WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) and Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) announced that they have sent inquiries to dozens of hospitals, insurance plans, pharmacies, pharmacists, and providers aimed at gathering information on their existing actions and plans to eliminate barriers for accessing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
The letters are intended to gain insight into the successes and barriers that have arisen following the implementation of their law, the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which eliminates the waiver requirement to prescribe buprenorphine, thereby streamlining quality and timeliness of care.
That bill, which was signed into law in 2022, aims to expand access to buprenorphine by increasing the number of medical professionals who can prescribe the treatment for opioid use disorder from 130,000 to 1.8 million. With this barrier eliminated, Americans struggling with addiction will finally have greater access to effective treatments in their communities.
“Passing the MAT Act into law last Congress was a crucial step forward in our country's battle against opioid addiction and substance use disorder,” said Congressman Turner. “Too many Ohio families have been ripped apart by the opioid epidemic that has swept over the nation. The MAT Act offers greater access to life-saving care to those struggling with addiction, and we are already seeing positive results as drug overdose deaths dropped by 10% in 2023. However, our work is not finished. We must ensure this progress continues, and it is my hope that these healthcare providers can offer greater insight for Congress to combat opioid addiction and help save lives.”
“For the millions of Americans battling substance use disorder, having access to proven, affordable treatment can mean the difference between life and death,” said Congressman Tonko. “I worked tirelessly to pass the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act into law to open the doors of access to the proven addiction treatment, buprenorphine. We must use every tool possible to realize the dream of the MAT Act. I look forward to hearing the responses and insights from these healthcare providers about how we can best move forward to ensure that those on the path to recovery have the treatment they need and deserve.”
Background:
Congressman Turner and Congressman Tonko introduced the MAT Act in February 2021, following the Biden-Harris Administration’s decision to reverse a policy from the Trump Administration that reduced restrictions on practitioners seeking to prescribe buprenorphine.
In March 2021, Congressman Turner hosted a roundtable with local elected officials, law enforcement, health care leaders, and opioid addiction experts to discuss the impact of the opioid crisis on the Dayton community, as well as his legislative action in Congress to combat this epidemic from multiple angles, including the MAT Act.
38 letters have been sent to healthcare providers throughout the nation, including: UnitedHealth Group; The Cigna Group; Kaiser Permanente; Elevance Health; Centene Corporation; Blue Cross and Blue Shield; CVS Health/Aetna; Molina Healthcare; Health Care Services Corporation; Highmark Health; Humana; American Medical Association; American Nurses Association; American College of Emergency Physicians; American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Physician Assistants; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; National Association of Chain Drug Stores; Express Scripts; Blink Health; CVS Health; Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; Health Mart; Good Neighbor Pharmacy; Rite Aid Corporation; Albertsons Companies, Inc.; Safeway; The Vitamin Shoppe; Kroger; Publix Super Markets, Inc.; Costco; Walmart; American Hospital Association; American Pharmacists Association; National Community Pharmacists Association; ASHP; and National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
The full list of healthcare providers and attached letters can be found HERE.