Should Opioid Addiction Treatment Start in Emergency Rooms to Prevent Repeat Overdoses? (H.R. 5176)

What is H.R. 5176?

(Updated July 17, 2019)

This bill — known as the POWER Act — would aim to prevent opioid overdoses by setting up procedures for emergency rooms to discharge overdose patients with the opioid overdose antidote naloxone and Medication Assisted Treatment. The Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) would create a coordinated care model centered around starting Medication-Assisted Treatment in the emergency room before engaging in a “warm hand off” of the patient to a substance use disorder treatment provider. HHS would develop the model and administer $50 million grant program for healthcare providers to carry it out in 2019.

The bill’s full title is the Preventing Overdoses While in Emergency Rooms Act of 2018.

Argument in favor

By starting medication-assisted treatment when an opioid overdose patient is still in the emergency room, it will give them a better chance at completing their recovery and not overdosing again.

Argument opposed

While emergency room visits because of opioid overdoses are rising, providing overdose reversal drugs and starting medicated treatment when an overdose patient leaves the ER may not help much.

Impact

Opioid overdose patients; emergency rooms; and HHS.

Cost of H.R. 5176

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost $50 million over the 2019-2023 period.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) introduced this bill to create a program aimed at preventing repeat opioid overdoses:

“The opioid epidemic is ravaging America, particularly rural states like West Virginia. Overdose rates are skyrocketing. Often, people who survive an overdose end up doing it again because they’re unable to access the necessary treatment. This bill would ensure these patients get the care they need in the emergency room and are then placed in the care of a substance abuse treatment provider to receive continued care, giving them a better shot at recovery.”

This legislation passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee on a voice vote and has the support of 13 bipartisan cosponsors, including eight Republicans and five Democrats. The American College of Emergency Physicians has endorsed this bill.

Of Note: A CDC report found that emergency room visits due to suspected opioid overdoses rose by about 30% from July 2016 to September 2017 across the country.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) Press Release
  
• CBO Cost Estimate
  
• CNN
  
• American College of Emergency Physicians (In Favor)