U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger introduces opioid legislation

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger recently introduced a resolution to remedy opioid addiction.

Kinzinger, a Channahon Republican, along with Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., proposed the Opioid Addiction Action Plan, which would require the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid to develop a plan with stakeholder feedback and then report it to Congress by Jan. 1, according to a news release issued by Kinzinger’s office.

Kinzinger and Clarke were joined by their colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee – Reps. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, and Danny Davis, D-Chicago – in introducing the legislation.

The plan is needed to make sure policies include coverage, treatments and information that serve the overall goal of preventing opioid abuse, according to the release.

Under the measure, Medicare and Medicaid will better be able to identify ways to be more adaptable to treatments for both pain that normally would require opioid prescriptions and for treatment of substance abuse disorders.

“For far too long, we have employed a ‘one size fits all’ method for treating pain and substance abuse disorder,” Kinzinger said in a statement. “We must have other options, and in the 21st century, we should be encouraging innovation and push the boundaries of our medical advances.

“ ... I look forward to working toward putting an end to the opioid abuse crisis and creating a system that is flexible, adaptable and focused on preventing and treating addiction.”