Washington, DC (April 27, 2018) – BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood issued the following statement regarding the Opioid Addiction Action Plan Act, introduced yesterday in the Senate by Senators Heller (R-NV), Isakson (R-GA), and Menendez (D-NJ). A companion bill in the House, sponsored by Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), was advanced by the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee earlier this week.
“As the largest payer of healthcare services in the country, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has the ability to lead by example in developing policies that improve timely patient access to the most effective treatments for pain and addiction, as well as helping to stimulate research and investment in novel treatments to better meet patients’ needs.
“Specific and targeted updates to coverage and reimbursement policies impacting the Medicare and Medicaid programs will drive appropriate coverage of novel pain and addiction treatment across the United States. By directing CMS to develop an Opioid Action Plan, this Act would help accomplish this critical goal.
“I applaud the bipartisan leadership of Senators Heller, Isakson, and Menendez, and that of Representatives Clarke and Kinzinger. We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers in both parties to advance this bill and other legislation that will that will allow for an America free of prescription opioid addiction.”
For more information about BIO’s recommendations to address the opioid epidemic, please visit http://www.bio.org/opioid.