House Holds Hearing on Opioid Crisis

Discussion at the hearing largely focused on the desire to pass bipartisan legislation to address the opioid crisis as well as to determine best practices to identify over-prescribers and reduce instances of fraud. Opening Statements Chairwoman Lynn Jenkins opened the hearing by highlighting statistics regarding rising opioid related overdose death rates in her home state of Kansas. She went on to state that the “immense cost opioids impose on society” have caused a loss of productivity and put undue burden on the U.S. economic system. To lessen this burden, Jenkins stressed the importance to provide Medicare, specifically private Part D plan sponsors, the tools they need to ensure that opioids are provided only when medically necessary. Full Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal mainly focused on the effect the opioid epidemic has on Medicare beneficiaries and negative impact on labor participation rates around the country. In the face of a looming expiration of the Administration’s public health emergency declaration, Neal voiced his frustration that there has not been “positive action” taken to find a solution to opioid overuse. Witness Testimony Gary L. Cantrell, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), highlighted the work at the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in restricting vulnerable beneficiaries’ access to drugs by identifying and apprehending physicians and pharmacies who inappropriatel...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs