Higgins, Tonko, Hanna & Katko Applaud HHS Announcement of Revised Regulations for Treatment of Opioid Addiction

Congressmembers Brian Higgins (NY-26), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Richard Hanna (NY-22) and John Katko (NY-24) applauded an announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of plans to revise rules related to the treatment of opioid addiction. Changes proposed by HHS are similar to provisions included in the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment, or TREAT Act (HR 2536), introduced by Higgins, Tonko, Hanna and Katko earlier this year.

"Expanding treatment options including improved access to medication designed to help break the addiction will save lives," said Congressman Higgins. "These greatly needed rule changes will be welcomed by individuals seeking recovery and the families eager for effective treatment options."

Congressman Tonko added, "No individual seeking treatment for opioid addiction should be denied or delayed by the inability to find a treating physician due to these arbitrary caps. I applaud the action taken by HHS to update these regulations, which will help individuals in the Capital Region and beyond on the path to recovery"

"I am pleased to see the Department of Health and Human Services recognize the urgency of updating these arbitrary caps, which are needlessly limiting access to treatment for our friends, family and neighbors battling opioid addiction," said Congressman Hanna. This will save lives and ensure people can get the help they need."

"The opioid drug epidemic has affected individuals and families across all economic sectors in Central New York and throughout the United States. Far too many lives have been lost because treatment is unavailable," said Rep. John Katko. "I applaud HHS for taking action so that healthcare providers can offer comprehensive, lifesaving treatment to a greater number of individuals seeking care."

This week HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced measures to combat the opioid epidemic including a focus on improving opioid prescribing practices, increasing access to naloxone (Narcan), and expanding the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT combines the use of medication (buprenorphine) with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance abuse disorders. To close the gap of those who need MAT and those who are able to access it, HHS will revise the prescribing limits for buprenorphine.

This action reflects the goals of the TREAT Act aimed at improving access to medication assisted treatment by increasing the number of patients a buprenorphine prescriber can treat and expanding the ability to prescribe buprenorphine to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Higgins, Tonko, Hanna and Katko also led a letter sent to the HHS Secretary in July calling on the Department to raise the limits on the number of prescribers authorized to prescribe medication aimed at lessening opioid addiction.

Currently, there is an enormous disparity between those who can prescribe opioids, and those who can prescribe treatments for opioid addiction. Over 800,000 physicians can write controlled substance prescriptions, but only about 30,000 can prescribe the medication used to treat opioid addiction. Prescribers of buprenorphine are limited to treating 30 patients in the first year, and up to 100 in year two and beyond. Of the 2.5 million people who currently need treatment for opioid abuse disorder, fewer than 1 million are receiving it.

Prescription opioid abuse resulted in more than 400,000 emergency department visits in 2011, and costs health insurers an estimated $72 billion annually in medical costs. More than 145,000 people have died from prescription opioid overdoses in the last decade.