Opioid legislation stalls in Senate following House approval of bills in June

-
BlogAs the November midterm elections draw closer, the U.S. Senate is increasingly expected to delay consideration of legislation focused on addressing the opioid crisis until after the elections.Opioid legislation stalls in Senate following House approval of bills in June
- As other priorities loom and the legislative calendar tightens, Senate could delay consideration of opioid bill until after midterm elections.
- As Congress considers next steps on opioid legislation, NACo is engaging with key lawmakers to ensure counties have necessary resources to combat addiction in our communities.
July 31, 2018July 31, 2018, 2:00 pm
-
Blog
Opioid legislation stalls in Senate following House approval of bills in June
As the November midterm elections draw closer, the U.S. Senate is increasingly expected to delay consideration of legislation focused on addressing the opioid crisis until after the elections. This impasse follows significant movement in both chambers and the passage of comprehensive opioid legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives in June.
The Senate’s delay comes after members spent the first several months of the year considering dozens of opioid bills across various committees, some of which were included in the wide-ranging Opioid Crisis Response Act (S. 2680) approved in May by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
As Congress considers bills supporting the nation’s response to the opioid epidemic, NACo is engaging with legislators to ensure counties have the resources to address the addiction crisis in our communities. Of the Senate bills under consideration, NACo endorsed the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (S. 2700/H.R. 5545), which would make direct investments in state and local agencies operating on the frontlines of the epidemic, including emergency first responders, public health departments and regional epidemiology centers.
Looking ahead, the Senate’s path forward is complicated by the chamber’s busy legislative calendar over the next three months. While the House has adjourned for the annual August recess, the Senate will remain in session for most of the month, but is expected to focus on FY 2019 appropriations, major program reauthorizations and presidential judicial appointments. Members of Congress are also expected to return home for the month leading up to midterm elections, leaving limited time in the months ahead for legislators to negotiate next steps on opioid proposals.
The Senate had been expected to build on the momentum from the House, where legislators moved quickly throughout May and June to combine 58 narrowly-focused opioid proposals into the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6). Throughout the spring, as House members worked toward passage of their legislative package, NACo advocated for provisions that would streamline delivery of addiction treatment services for youth and improve access to behavioral health information technology for medical providers, among others. Several of these proposals were ultimately included in H.R. 6.
As the November midterm elections draw closer, the U.S. Senate is increasingly expected to delay consideration of legislation focused on addressing the opioid crisis until after the elections.2018-07-31Blog2018-11-26
As the November midterm elections draw closer, the U.S. Senate is increasingly expected to delay consideration of legislation focused on addressing the opioid crisis until after the elections. This impasse follows significant movement in both chambers and the passage of comprehensive opioid legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives in June.
The Senate’s delay comes after members spent the first several months of the year considering dozens of opioid bills across various committees, some of which were included in the wide-ranging Opioid Crisis Response Act (S. 2680) approved in May by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
As Congress considers bills supporting the nation’s response to the opioid epidemic, NACo is engaging with legislators to ensure counties have the resources to address the addiction crisis in our communities. Of the Senate bills under consideration, NACo endorsed the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (S. 2700/H.R. 5545), which would make direct investments in state and local agencies operating on the frontlines of the epidemic, including emergency first responders, public health departments and regional epidemiology centers.
Looking ahead, the Senate’s path forward is complicated by the chamber’s busy legislative calendar over the next three months. While the House has adjourned for the annual August recess, the Senate will remain in session for most of the month, but is expected to focus on FY 2019 appropriations, major program reauthorizations and presidential judicial appointments. Members of Congress are also expected to return home for the month leading up to midterm elections, leaving limited time in the months ahead for legislators to negotiate next steps on opioid proposals.
The Senate had been expected to build on the momentum from the House, where legislators moved quickly throughout May and June to combine 58 narrowly-focused opioid proposals into the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6). Throughout the spring, as House members worked toward passage of their legislative package, NACo advocated for provisions that would streamline delivery of addiction treatment services for youth and improve access to behavioral health information technology for medical providers, among others. Several of these proposals were ultimately included in H.R. 6.

-
Webinar
New Options to Combat Summer Hunger: What Counties Need to Know
Sep. 21, 2023 , 1:00 pmSummer hunger impacts too many children when they lose access to nutritious school meals. -
Webinar
Building and Supporting Comprehensive Behavioral Health Crisis Response Systems
Sep. 14, 2023 , 2:00 pm – 3:00 pmIn response to a growing need for behavioral health care services, counties are working to establish and bolster access to comprehensive continuums of care for their community members. -
Blog
CMS proposes new minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities
On September 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would impose minimum staffing standards for the approximately 758 county-owned or operated long-term care facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid. -
Blog
Senate HELP and House Energy and Commerce pass PAHPA reauthorizations out of committee with amendments
The week of July 17, both the U.S. House Energy and Commerce and U.S. -
Reports & Toolkits
NACo Analysis: Overview of New Treasury Guidance for ARPA Flexibility Legislation
On August 10, the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) for the bipartisan State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act -
Reports & Toolkits
The Principles Quick Guide to Creating a Settlement Council
The Principles for the Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation are nationally recognized guidance for states, counties and cities receiving money from the lawsuits against entities that contributed to the opioid epidemic.
-
Basic page
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid, a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, friends and colleaguepagepagepage<h3><strong>WHY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?</strong></h3>
-
Basic page
Healthy Counties Initiative
Healthy Counties focuses on enhancing: public-private partnerships in local health delivery, access to, and coordination of, care for vulnerable populations in the community and community public health and behavioral health programs.pagepagepage<p>NACo’s Healthy Counties Initiative creates and sustains healthy counties by supporting collaboration and sharing evidence-informed approaches to pressing health issues.
-
Basic page
Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.pagepagepage<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
-
Reports & Toolkits
Opioid Solutions Center
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.Reports & Toolkitsdocument10123:30 pmReports & Toolkits<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
Related Posts
-
BlogCMS proposes new minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilitiesSep. 11, 2023
-
BlogSenate HELP and House Energy and Commerce pass PAHPA reauthorizations out of committee with amendmentsAug. 18, 2023
-
BlogCommunity Mental Health Services May Support Reducing Jail PopulationsJul. 19, 2023
Related Resources
-
Reports & ToolkitsNACo Analysis: Overview of New Treasury Guidance for ARPA Flexibility LegislationAug. 11, 2023
-
Reports & ToolkitsThe Principles Quick Guide to Creating a Settlement CouncilAug. 1, 2023
-
Press ReleaseCounties Encouraged by White House Action on Mental Health ParityJul. 26, 2023
More From
-
ARPA Impact Report: An Analysis of How Counties are Addressing National Issues With Local Investments
With American Rescue Plan funds, counties are strengthening America’s workforce, addressing the nation’s behavioral health crisis, expanding broadband access, improving housing affordability and building prosperous communities for the next generation.
Learn More