WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) released the following statement in response to provisions of his Opioid Treatment Access Act have been included in the FY 2023 omnibus appropriations bill. The provisions included would (1) require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a study of the effectiveness of COVID-19 exemptions that allowed patients suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD) to take home larger quantities of methadone; and (2) codify the elimination of the requirement that mobile clinics register separately from affiliated brick-and-mortar locations, thereby reducing red tape and costs associated with bringing clinic services to communities that lack easy access to a clinic.

“Every step we take toward increasing access to care for those in the grip of addiction should be celebrated,” said Congressman Norcross. “By reducing the cumbersome bureaucracy governing mobile clinics, opioid treatment programs will be able to expand their services to rural communities and other areas where access to a clinic is not guaranteed. But our work will not be done until we have ended the opioid epidemic. Addiction specialists should be able to prescribe methadone, and local pharmacies should be able to dispense it. Reducing the stigma around addiction encourages people to seek treatment, and increased access to treatment saves lives. I will continue to fight for passing the entirety of the bipartisan Opioid Treatment Access Act so we can ensure every person living with opioid use disorder has the support they need to live full, happy lives.”

Camden County Commissioner Director and founder of the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force, Louis Cappelli Jr., talked about the oversized impact of the bill and underscored its importance to his community. 

"Congressman Norcross's bill is a common-sense approach to treat opioid use disorder and one that both I and the task force endorse as a method to help those struggling with this wretched disease," Cappelli said. "Making and providing more access and opportunities to medically assisted treatment will save lives, keep patients in recovery and strengthen our response to this ongoing public health crisis. I want to applaud the Congressman for really understanding the issue and creating a roadmap that will overcome this obstacle for the millions fighting to beat this disease."

The FY23 omnibus did not include provisions of the Opioid Treatment Access Act that would have allowed board-certified addiction specialists to prescribe methadone and for local pharmacies to dispense it. These provisions are widely supported by physicians and patient groups but have been staunchly opposed by trade associations representing opioid treatment programs (“clinics”). The clinics, due to outdated federal regulations, have a monopoly on the dispensing of the life-saving medicine.