Blumenthal Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Combat Opioid Crisis, Support Mental Health Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today applauded the Senate’s passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes emergency federal funding to combat the opioid and heroin epidemic, significant reforms to the mental health system, and funding for medical research on cancer and other diseases. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives last week, and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“Today’s passage of the 21st Century Cures Act puts America’s money where its mouth is when it comes to public health,” Blumenthal said. “Investment is key to saving lives, and this measure invests in critical initiatives that will make a real impact in the daily lives of people across Connecticut. It takes meaningful steps to combat the opioid epidemic currently plaguing our communities. It improves access to vital mental health services to ensure mental health care is readily available without stigma or additional hurdles. It spurs landmark action in the effort to address Lyme Disease, and increases support for groundbreaking medical research.”
“This legislation is a major milestone, but the fight’s not over yet. I will work to ensure these lifesaving resources are used the way this legislation intends—and that they are fairly and effectively allocated in Connecticut. Our state, our communities, and our families are suffering at the wicked hands of the opioid epidemic. We must ensure Connecticut receives the support it needs to ferociously fight back, and provide our loved ones with the treatment they need to claim back their lives. Moving forward, we must continue to invest robust resources to support patient safety, prevent disease, and protect public health.”
The 21st Century Cures Act will help address the following issues that Blumenthal has consistently worked on:
Combatting the Opioid Epidemic: Blumenthal has held numerous roundtable discussions across Connecticut on the opioid epidemic, culminating in a report titled “Opioid Addiction: A Call to Action” that was released in April. Listed below are the major recommendations in his report that will receive federal funding through the 21st Century Cures Act:
- Expand funding for state-operated prescription drug monitoring programs;
- Fund training to reduce opioid over-prescribing and encourage alternatives;
- Expand access to quality substance abuse programs and behavioral health services (including through medication assisted treatment and mental health parity);
- Provide flexibility for states to use federal funds for other public health initiatives related to the opioid epidemic, including naloxone and first responder training for this treatment.
Improving Mental Health Services: Congress passed the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act in 2008 to ensure that no American be denied mental health coverage. The 21st Century Cures Act seeks to expand on these efforts by improving Federal and State coordination of mental health parity enforcement by establishing an enforcement “action plan” that will be informed by key stakeholders in the mental health community. Blumenthal has long called for robust and transparent mental health parity laws.
The legislation includes provisions of the Mental Health First Aid Act, which Blumenthal helped introduce to provide assistance to train school administrators, first responders, teachers, and others to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and addiction disorders.
Fighting Lyme Disease: The 21st Century Cures Act includes language similar to the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act that Blumenthal authored. It will establish a Tick Borne Diseases Advisory Committee comprised of physicians, scientific experts, patients, and Lyme disease advocates. The Committee is to advise the HHS Secretary on interagency communication and coordination with Lyme constituency groups, identify opportunities for collaboration between federal agencies and private organizations, ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoints are represented in public health policy decisions, and highlight priorities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
Addressing Antibiotic Resistance: The legislation includes a bill Blumenthal supported known as the Promise for Antibiotics and Therapeutics for Health (PATH) Act to establish a new pathway for antibacterial and antifungal drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening infections in patients with unmet need and within a limited population, such as those with antibiotic-resistant infections.
Investing in Research: This legislation provides increased funding for NIH, including funding for the Cancer Moonshot Initiative and Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. Blumenthal has been a proponent of higher funding levels for NIH, signing on to a letter to appropriators each year calling for a stronger investment.
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