The
federal Patients and Communities Act, addressing the opioid crisis, is
awaiting the President’s signature. The bill includes provisions
supported by the MMS as well as the AMA and other national health care
organizations, including:
- Expanded access to SUD prevention and treatment programs including medication
- Improved treatment and prevention for pregnant women and newborns
- Funding research and development of non-opioid pain therapies
- Cracking down on international shipments of illicit drugs such as fentanyl
- Lifting restrictions on using telemedicine for SUD treatment
The law includes provisions introduced by the MA Congressional delegation and supported by the MMS, such as:
- Expanding access to medication treatment
- Loan repayment for substance use professionals’ education
- Improved implementation of the partial fill law
The
law also requires that prescribers must e-prescribe controlled
substances by 2021 (with some exceptions). The MMS continues to work
with our congressional delegation and the AMA to accelerate DEA updates
of outdated regulations. A full summary of the law is available here.
