Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4) have introduced the Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency (MORE) Savings Act, aimed at making opioid addiction treatment more affordable and accessible for Americans. The bill would eliminate costs for opioid treatment and recovery support services for those with private insurance plans and those enrolled in a new Medicare pilot program, while increasing federal funding for Medicaid treatment programs.
The opioid epidemic has claimed the lives of over 115 Americans every day due to misuse. With over 20 million Americans seeking opioid treatment, the cost of treatment should never be a barrier to recovery. The MORE Savings Act would require insurers offering individual or group health insurance to cover the prescription drugs and support services used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and reverse overdoses. It would also require insurers to cover recovery support services in conjunction with treatment at no cost.
In addition, the bill would establish a 5-year pilot program in 15 states to eliminate costs for people using Medicare OUD treatment, reverse overdoses, and provide recovery support. It would also increase federal investment in Medicaid programs providing those treatment services.
“The opioid epidemic is devastating communities and tearing families apart in Pennsylvania and across the Nation. By eliminating the cost of treatment and medication, the MORE Savings Act would begin to get more Americans with opioid use disorder on the road to recovery,” said Senator Casey.
“Through a cost-sharing model, people struggling with addiction will be able to access support with a lower cost burden — and the MORE Savings Act will help do that,” said Representative Dean.
The MORE Savings Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The bill will be reviewed by Congress for approval.
