The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed 32 opioid-related bills last week, which now advance to vote by the full House of Representatives

Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) introduced both bills, including the Opioid Screening and Chronic Pain Management Alternatives for Seniors Act (H.R. 5798) and the Postoperative Opioid Prevention Act (H.R. 5809).

The first, H.R. 5798, would update the Welcome to Medicare Initial Assessment to require a physician to screen patients for opioid use. In the screening process, the doctor would look for the potential for abuse, provide information on non-opioid alternatives, and give a referral if needed to a pain specialist physician. The bill was co-sponsored by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Erik Paulsen (R-MN).

“As a physician, I believe it is vital to support initiatives that will help to prevent seniors from misusing or becoming addicted to opioids while managing their chronic pain,” Bucshon, who was a practicing physician and surgeon before being elected to Congress, said. “By screening seniors as they enter the Medicare system, we can use this milestone as an opportunity to address their concerns and manage their chronic pain while reducing risks associated with opioid use.”

The other bill Buschon sponsored, the Postoperative Opioid Prevention Act (H.R. 5809), would give patients greater access to non-opioid alternatives for postoperative pain management. It is co-sponsored by Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA).

“One way to address the opioid crisis is to prevent patients from misusing or becoming addicted to opioids in the first place by promoting the use of non-opioid alternatives.

This common-sense legislation addresses the lack of non-opioid alternatives for post-surgical pain management and begins to move our society away from the destructive crisis raging nationwide,” Bucshon said

With all the members up the House up for election in Nov – LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AWAY – seems like they are focused on all those 46 million 65+ y/o seniors will only get NON-OPIATE options to help manage their pain. I wonder how many seniors will end up with bleeding guts from too many NSAIDS or their liver will “crap out” because of too much Acetaminophen/Tylenol ?

If this bill becomes law.. it would appear that Congress has the intention of making Seniors’ “golden age” and years of retirement to become more full of “fool’s gold” ?

Hopefully Senator McConnell and the Senate will continue on the same path that they have been on for most of this session of Congress and not take any action on these bills..  time to contact your Senator ?

Filed under: General Problems