opioids
Elderly Support Opioid Prescription Limits, Better Counseling, and Disposal Options
A University of Michigan /AARP National Poll on Healthy Aging finds that an overwhelming majority of America’s elderly favor legal restrictions on opioid prescriptions, but many of them keep unused medication in their home and are not sufficiently educated on the risks of doing so. Almost 75 percent of older Americans support statutory limits on […]
Read MoreDrug Shortage Crisis Concerns Hospice, Draws Bipartisan Interest
The Food and Drug Administration identified 39 new drug and biological product shortages in 2017 and multiple ongoing shortages from previous years, a sharp increase from 2016, according to the FDA’s most recent annual report on the issue. The main problems were caused by a major manufacturer shutting down a production facility, and devastation caused […]
Read MoreHouse of Representatives Passes NAHC-supported Bill to Fight Opioid Epidemic
The House of Representatives passed 25 bills on Tuesday, June 12, to combat the nationwide opioid epidemic, including legislation like H.R. 5041, strongly supported by NAHC, which would enable hospices to keep potentially dangerous painkillers out of the hands of people who might sell or otherwise abuse them. The latest figures from the Centers for […]
Read MoreWave of Opioid Bills in Senate Will Impact Hospice
Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) have announced the introduction of the 22 opioid epidemic-related bills that fall under their committee’s jurisdiction. While not scheduled yet, the Finance Committee plans to hold a mark-up on these measures in the weeks ahead. As all these bills […]
Read MoreHouse of Representatives Coalescing Around Package of Opioid Proposals
–Floor action expected in mid-June As the opioid epidemic continues to damage families and communities across the United States, Congress is advancing a variety of legislative options to curb abuse and provide care options for addicted individuals. Proposals address a wide array of concerns, including; stemming the flow of illegal opioids into the country, expanding […]
Read MoreHouse Subcommittee Approves Hospice Disposal Legislation
On Wednesday the House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a markup, spanning nine hours, on a wide variety of measures related to the opioid crisis. In total, 60 different bills were considered with 57 gaining committee approval. These provisions cover an array of approaches ranging from improving treatment options and curtailing […]
Read MoreSenate Committee Approves Opioid Package with Hospice Disposal Authority
On Tuesday, April 24, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a markup on S. 2680, the Opioid Crisis Response Act. This comprehensive legislative package takes many different angles to combat the opioid addiction crisis affecting people nationwide. Notable to the hospice industry was the inclusion of a provision allowing hospice providers […]
Read MoreImportant Policy Developments on Hospice and Opioids
The opioid crisis continues to be a main focus of activities in Congress, within the Trump administration, among policymakers in Washington, D.C. and in the states. Efforts by all of these players have the potential to impact hospice care. Following is a summary of recent important activities in this area. DEA working to address drug […]
Read MoreSenate HELP Committee Floats Draft Opioid Package
Proposal would require DEA regulations and GAO study on hospice disposal Issues related to the opioid abuse crisis are increasingly taking center stage in federal policy discussions. Most recently the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)Committee released a bipartisan legislative “discussion draft” titled “The Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018” that committee leadership hope […]
Read MoreOmnibus Spending Bill Has New Money for HHS, Opioid Treatment
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives approved a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill that includes a $10 billion increase in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services and an additional $3.6 billion for treatment of opioid addiction and mental health services. Despite hinting at a veto, President Trump announced at a 1:00 […]
Read MoreFight Opioid Epidemic with Legislation NAHC Helped to Write, Congressional Panel is Told
Legislation and testimony crafted with the critical assistance of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) took center stage during a Wednesday afternoon hearing on combating the opioid crisis in the House Subcommittee on Health, a part of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The hearing, entitled “Combating the Opioid Crisis: Helping Communities […]
Read MoreKentucky Bill Would Regulate Hospice Disposal of Prescription Painkillers
Hospice providers in Kentucky would have to adopt new procedures for the disposal of prescription painkillers under a new bill that just passed the state House of Representatives. Normally, when a person in hospice care dies, prescribed, but unused pain medication reverts to the estate of the deceased, but House Bill 148 would require hospice […]
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