Rep. Graves Continues Fight Against Opioid Epidemic

Washington, D.C. – Following up on House passage of more than 30 bipartisan bills last week to fight the opioid crisis, the House passed 10 additional bills this week combating the epidemic, with Rep. Tom Graves’ (R-GA-14) support.
“This week, the House built on the progress we made last week in addressing the horrific opioid epidemic, which is killing more than 115 Americans every day,” said Rep. Graves. “The bipartisan bills we passed this week enhance prescription drug monitoring programs, provide grants to combat fentanyl and strengthen communities ravaged from the epidemic by improving access to federal resources. These bills will save lives, keep families together and help restore communities.”
Highlights of these bills include:

1. Allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to help medical professionals implement best practices for prescribing opioids to reduce the number of prescriptions;
2. Requiring Medicaid providers to check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program before prescribing Schedule II controlled substances;
3. Directing prescription drug plans under Medicare Part D to provide information on the negative effects of overusing opioids;
4. Allowing Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans to suspend potentially fraudulent payments to a provider or supplier pending an investigation;
5. Requiring Medicare and Medicaid Services to publish guidance for hospitals on pain management and strategies to prevent opioid addiction for beneficiaries;
6. Enhancing the Food and Drug Administration’s enforcement tools to ensure accurate and timely research about frequently administered opioids.

Click HERE to read details about each of the bills the House passed over the last several weeks to combat the opioid epidemic.