Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement after President Trump today signed into law H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act:

“For all who are fighting the opioid crisis, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act delivers help. It includes tools to treat addiction, reduce the availability of illegal substances, develop non-addictive painkillers, and gather more information about this epidemic.

“I was proud to be part of the major bipartisan effort that produced this law. It does not end with President Trump’s signature. Working together across party lines, between all levels of government and with the private and nonprofit sectors, we can help people overcome or avoid opioid abuse.”

Background

The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act is the result of a bipartisan agreement between the House of Representatives and the Senate. It is a final product of months of legislative work, including dozens of bills passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House of Representatives. The House passed this legislation on September 28, 2018, and the Senate passed it on October 3, 2018.

It includes two bills introduced by Congressman Griffith and previously passed by the House:

• H.R. 5812, the Creating Opportunities that Necessitate New and Enhanced Connections That Improve Opioid Navigation Strategies (CONNECTIONS) Act, which improves federal support for state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) and provides for enhanced collection of substance abuse data.

• H.R. 5801, the Medicaid Providers Are Required To Note Experiences in Record Systems to Help In-need Patients (PARTNERSHIP) Act, which incorporates PDMP data into the clinical workflow of Medicaid providers.

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