On September 30, the American Society of Addiction Medicine sent a letter to Senators Pat Toomey and Joe Manchin and Representatives Harley Rouda and Markwayne Mullin thanking them for sponsoring the Improving Medicaid Programs’ Response to Overdose Victims and Enhancing (IMPROVE) Addiction Care Act. This important legislation would require state Medicaid programs to use their existing drug utilization review (DUR) programs to increase access to addiction treatment and boost safeguards for those on Medicaid who have experienced a non-fatal, opioid-related overdose.

The IMPROVE Addiction Care Act would help prevent opioid overdoses and deaths. The legislation would identify individuals who have suffered a nonfatal, opioid-related overdose within the last five years and connect these individuals to effective treatments; ensure that prescribers are alerted to their patient’s previous nonfatal, opioid-related overdose or diagnosis of opioid use disorder; make providers aware of fatalities if their patient suffers an opioid-related overdose death; and perform ongoing surveillance through retrospective DUR and offer provider education regarding appropriate prescribing practices. These provisions are vital to ensuring that those suffering from OUD are not legally prescribed additional opioids by their treatment providers.

Read the letter here.

Read the bill here.