Congresswoman Matsui Statement on President Obama's Announcement on Actions to Address the Prescription Opioid Abuse and Heroin Epidemic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: Lauren Dart Congresswoman Matsui Statement on President Obama's Announcement on Actions to Address the Prescription Opioid Abuse and Heroin Epidemic Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) released the following statement on President Obama's announcement regarding actions to address the prescription opioid abuse and heroin epidemic: "Combating the substance abuse epidemic in our country will take a comprehensive approach, one that recognizes the importance of putting resources towards prevention, as well as treatment, education, and crisis services. "That's why I joined my Energy andamp; Commerce Committee colleagues earlier this year in introducing the Comprehensive Behavioral Health Reform and Recovery Act of 2016, which strengthens our ability to serve individuals with mental health conditions and substance use disorders across the full continuum of care. I have also written to the House Appropriations Committee in support of the President's budget request to address the opioid epidemic. "I applaud the President for outlining an inclusive path forward that takes immediate action to expand access to treatment for our communities in need, while also laying the groundwork for progress in the long term with community prevention strategies. "I'm particularly pleased that, as part of the Administration's approach, more than 23 million low-income people enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP will have enhanced access to mental health and substance abuse disorder care, in parity with their medical benefits for physical care. Yet, millions of Americans living in states that have not yet expanded Medicaid must go without the critical behavioral health services and substance abuse treatment they need. We must close these gaps in coverage if we are to truly address this epidemic at the national level. "Community health centers and behavioral health clinics are on the ground helping families face the devastating effects of this epidemic every day. We have made important progress in bolstering the support for community-based behavioral health clinics through The Excellence in Mental Health Demonstration Project. We must build on this work, continuing to provide resources for community-based care that patients need and deserve. "Today's announcement marks an important step forward, and I will continue to do everything I can in Congress to pass comprehensive behavioral health legislation that tackles the upstream and downstream problems spurring the opioid epidemic and mental health crises in our country." ### |