Bipartisan Measure to Fight Heroin and Opioid Epidemic Clears Senate

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) continued his efforts to combat the heroin and pain medication epidemic by supporting today's Senate passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA). This bipartisan legislation would expand opioid prevention and education programs, improve addiction treatment, and give law enforcement more tools to deal with the growing problem of heroin and opioid abuse. Passing by a 94-1 vote, the bipartisan measure now goes to the House of Representatives.

The bill also includes a bipartisan amendment authored by Toomey and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) which will help cut down on inappropriate access to opioids, improve patient care for at-risk beneficiaries, and save taxpayers money. The Toomey-Brown amendment passed last week and is supported by the Obama Administration, health experts, and law enforcement.

"Today, the Senate showed it can work together on a bipartisan basis to address a deadly epidemic affecting so many families in Pennsylvania. By passing the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, we can begin to reduce the scourge of prescription drug and heroin abuse that has touched almost every corner of our commonwealth," said Sen. Toomey. "I am especially pleased that this bill includes my amendment to allow Medicare to use the same tool found in Medicaid and used by private insurers for stopping narcotic pill diversion. My measure will prevent abuse of Medicare by stopping fraudsters from going to multiple doctors and pharmacies to obtain commercial-scale quantities of opioids that are diverted to the black market."

Sen. Toomey's legislation has garnered broad bipartisan support. In January, at a Senate Finance Committee hearing, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt backed the Toomey-Brown bill, saying it "makes every bit of sense in the world."

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