Representative Miceli, State Legislature Pass Bill to Fight Substance Abuse

Aiming to fight the national opiate epidemic spreading into Massachusetts, last week State Representative James Miceli and the House of Representatives moved to provide funding and additional support for long-term substance abuse recovery. Along with additional financial backing to clinics, the bill gives a number of powers to the Department of Public Health to take steps, in conjunction with law enforcement and other commissions, to reduce the spread of drugs into the state.

As many current individuals caught up in the crisis began by misusing prescription medication, the legislation seeks to combat the epidemic through both treatment and regulation of prescription drugs. To help curb the public health risk of prescription drug abuse, the bill will establish a Drug Formulary Commission to review prescription medicines. The commission will be charged with preparing a list of chemically equivalent, non-abusive drugs, and will require insurance carriers to provide abuse deterrent drugs found to be the most cost effective with no extra charge. The bill also authorizes the Department of Public Health to schedule a substance as a Schedule 1 drug if it is found to be so abused it can be considered a public safety threat.

In conjunction with preventative measures, the bill also made sweeping changes to the current system of drug abuse treatment. Upon its passing no prior authorization will be required for Acute Treatment Services for any MassHealth or privately managed facilities in order to ensure Clinical Stabilization Services are provided to those seeking them. The legislation will also require the coverage of any properly licensed drug or alcohol counseling treatment provided to patients while enrolled in rehabilitation programs. In addition to these changes, the Center for Health Information and Analysis also must review the accessibility of substance abuse treatment and adequacy of insurance coverage regarding these services.

“This tragic crisis is quite different than one’s we have encountered, as many of the abused drugs are often found in our own homes” said Representative Miceli. “But by increasing treatment accessibility and education to those in our community, we can help those caught in the web of addiction reform themselves back into productive members of society.”