Tonko Addiction Treatment Bill for Pre-Release Inmates Advances to House Floor

Press Release

The House Energy & Commerce Committee advanced Congressman Paul Tonko's Medicaid Reentry Act (H.R. 4005) out of committee this morning. The bill focuses on expanding treatment for individuals who have completed their time in prison to help them transition back into society without overdosing on opioids. Specifically, it requires the Secretary of Health & Human Services to release guidance on Medicaid waiver opportunities based on recommendations from a group of experts to improve care transitions for incarcerated individuals who are reentering society.

"This smart-on-crime legislation will plant the seeds for meaningful change and will help to give individuals reentering society a fighting chance to live a healthier, drug-free life," Rep. Tonko said during his opening statement about the bill.

Energy & Commerce Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) expressed strong support for Rep. Tonko's bill during debate, saying, "I want to thank the gentleman for his good work on this and other bills we're working on, and we will continue our discussions going forward but this is a really sound piece of legislation, the amendment improves upon the underlying bill with the substitute, and I am fully in support of it."

Individuals suffering from substance use disorder are roughly 129 times more likely to die of an overdose in the first two weeks after release from prison compared to the general population. The risk of overdose is elevated during this period due to reduced physiological tolerance for opioids among the incarcerated population, a lack of effective addiction treatment options while incarcerated and poor care transitions back into the community.

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