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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 2, 2018 04:45 PM |
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| From: | Senator Patrick J. Stefano |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Opioid Package Related to Substance Abuse Treatment Centers |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a package of two pieces of legislation in order to combat the opioid crisis, which is currently plaguing our Commonwealth. The first piece of legislation would eliminate the disparity in access standard for substance abuse center services between urban and rural areas. Currently, the access standard for out-patient and residential services must be within 30 minutes of travel time in urban areas, while it must be within 60 minutes travel time in rural areas. Statistics from around the country show that the farther a person needs to travel to obtain treatment, the less likely he or she is to maintain that treatment regimen. This proposed legislation would standardize the travel time standard to 30 minutes for out-patient treatment for both urban and rural areas, where treatment centers are available. The second piece of legislation would standardize the requirements and criteria of opioid treatment in the Commonwealth. Currently, counties have the prevailing authority regarding the number and location of substance abuse treatment centers they have available, as well as the standard they will be held to. This has led to inconsistent quality and accessibility of service from county to county. My proposed legislation would give the authority of oversight and regulation to the state so that all substance abuse centers licensed by the state can be expected to have the same quality of service. The governor has recently declared the opioid crisis a statewide disaster emergency. It is clear that this statewide problem needs to have a statewide approach in order to find a solution. In the midst of this epidemic, it is vital that there is a uniform standard among substance abuse centers, as well as more accessibility to these centers. I sincerely hope that you will consider joining me in co-sponsoring this legislation. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Jake Gery in my office at 717.787.7175. |
Document #1
Introduced as SB1089
| Description: | Eliminating the disparity in access standard for substance abuse center services between urban and rural areas, and standardizing the travel time to 30 minutes. I sincerely hope that you will consider joining me in co-sponsoring this legislation. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Jake Gery in my office at 717.787.7175. |
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Document #2
| Description: | Standardizing the requirements and criteria of opioid treatment, by giving the authority of oversight and regulation of substance abuse treatment centers to the state. I sincerely hope that you will consider joining me in co-sponsoring this legislation. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Jake Gery in my office at 717.787.7175. |
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