"The physician, resident and
medical student members of the Massachusetts Medical Society thank Sen. Warren for her leadership in recognizing that additional funding and support is needed to help our patients who face a chronic struggle
with
opioid misuse and
substance use disorder.
As physicians, we endorse evidence-based measures for prevention and treatment of
opioid misuse and
substance use disorder.
On a daily basis,
we have a first-hand view of the pressing needs
for additional research, expansion of access to care and for
the bolstering of the
dangerously shallow
pool of health care professionals trained to appropriately
screen for, prevent and treat
this chronic
disorder as we would other crises
threatening
our patients’
health.
Sen. Warren’s CARE Act considers
patients,
communities and populations most affected by and most at-risk
to be harmed by the opioid epidemic, and, as importantly, it considers the future. The
passage of the CARE Act would provide a decade’s worth of funding - to increase research
into treatment, expand access to care and provide training and depth to the corps of health care professionals dedicated to reducing harm and saving lives. The
proposed resources would be a
comprehensive investment in long-term
solutions that
are necessary to mitigate the
effects of this chronic illness
and reduce harm for future generations of patients."
- Maryanne C. Bombaugh, MD, MSc, MBA, FACOG, President, Massachusetts Medical Society
