Write a commentThe Katko Bill includes a comprehensive, bicameral opiod abuse measure. House passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act is a significant step forward in the fight against a growing epidemic.
Following today’s passage of the bicameral Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (S. 524), U.S. Representative John Katko (NY-24) applauded the House for passing this bipartisan measure and urged the Senate to swiftly take action to ensure that the bill reaches the President’s desk. The conference bill, which includes the Katko-authored Kingpin Designation Improvement Act, was long-championed by Representative Katko, who has worked both locally and in Congress to ensure that action is taken to curb the devastating heroin and opioid epidemic affecting Central New York.
“I’ve heard heartbreaking stories from families across Central New York who have lost loved ones to this epidemic, and from those who continue to struggle with opioid and heroin abuse – and I’ve made it a priority to address this epidemic in Congress,” said Representative John Katko. “Today, the House took a major step forward to reduce abuse, improve patient care, and ensure that all individuals who are seeking treatment are able to receive it. Addressing this epidemic requires a multifaceted approach – and this legislation attacks the problem from every angle to curb abuse and to help prevent these tragedies from happening to families in our community.”
In addition to the inclusion of the Kingpin Designation Improvement Act, which strengthens the ability of the federal government to prosecute international drug traffickers, the conference report also includes language advocated by Katko to extend eligibility for new community-based coalition enhancement grants to areas – including Central New York – which are suffering from a surge in drug crises related to methamphetamine, in addition to opioids.
“Significantly, one of the most far-reaching effects of this measure is to allow nurse practitioners and physicians assistants to begin prescribing buprenorphine,” continued Katko, who has continuously advocated for legislation to expand treatment options for individuals addicted to heroin and opioids. “It should not be the case that accessing life-saving treatments is more difficult than accessing heroin and opioid drugs. This measure explicitly grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to raise the cap on individuals that are able to be treated, and doing so will allow increased access to medication-assisted treatment to cut down wait times for treatment.”
In addition, the bipartisan conference report:
• Assists rural communities by reserving funds to train first responders in these communities to administer life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication.
• Modernizes the focus of treatment by shifting away from inpatient-treatment and moving towards office-based treatment from a medical doctor and therapies.
• Ensures that federal resources are focused on evidence-based prevention, treatment, recovery support, criminal justice reform, overdose reversal, and law enforcement.
New York has been particularly hard hit by the heroin and opioid epidemic. In 2014 alone, heroin-related overdose deaths hit a record 825, up by 159, or 24%, over 2013. Meanwhile, overdose deaths involving prescription opioids totaled a record 1,008 in 2014, nearly quadruple the number in 2005. To bring greater attention to this crisis locally, Representative Katko has worked alongside local advocates and hosted a number of town hall events in Central New York to bring local families who are struggling with addiction together with local law enforcement, educators, medical professionals, and treatment and prevention specialists.
“This is how the legislative process is supposed to work. Both chambers pass a bipartisan bill. A conference committee resolves the differences,” concluded Katko. “I look forward to the Senate passing this conference agreement to demonstrate that Congress works, and, more importantly, to finally deliver results to combat this growing epidemic.”
Congressman John Katko represents the 24th Congressional District, which includes all of Onondaga, Cayuga, and Wayne Counties and the western portion of Oswego County. For more information, please visit https://katko.house.gov or www.facebook.com/RepJohnKatko.
