Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I want to speak briefly on a point that I think is being lost here. This bill presumes that expanding access to residential treatment is the answer, and it is not necessarily. Without any requirement that States address gaps in Medicaid community-based services, I think there is a possibility that we risk more harm than good. The former director of national drug control policy has reminded us that most of these IMD facilities provide detoxification services. But detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment. Indeed, it may increase the potential for overdose if patients do not remain or have any support when released, since, with detoxification, their tolerance for opioids is significantly reduced. The proposal before the House will likely create an overreliance on institutional treatment and may exacerbate the dearth of community-based health services. {time} 1400 People with substance use disorder often find themselves unable to access intensive community-based behavioral health services when they need it. Likewise, many cannot access services in the community when they are discharged following a crisis. Incentivizing inpatient care may actually increase opioid overdose, the very harm that Congress is seeking to prevent.…”