WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) announcement that it will begin implementing a key provision in the landmark law addressing the nation’s opioid epidemic. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which Grassley led to committee and Senate approval, includes provisions to expand medication-assisted treatment and paved the way for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who receive the proper training, to begin prescribing this medication.
“I called for allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to be able to prescribe this addiction-fighting medication at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in January. In July, we passed the legislation including this provision. It’s good to see that the Obama Administration is supporting this provision of CARA and is implementing it, despite the President’s comments upon signing the bill into law that appeared to denigrate it. Allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe medication to fight opioid addiction is especially critical in rural areas, like much of Iowa, where access to doctors can be limited. I hope the administration will continue to implement this landmark law, as I’ll continue to work to fight this epidemic on all fronts.”
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