Bowling Green Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, a bill championed by Congressman Brett Guthrie and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. The bill, formally known as H.R. 4531, aims to address the ongoing opioid crisis and provide support to communities and individuals affected by substance use disorder.

Chairman Guthrie, who serves as the Chair of the Health Subcommittee on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, expressed his pride in leading the bipartisan effort to reauthorize the SUPPORT Act. He highlighted the devastating impact of drug overdoses and fentanyl poisonings, which have claimed the lives of over 200,000 Americans in the past two years. Guthrie emphasized the importance of continued funding to communities grappling with the consequences of the overdose epidemic, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guthrie believes that the reauthorized bill builds upon the work done by Congress in 2018 to combat the flow of illicit opioids and expand access to treatment services. He stated, "I am confident that this bill can help save lives by preventing overdoses and providing access to immediate and long-term care recovery services."

Chair Rodgers, the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, echoed Guthrie's sentiments and emphasized the bill's focus on offering hope to those battling substance use disorder and their families. She recognized the importance of reauthorizing successful programs and increasing access to treatment to restore hope and healing to those in need.

The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act builds upon the previous legislation passed in 2018, the SUPPORT Act. This earlier legislation, with Guthrie's help, provided access to substance use disorder treatment services for vulnerable individuals seeking to overcome addiction. It included coverage for certified opioid treatment programs for Medicare patients and temporary coverage of medication-assisted treatment for Medicaid recipients.

The new reauthorization act aims to continue and expand upon these programs. It includes provisions such as permanent coverage of medication-assisted treatment for Medicaid beneficiaries and greater access to over-the-counter opioid reversal medications. The bill also provides coverage of substance use disorder treatment services for foster care youth and enhanced funding for state-level prescription drug monitoring programs.

Additionally, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act addresses the rising concern of synthetic opioids being laced with an animal sedative called Xylazine, which has become a deadly street drug. The act places Xylazine on the Controlled Substances list while exempting its use in veterinary medicine.

The passage of this bill marks a significant step forward in the ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis and provide support to those affected by substance use disorder. The bipartisan collaboration and commitment to saving lives and restoring hope have been instrumental in its success.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://guthrie.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=388136