Opioid Update: New Federal Law – The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention That Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act

On October 24, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, also known as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6).  According to the White House, this Act “addresses the opioid crisis by reducing access to and the supply of opioids and by expanding access to prevention, treatment and recovery services.” [i]

The Act itself is quite long (250 pages) and the full text can be found here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6.  It contains a number of provisions including increased access to telehealth services, increased Medicare coverage for women and children, stiff penalties for illegal kickbacks in return for patient referrals for recovery treatment and loan repayment for those providing substance use disorder treatment in underserved areas.

An upcoming issue of the Allegheny County Medical Society’s Bulletin will contain an article by this author, providing a more extensive summary of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.

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[i] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-signed-h-r-6-law/