News and Opinion

Hoosiers,

This week, the House of Representatives passed over 30 bills to combat the opioid crisis that has taken far too many lives of our neighbors, friends, and family in Indiana. By passing these bills, the House is helping our communities with:

 

• Treatment and Recovery. Improving and expanding access to treatment and recovery services.
  
  
• Prevention. Addressing high prescribing rates and encouraging non-addictive opioid alternatives to treat pain.
  
  
• Protecting Communities. Giving law enforcement tools to get dangerous drugs out of our communities.

Take a look at a few highlighted bills below. For the full list of opioid legislation passed this week, click here.

• Ensuring Access to Quality Sober Living Act (H.R. 4684) - authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop best practices for operating recovery housing that promotes a safe environment for those recovering from substance use disorder.
  
  
• Safe Disposal of Unused Medication Act (H.R. 5041) - allows hospice employees to safely dispose of medications on site after the death of a patient, reducing the number of unused substances at risk of misuse.
  
  
• Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act (H.R. 5102) - creates a loan repayment program to increase accessibility to substance use disorder healthcare providers and professionals.
  
  
• Ensuring Patient Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatments Act (H.R. 5202) - improves dispensing of implantable and injectable therapies - developed to decrease misuse, abuse, and diversion.
  
  
• Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act (H.R 5327) - establishes Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers which will provide a full range of treatment and recovery services, including job training and support reintegrating into the workforce, for those suffering from substance use disorder.
  
  
• Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act (H.R. 2147) - expands access to Veterans Treatment Courts, which address veteran substance use disorders while connecting veterans with health and social services to ensure they receive the treatment they need.

I'm committed to supporting bipartisan solutions to ensure our communities and families are able to overcome this crisis, and I'd like to hear from you. If you have any comments or concerns on this legislation, be sure to send me an email.