Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, NAADAC’s Executive Director, was invited to represent NAADAC at the White House for the “A Year of Historic Action to Combat the Opioid Crisis” event on October 24, 2018. The event commemorated one year having passed since the White House declared the opioid epidemic to be a public health emergency.
During the event, the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act (H.R. 6) was signed into law. This Act which addresses the opioid crisis by reducing access to and the supply of opioids and by expanding access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
This bill expands treatment and recovery services, improve prevention, and bolster efforts to fight deadly synthetic drugs like fentanyl. The bill also includes key NAADAC priorities, including provisions that:
- Incentivize individuals to pursue substance use disorder treatment professions by offering student loan relief;
- Protect against the erosion of privacy rights of individuals with substance use disorders; and
- Remove the IMD exclusion for all substance use disorder treatment and allow Medicaid payment for eligible individuals for up to 30 days annually.
NAADAC signed on to multiple letters to Congress in support of this bill and applauds its passage.
Twenty-one private-sector and nonprofit organizations were present and recognized for their efforts toward ending the epidemic.
For additional details about the event, please read a transcript of the President's remarks or watch the President's remarks.
