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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 27, 2022 03:16 PM |
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| From: | Representative Dan K. Williams |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Substance Use Treatment and Insurance Bill Package |
| Substance use impacts the lives of thousands of Pennsylvanians each year and can take many forms; whether it is prescription painkillers, alcohol, or other substances such as heroin, over 300,000 Pennsylvanians have had an active substance use disorder in the past year. Having the third-highest number of drug overdose deaths out of all states in the U.S., it is apparent that our current system is failing to solve the problem. It is for this reason that I am introducing a bill package aimed at intentionally combating this crisis. This package provides for both short-term and long-term solutions to this epidemic, supporting residents of Pennsylvania who need it most and empowering our state agencies to identify the shortfalls in our current systems of care. Please consider co-sponsoring any of these much-needed pieces of legislation. Let us work together to reduce the impact of substance use and make Pennsylvania the leading state that solves this epidemic. |
Document #1
| Description: | Document #1 This bill will direct the Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs, in consultation with the Department of Health and Insurance Department, to study barriers to substance use treatment and recovery resulting from current payment structures in publicly and privately funded health systems. The findings of the study will then be shared in a report to the General Assembly. |
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Document #2
| Description: | Document #2 This bill establishes the Substance Use Disorder Early Intervention Pilot Program within the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and will be used to determine the effectiveness of promoting immediate access to treatment for individuals who suffer nonfatal overdoses and present in clinical settings signs of substance misuse or substance use disorder. |
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Document #3
| Description: | Document #3 This bill requires health insurers to provide coverage of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including counseling and behavioral therapies, as well as prohibits the use of prior authorization for MAT by insurance companies. |
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Document #4
| Description: | Document #4 This bill will prohibit prior authorization of MAT in Medical Assistance, as well as prohibit prior authorization of MAT-approved medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. |
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Document #5
| Description: | Document #5 This bill will require insurance coverage of naloxone and other opioid antagonists in health insurance policies and government programs such as Medical Assistance. |
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