R Street Institute Signs Coalition Letter Asking Congress to Pass Bipartisan Opioid and Methadone Access Legislation

March 15, 2024

Dear Members of the 118th Congress:

We, the undersigned stakeholders, representing a diverse array of organizations dedicated to enhancing access to high-quality addiction care, express our disappointment at the omission of critical addiction and mental health policies in the recently passed minibus package. We call on the 118th Congress to pass S. 3393 – the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act and S. 644 – the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act (“MOTAA”), which have passed the Senate HELP Committee with strong bipartisan support.

The enactment of the SUPPORT Act over five years ago marked a bipartisan triumph. The SUPPORT Act reauthorizes key federal programs to address the opioid epidemic and support patients with substance use disorders. With a predicted 111,000 plus drug overdose deaths in the U.S. during the 12-month period ending September 2023, those programs are more critical now than ever.

In addition, MOTAA would expand access to methadone, a life-saving medication that is proven to significantly reduce the risk of fatal overdose for those suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD). MOTAA is a measured, bipartisan bill that would allow addiction specialist physicians to prescribe this highly effective medication for the treatment of OUD and allow patients to pick up this medication in pharmacies. Methadone is particularly critical in combatting the threat of fentanyl. Studies have shown that for those receiving methadone treatment for OUD, fentanyl positivity declines sharply.

Our nation’s escalating addiction and overdose crisis demands urgent action. Record numbers of Americans are succumbing to addiction and overdose, largely fueled by illicitly manufactured fentanyl, further complicated by substances, such as xylazine and methamphetamine. Reversing this trend requires comprehensive utilization of all available tools in our toolbox.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We remain committed to working together for the well-being of our nation and urgently request your courageous leadership.

For the full list of signatories, see the original letter below: