Trone, Tonko Legislation to Aid Returning Citizens in Recovery from Addiction Included in Budget Reconciliation Package
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hannah Muldavin, Hannah.Muldavin@mail.house.gov
Trone, Tonko Legislation to Aid Returning Citizens in Recovery from Addiction Included in Budget Reconciliation Package
WASHINGTON — Today, Representatives David Trone (D-MD) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) announced that their bipartisan legislation to fight the addiction crisis among returning citizens, the Medicaid Reentry Act, has been included in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s budget reconciliation package. Additional co-sponsors include Representatives David McKinley (R-WV) and Mike Turner (R-OH).
Studies have shown that returning citizens are 129 times more likely to die of a drug overdose during the first two weeks after release. The Medicaid Reentry Act would allow states to restore access to addiction treatment through Medicaid for incarcerated individuals up to 30 days before their release, providing them with the foundation they need to stay in recovery.
“Far too many returning citizens don’t have the support they need to safely reenter society and lead healthy lives, and it’s our responsibility to change that,” said Congressman Trone. “By providing addiction treatment in the final 30 days of their time served, we are ensuring that these folks are set up for success in their recovery.”
“As we continue to grapple with scary new developments in the global COVID-19 pandemic, we must be even more vigilant in our fight against the nation’s opioid crisis,” Congressman Tonko said. “My Medicaid Reentry Act takes swift needed action to combat the spread of addiction and target treatment to the people who face the most immediate danger. Empowering states to use the best tools available to close the deadly treatment gap gives us our best chance to save lives and stop this crisis.”
“With COVID-19 and opioid-related deaths on the rise, reintroducing the Medicaid Reentry Act couldn’t come at a more critical time. This legislation will provide a vital pathway to addiction treatment for incarcerated individuals who are at grave risk of dying from an opioid overdose following their release,” said Congressman Turner. “After many years of advocating to address this serious issue, I appreciate Congressman Tonko’s leadership, and I am proud to join him in this bipartisan effort which will work towards combatting the deadly opioid epidemic.”
For a bill summary, click here.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees in the 117th Congress and previously served on the Education and Labor and Foreign Affairs Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the opioid epidemic, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
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