Rep. Gene Green’s Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act Included in Final Opioid Package, Passes House

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, with bipartisan support to combat the opioid crisis that’s affecting our country. In its final passage, the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers (CORC) Act was also included, introduced by Reps. Gene Green (D-TX), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), and Larry Buschon, M.D. (R-IN).

“The bipartisan legislation that passed today is a step forward for millions of Americans who suffer from opioid abuse and need comprehensive treatment at a one-stop shop,” said Green. “Our legislation will require designated centers to provide wraparound services for Americans suffering from opioid addiction, including counseling, recovery housing, and job training. It is our intention to use this new program to identify standards and best practices that can be deployed nationwide.”

The Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act of 2018, found under Section 7121 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to treatment facilities in order to establish or operate comprehensive centers that provide a full range of treatment services. The language requires evidence-based practices and data reporting to ensure accountability, allowing for treatments such as detoxification, the use of FDA-approved medications for substance abuse disorders, and a number of other services.

Under the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act of 2018, Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers would serve to help fill the need for coordinated, comprehensive care by providing:

Treatment and Recovery Services

• Patients would be connected – either on-site, through established referral networks or by leveraging existing integrated delivery networks – to a wide range of evidence-based treatment services as well as recovery support programs including, but not limited to: all FDA-approved medications; detoxification; counseling; residential rehabilitation; recovery housing; community-based and peer recovery support services; and job training and placement assistance.
• Each center would also have an on-site pharmacy and toxicology services as well as a secure and confidential electronic health information system.

Outreach

• Centers would serve as links to their communities, providing outreach staff to work with state and local health departments, schools, justice professionals, and other community partners to provide information about services provided.
• Centers would also make available online evidence-based resources to educate both providers and the public about substance use disorders.

Data Reporting and Program Oversight

• Centers would provide valuable information and data about what treatments work for what patients and could inform more broad treatment practices.

“Overall, the opioid package that received bipartisan support is a great first step to protect Americans from opioid addiction and to help Americans suffering from opioid abuse,” said Green. However, it falls short of the necessary investment. As the Ranking Member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, I’ve worked with my colleagues in the majority from the very beginning to make this bill substantial in every way possible, but going forward, we need to do more to ensure that all Americans in need of treatment have access to the care they need to recover and live a full, productive life.”

A section-by-section of H.R. 6 is available HERE.

Full text of the CORC Act is available HERE.

After negotiations over the last few weeks between the House and Senate, the Senate is expected to pass the package without delay next week and send it to the President of the United States.

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