiction Treatment

07.12.16

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul called on the U.S. Senate to help more Kentuckians and other Americans struggling with opioid addiction find healing by passing the conference report on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved CARA by a wide bipartisan majority of 407-5, with the legislation containing several proposals that Dr. Paul has long been fighting for as lead Republican sponsor of the TREAT Act.

“Counterproductive rules decreed by Washington, D.C. prevent far too many of those battling opioid addiction from obtaining proper treatment,” said Dr. Paul. “Kentuckians have been especially hit hard by this epidemic, and I’m pleased to see Congress finally take many of the common-sense steps Senator Markey and I have been advocating for through the TREAT Act to provide help to those fighting for their lives. I urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead by passing CARA right away.”

“I thank Senator Paul for his partnership in this effort,” said Senator Markey, “and I thank Senators Murray and Alexander, and Reps. Pallone and Upton who helped to get these provisions included in the final legislation. I will continue to work to pass legislation that would make nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other trained medical professionals a permanent part of the opioid treatment workforce.”

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would extend the cap on the number of patients to whom a doctor can prescribe buprenorphine, a key component in Suboxone, from the current 100-patient barrier to 275 patients. Dr. Paul had earlier joined a bipartisan group of senators in asking HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to raise the cap to the 500-patient level contained in the TREAT Act after learning HHS was planning to extend the cap to only 200 patients.

Now, the CARA conference report would further implement the principles contained in TREAT by expanding the number of providers who can administer treatment, allowing HHS Secretary Burwell to authorize in-office treatment that excludes patients from the cap, and giving states greater flexibility in adjusting their own patient caps.

Below is a summary of TREAT Act provisions included in the CARA conference report:

o Allows nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) to prescribe buprenorphine to treat patients with opioid addiction for the first time, through 2021, following completion of addiction-treatment education.

o Seeks to provide patients with the opportunity to access the full range of available treatment options for their addiction treatment by ensuring providers are educated in addiction medicine and have the capacity to provide, either directly or by referral, all drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of opioid use disorder and any necessary counseling or ancillary services.

o Allows the Secretary to exclude patients from the cap if they are given long-acting versions of buprenorphine that are administered in a physician’s office and not distributed to the patient for at-home use, therefore putting them at a low risk for diversion.

o Grants states the flexibility to adjust their total cap numbers within the parameters set in federal law.

https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/pr...o-expand-access-to-opioid-addiction-treatment

 

[jct74]

Senator Paul Secures Expansion of Access to Opioid-Addiction Treatment

07.13.16

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul praised Senate passage today of the conference report on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), legislation that includes several provisions Dr. Paul has championed to expand access to treatment for those battling opioid addiction. The Senate approved CARA by a vote of 92-2, after the U.S. House of Representatives voted 407-5 to pass the legislation on Friday.

“In a time of deep partisan division, I applaud the U.S. Senate for coming together to do the right thing by ensuring Kentucky families and other Americans devastated by opioid addiction receive the treatment they need to heal,” said Dr. Paul. “As the lead Republican sponsor of the TREAT Act, I have worked with Senator Markey and a bipartisan coalition to speak up for those denied help by arbitrary federal interference. Today’s victory is an encouraging sign of what we can accomplish when we decide to get Washington out of the American people’s way. I urge the President to quickly sign the bill into law.”

Today’s passage marks the second major step in a week toward unshackling doctors to help more patients break free of their opioid addiction. Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would extend the cap on the number of patients to whom a doctor can prescribe buprenorphine, a key component in Suboxone, from the current 100-patient barrier to 275 patients. Dr. Paul had earlier joined a bipartisan group of senators in asking HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to raise the cap to the 500-patient level contained in the TREAT Act after learning HHS was planning to extend the cap to only 200 patients.

Now, the CARA conference report would further implement the principles contained in TREAT by expanding the number of providers who can administer treatment, allowing HHS Secretary Burwell to authorize in-office treatment that excludes patients from the cap, and giving states greater flexibility in adjusting their own patient caps.

Below is a summary of TREAT Act provisions included in the CARA conference report:

o Allows nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) to prescribe buprenorphine to treat patients with opioid addiction for the first time, through 2021, following completion of addiction-treatment education.

o Seeks to provide patients with the opportunity to access the full range of available treatment options for their addiction treatment by ensuring providers are educated in addiction medicine and have the capacity to provide, either directly or by referral, all drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of opioid use disorder and any necessary counseling or ancillary services.

o Allows the Secretary to exclude patients from the cap if they are given long-acting versions of buprenorphine that are administered in a physician’s office and not distributed to the patient for at-home use, therefore putting them at a low risk for diversion.

o Grants states the flexibility to adjust their total cap numbers within the parameters set in federal law.

https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/pr...nsion-of-access-to-opioid-addiction-treatment

 

[69360]

I disagree. It's just replacing one drug with another. The dealers and junkies around here sell suboxone.