The opioid crisis has reached unprecedented levels, with over 64,000 Americans dying from drug overdoses in 2016. In Pennsylvania alone, 4,642 people lost their lives to drug overdoses last year. In a bid to combat this growing epidemic, 39 Attorney Generals, including Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, have called on Congress to pass the Road to Recovery Act.
The Road to Recovery Act, also known as HR 2938, aims to make treatment for drug addiction more affordable and accessible for those who need it most. Led by Attorney General Shapiro and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, the coalition of Attorneys General sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives, highlighting the need for a change in federal law to address the national epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse and overdose deaths.
According to Attorney General Shapiro, "We cannot arrest our way out of this problem, because it is not just a public safety challenge – it is a public health challenge as well." The Road to Recovery Act will help increase access to treatment for opioid addiction by removing a more than 50-year-old provision in the Medicaid program that currently acts as a barrier to residential addiction treatment.
The bill addresses the "Institutions for Mental Diseases" (IMD) exclusion, which was created in the original 1965 Medicaid legislation to prevent the funding of large, residential mental health facilities. While the exclusion led to the closure of what were inhumane institutions in many cases, it now has the unintended effect of limiting Medicaid funding for residential treatment facilities, which can be one of the most effective ways to treat drug addiction.
Attorney General Shapiro emphasized that "More than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016, a 24 percent increase from the year before. In Pennsylvania last year, 4,642 people died from a drug overdose. The Road to Recovery Act will help those struggling with addiction gain access to treatment, and eliminate a decades-old Medicaid rule that limits residential treatment options."
The change in the law is supported by health care providers, insurers, treatment centers, governors of both parties, and the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. As the opioid epidemic continues to claim lives across the country, the Road to Recovery Act offers a glimmer of hope for those struggling with addiction and their loved ones.
In conclusion, the Road to Recovery Act is a crucial step towards addressing the opioid crisis in America. With the support of 39 Attorney Generals and various healthcare organizations, it is imperative that Congress takes immediate action to pass this legislation and provide those struggling with addiction the treatment they so desperately need. The fight against opioids is far from over, but with the Road to Recovery Act, there is hope for a brighter future.
RELATED: Springfield Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine Distribution
RELATED: Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Analogue Possession
Related Federal Cases
- Ohio Man Faces Charges in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot · Washington
- FDIC Approves WesBanco Bank Merger Amid Scrutiny · Pennsylvania
- Ohio Man Smashes Dump Truck into FBI Pittsburgh HQ · Pennsylvania
- Election Day Sabotage Foiled · Washington
- Larios Sentenced in Bank Fraud Plot Against 28 Individuals and 20 Biz · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: Pennsylvania AG
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption