Bowling Green Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Rand Paul and Edward J. Markey are celebrating the bipartisan committee passage of the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act (MOTAA), a legislation aimed at expanding access to lifesaving methadone treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder. The bill, which allows board-certified addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry doctors registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe methadone for pick-up at pharmacies, marks the first significant reform to methadone regulations in 50 years.

"Methadone for opioid use disorder is locked behind arcane laws that criminalize and stigmatize people in recovery. The experts and evidence are clear: this outdated system is costing lives, and we should no longer stand by as outdated federal law keeps people from treatment they need no matter where they live," said Senators Paul and Markey in a joint statement. "We are pleased that our colleagues are joining with us in passing the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act. Together, we took an essential step toward reducing stigma, expanding access, and saving lives in communities all across the country. We will keep fighting until the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act is signed into law."

The MOTAA was introduced in March by Senators Paul and Markey, along with Representatives Donald Norcross and Don Bacon. It has garnered support from hundreds of clinicians and medical organizations. The legislation has also gained cosponsors in the Senate, including Senators Bernie Sanders, Mike Braun, Cory Booker, Maggie Hassan, Ben Ray Luján, Peter Welch, Mike Lee, and Elizabeth Warren.

The passage of the MOTAA is a significant development in addressing the opioid crisis and ensuring that individuals in need of methadone treatment have access to it. By removing outdated restrictions and allowing more doctors to prescribe methadone, the bipartisan legislation aims to reduce stigma and expand access to treatment for opioid use disorder. This move is expected to save lives and make a positive impact on communities across the country.

For more information on the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act, you can visit the official website of Senator Rand Paul.

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