Claire McCaskill

I think we all--this is such a big problem that I doubt there is anyone in this room that does not have a story they can tell, a heartbreaking story, about someone that they love.

The CDC has declared pain medicine misuse and the deaths associated with it an epidemic.

Geriatric medicine is not one of the big money glamourous specialties and we are sorely lacking geriatric professional medical help in this country.

I think a key policy need is to improve geriatric medical education for all practitioners, and improve care coordination.

We have stigmatized mental illness in this country to the point that we are all suffering from it.

Thank you all for the work you do every day, and we will try very hard to see if we cannot help with this problem through the Medicare and Medicaid system in Washington to see if we cannot deal with this tragedy that is gripping our…

I was never offered a narcotic pain medicine at the dentist 30 or 40 years ago, I am that old.

I think the doctor gave me like 90 days or something for a knee replacement, or the dentist wanting to give a patient 30 days after a trip to the oral surgeon.

Failure to recognize the unique prescribing adjustments needed for our seniors is another key factor in opioid misadventures.

We have got a shortage of geriatric help in this country right now.

Well listen, I have learned a lot today. I think that I have got a good list of to-dos to go back to Washington with.

Yes. Well, that is a good idea for Medicare to take a look at.

You would be a good person to start with on this.

Maybe the most important--I am sorry, did I interrupt you?

I am so glad that we are before this Committee today because opioid deaths are not just about younger people with addiction.

Have any of the veterans complained to you about violating their privacy as it relates to that?

The privacy issue that continually gets brought up is just a red herring

We have got to get national statistics on drug treatment programs for the elderly, because there is not one in Missouri.

This is the first time that we have had a field hearing of one of my Senate committees here in Jefferson City.

Is that an accurate assessment, Dr. Redden and Dr. Tatum?

My Missouri common sense tells me we are the problem, not the 49 other states

This hearing of the United States Senate Committee on Aging will come to order.

I certainly want to put out a public call to any doctors. I am tired of this.

I think he is a sophisticated enough CEO, at least I would hope so, to understand that when you have those costs, they must be passed on and recovered.

Nothing changed but the label.