WASHINGTON — Rep. Dean introduced the MORE Savings Act in the House, mirroring the Senate bill introduced by Sen. Bob Casey. Every day, more than 115 Americans overdose and die from opioid misuse. Addressing the nation’s opioid crisis requires a multi-faceted strategy that includes prevention, treatment, law enforcement and recovery support.
“Opioid treatment needs to be made more readily available,” Rep. Dean said. “Through a cost-sharing model, folks struggling with addiction will be able to access support with a lower cost burden.”
The MORE Savings Act (H.R. 7627) would eliminate cost-sharing (including copayments, deductibles and coinsurance) for opioid treatment and recovery support services under private insurance plans and through a demonstration in Medicare, while providing increased funding for Medicaid programs to offer these services.
Specifically, the bill would:
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Require insurers offering individual or group health insurance to cover prescription drugs and behavioral health services used to treat opioid use disorders and to reverse overdoses as well as recovery support services in conjunction with treatment with no cost-sharing.
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Establish a 5-year demonstration program in 15 states to eliminate Medicare cost-sharing for prescription drugs and behavioral health services used to treat opioid use disorders, to reverse overdose and to provide for recovery support services.
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Provide a Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) increase for Medicaid programs to provide prescription drugs and behavioral health services used to treat opioid use disorders, to reverse overdose and to provide for recovery support services.
