October 03, 2018

Wyden Praises Senate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Tackle Opioid Crisis

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised the passage of a bipartisan package of bills in the Senate to tackle the nation’s growing opioid crisis, including bills Wyden led through the Senate Finance Committee as its ranking Democrat. The bill will now go to the president’s desk for signature and then become law.

“Oregonians in every corner of our state have been hit hard by our nation’s opioid crisis,” Wyden said. “This legislation takes an important step towards providing real solutions for Oregonians struggling with addiction and giving their families and friends hope that their loved ones will get the help they need. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to tackle the roots of this crisis and ensure that all Oregonians have access to quality and affordable treatment and prevention services.”

The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, co-authored by Wyden, would provide more prevention efforts, better treatment options for those struggling with opioid addiction, and authorizes additional grants to help communities. The bill would also expand access to telehealth technologies, which would boost access to treatment services for Oregonians beyond rural areas.

The legislation includes policies from the Wyden-led Helping to End Addition and Lessen (HEAL) Substance Use Disorders Act of 2018, which included improvements to Medicare and Medicaid, and human services programs. The HEAL Act was introduced to the Senate Finance Committee by Wyden in June, and passed unanimously.

A section by section summary of the bill can be found here.