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Dr. Bucshon Votes to Reauthorize SUPPORT Act, Ensure Local Communities Have Resources to Prevent and Treat Substance Abuse Disorder

Washington, December 12, 2023
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN-08), Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, voted to pass the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization (SUPPORT) Act (H.R. 4531), which will reauthorize resources used for substance abuse disorders (SUD) prevention and treatment, enhance access to care and recovery services, and empower law enforcement to continue fighting the proliferation of fentanyl and xylazine. 

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Dr. Bucshon’s full remarks can be viewed here or read below.

“I rise today in favor of HR 4531, the Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. I was exceedingly proud to work on the SUPPORT Act when it first passed in 2018 in response to the opioid crisis. The legislation brought about many positive changes. But substance abuse and addiction continue to threaten individuals and communities in every Congressional district across the country and across all socioeconomic classes. With over 100,000 drug overdose deaths in the US last year alone, we must continue working to increase access to and availability of life-saving treatments and recovery services. In particular, I am happy to be reauthorizing the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers program, which will directly affect my home state of Indiana. Regrettably, per capita rates of drug overdose deaths in the Hoosier state are higher than the national average. The “CORC” program helps coordinate the provision of targeted resources for those who need help overcoming opioid use disorder. I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes on this critical piece of legislation.”

BACKGROUND

More than 109,000 people died of drug overdoses and poisonings in 2022—a significant increase from 70,000 deaths when the original SUPPORT Act was signed into law in 2018. The cause of these deaths has shifted from prescription opioid overdoses to poisoning from fentanyl and other substances, like xylazine. 75,000 of the total illicit substance-related deaths in 2022 were due to synthetic opioids. Xylazine also known by its street name “TRANQ,” is an animal tranquilizer increasingly found in illicit opioids, that does not respond to overdose reversal medications and can make overdoses more deadly. 

The Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization (SUPPORT) Act would help address this growing problem throughout the United States by:

  • Permanently placing xylazine in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, while maintaining access for veterinarians and ranchers to use in animals. 
  • Continuing to provide resources for training and education related to fentanyl and other illicit substances for first responders, particularly in rural areas. 
  • Renewing support for individuals in SUD treatment and recovery to live independently and participate in the workforce. 
  • Protecting moms and babies by reauthorizing resources for residential SUD treatment for pregnant and postpartum women. 
  • Permanently lifting Medicaid’s IMD Exclusion, which restricts access to care for rehab and institutional care services. 
  • Ensuring Medicaid beneficiaries have access to Medication Assisted Treatment. Is fully CUTGO compliant and offset. 

Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. represents Indiana’s 8th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives and is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

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