WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Opioid Task Force, helped lead an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing titled, “Combating an Epidemic: Legislation to Help Patients with Substance Use Disorders.” The Committee examined Kuster’s bipartisan legislation, the Humane Correctional Health Care Act, which she introduced in August alongside U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. The bipartisan bill would repeal the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion, which strips health coverage from Medicaid enrollees who are involved in the criminal justice system, decreasing access to care and shifting costs to states and counties.

“What I’ve heard from many addiction experts, law enforcement and people on the frontlines is this: we cannot arrest our way out of the substance abuse epidemic in this country,” Kuster said. “If we are serious about overcoming addiction, we must treat it as a disease and not a moral failing. The Humane Correctional Health Care Act would allow justice-involved individuals to access the care they need to successfully reintegrate into their communities – including mental health and substance use disorder treatment – and save state and taxpayer dollars. I’m pleased this important, bipartisan legislation was included in the hearing and I urge leadership in both the Senate and House to consider it. I’ll continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure those who are struggling with addiction have the support and resources they need to recover and move forward with their lives.”

Newsletter