As polls show the growing heroin epidemic tops many Americans’ list of health concerns, our Republican senators could not be more concerned. The Republican Majority has been able to begin tackling the problem, but we also know there’s more to be done.
In March, the Senate passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) with overwhelming bipartisan support, 94-1. Senator Portman’s bill directs funds to evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. It also provides funds to programs focused on both expectant and postpartum women and our veterans.
Democrats chose to play politics with CARA and delayed crucial reforms in America’s fight against drug addiction. Washington Post reported:
“I understand there is an election year and that some people may want to score a few political points,” Portman said in a floor speech Thursday. “This needs to come above politics. We need to get this done and we need to get it done now.”
Senate Democrats deemed it appropriate to threaten blocking a vote. On July 8th, The House passed CARA with a bipartisan 407-5. Due to Republican leadership, CARA passed 92-2 through the Senate and is now on its way to the President’s desk for signage.
According to Morning Consult, most Americans believe policies being introduced in the Republican-led Congress are effective at ending addiction. Take a look at the Morning Consult poll results, showing the overwhelming support for the bipartisan solutions to the growing epidemic:
Listen to Senator Portman discuss the steps his bill takes to combat the epidemic:
[tweet src="https://twitter.com/NRSC/status/706691623611142144"]
Senator Portman has been working on solving the heroin epidemic for 20 years, and he has been able to see real results. As the father of someone who lost their life to a heroin overdose said, "Rob Portman isn’t just talking about the situation, he’s getting things done."
[youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW3rHtdl4T4"]
While this bill certainly will contribute to solving the problem, even Senator Portman believes this is only the start. Senator Ron Johnson has also introduced a bill combating the epidemic. Senator Johnson is a part of the 40 percent of Americans who know someone addicted to heroin, losing a nephew to addiction.
Senator Johnson – with the help of Senator Pat Toomey – has introduced a bill solving a major issue with ObamaCare, which Time reported is "fueling America’s opioid epidemic."
The Time article reports ObamaCare will tie hospital funding to a patient survey including the question, "How often did the hospital staff do everything they could to help you with your pain?” And: “How often was your pain well controlled?" Doctors have come out opposed to this because this encourages the over-prescription of opiates to manage pain to ensure hospital funds.
“The government is telling us we need to make sure a patient’s pain is under control,” says Dr. Nick Sawyer, a health-policy fellow at the UC Davis department of emergency medicine. “It’s hard to make them happy without a narcotic. This policy is leading to ongoing opioid abuse.”
Senator Johnson wants to fix this ObamaCare oversight. His Promoting Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP) Act will throw out the pain management questions and take pressure off doctors to prescribe opioids. Watch WLUK’s coverage of Senator Johnson’s important bill:
[youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t7b-t1kywI"]
Senator Toomey has thrown his support behind this bill, saying,
"Now the evidence is starting to mount that the financial incentive Obamacare provides may be connected to the over-prescribing of these powerful medications. In the midst of a deadly epidemic, it makes total sense to decouple the results of these Obamacare-mandated pain questions from the level of federal reimbursement. Lawmakers from both parties recognize that these questions are a serious problem, and I am pleased to join a bipartisan effort to address it.”
In an interview, Pat Toomey explained how ObamaCare incentivizes the over-prescription of opioids:
[tweet src="https://twitter.com/NRSC/status/727863179137712128"]
The Republican Majority wants to see an end to addiction. This is not something that can be solved with one bill, but must be changed over time by addressing problems that arise and working with local communities to find effective solutions. These bills will begin to fight the spread of heroin and the Republican Majority will work to see this fight through.