Congress Passes Opioid Legislation

July 15, 2016
Policy Snapshot

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA) was sponsored by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and was recently passed with bi-partisan support in both Houses of Congress. The bill, which the President is expected to sign into law, includes language that would require Medicare Part D beneficiaries to use one pharmacy for all prescriptions, in an effort to lessen opioid abuse known as the “lock-in” provision. The bill, however, has an exemption for residents of a long-term care facility.

The CARA bill also:

  • Expands prevention and educational efforts—particularly aimed at teens, parents and other caretakers, and aging populations—to prevent the abuse of methamphetamines, opioids and heroin, and to promote treatment and recovery.
  • Expands the availability of naloxone to law enforcement agencies and other first responders to help in the reversal of overdoses to save lives.
  • Expands resources to identify and treat incarcerated individuals suffering from addiction disorders promptly by collaborating with criminal justice stakeholders and by providing evidence-based treatment.
  • Expands disposal sites for unwanted prescription medications to keep them out of the hands of our children and adolescents.
  • Launches an evidence-based opioid and heroin treatment and intervention program to expand best practices throughout the country.
  • Launches a medication assisted treatment and intervention demonstration program.
  • Strengthens prescription drug monitoring programs to help states monitor and track prescription drug diversion and to help at-risk individuals access services.