AMA, ACP, Physician Groups Applaud Passage of Opioid Addiction Legislation

Issue: August 2016

Several medical organizations are calling the congressional passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) a good first step in addressing the opioid epidemic.

Originally passed by the Senate and the House in different forms in spring 2016, the latest votes on a conference report were approved in the House by a vote of 407-5 and in the Senate by a vote of 92-2.

The AMA, American College of Physicians (ACP), American Psychiatric Association (APA), American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) all issued their support for their legislation.

Nitin Damle

“The legislation is consistent with ACP’s policies to address the growing epidemic of opioid and substance use disorders in this country,” Nitin S. Damle, MD, MS, FACP, president of ACP, said in a release. "We urge the President to immediately sign this important bipartisan legislation that helps alleviate the suffering of the thousands of individuals who suffer from these addictions.”

Wanda Filer, MD, MBA, president of AAFP, also issued support for the legislation.

Wanda Filer

"[CARA] will expand much-needed access to care for Americans struggling with substance abuse disorders — a policy long-supported by the [AAFP] and our members," she said in a release. "Opioid abuse and addiction have taken a devastating toll on Americans, their families, and public health and safety. We welcome legislation that improves family physicians' ability to identify patients struggling with substance abuse and ensures treatment that is both safe and accessible."

The bill includes various policy changes that the groups advocated for, including:

increased availability of opioid overdose reversal drugs such as naloxone and addiction drugs such as buprenorphine, as well as increased access to addiction treatment services;
the provision of grants to states and community organizations to bolster a comprehensive opioid abuse response, including recovery services, education and treatment;
improved state-based Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and funding for the National All Scheduled Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER);
development of a federal task force that will identify best practices for pain management and prescribing medication for pain; and
expansion of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Opioid Safety Initiative that, in part, requires training for safe opioid prescribing and pain management.

President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.

“Taken together, we believe these policy changes will have a meaningful impact on the opioid epidemic, and we are pleased that Congress was able to come to agreement on such a pressing public health issue for our nation,” Kelly Clark, MD, MBA, DFASAM, president-elect of ASAM, said in a release. “However, we won’t realize the full potential of this important bill without the funding necessary to carry out the programs it authorizes. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress this year to make sure adequate funding is made available for CARA to make a difference in the lives of those affected by this devastating disease.”

While the physician groups are applauding the passage of the legislation through Congress, they are still pushing for funding and acknowledging the work to be done.

"The AMA supports efforts to confront the opioid and prescription drug epidemic through meaningful legislation so physicians who are on the front line have the ability to best meet patient needs," Patrice Harris, MD, chair of the AMA Board of Trustees and chair of the AMA Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse, said in a release. "This legislation represents an important step in addressing the public health epidemic of opioid misuse, but it will not be fully realized without new resources to support these programs and policies. We look forward to continuing to work with policymakers, advocates, physicians and other health care professionals on efforts to prevent addiction and provide treatment for those suffering from substance use disorders."

Saul Levin

Saul Levin, MD, MPA, CEO and Medical Director of APA, added his agreement.

"We are encouraged by the bipartisan support for this legislation — it encompasses many critical first steps toward fighting the nationwide opioid use epidemic," he said in a release. "But we cannot stop here. These programs must be fully funded to be effective. APA looks forward to continuing to work with Congress to curb this epidemic."

R. Jeffrey Goldsmith, MD, DLFAPA, DFASAM, current ASAM president, urged Congress to approve funding immediately.

“ASAM is thrilled to see CARA pass and we look forward to the President signing this bill into law,” he said in a release. “It has been a privilege to be a part of the process as Congress has considered how best to respond to the epidemic of opioid overdoses that has been ravaging our nation, our communities and our families. It’s not a perfect bill, and we still need Congress to act to fund it this year, but it is a major step forward to help promote prevention, expand access to treatment, and enhance crucial recovery support services. With adequate funding, we believe this bill will help save lives.”