Trump's opioid emergency declaration has no money, but could free up some and offer other aid - Entrepreneur Generations

President Trump' declaration that the opioid epidemic is a national public-health emergency carries no extra money, but it "will help the government speed any available resources to communities, where the epidemic is playing out on the streets every day, and will eliminate some obstacles that stand in the way of providing assistance," Lenny Bernstein reports for The Washington Post.

One example: supplies of naloxone, branded as Narcan, which can stop an overdose in its tracks. "The emergency allows the federal government to speed more people and resources to the streets where naloxone is needed," Bernstein writes. "Acting Health and Human Services Secretary Eric Hargan could negotiate lower prices for government agencies. And he could put out model instructions for states and cities to issue 'standing orders' that make the antidote more readily available in pharmacies around the country."

The biggest need in rural areas is for treatment facilities, and greater access to them. "Barriers include a federal policy that prohibits Medicaid from paying inpatient facilities with more than 16 beds," Bernstein notes. "The emergency declaration would allow HHS to grant waivers to any state requesting one."

from The Rural Blog http://ift.tt/2xsKKBj Trump's opioid emergency declaration has no money, but could free up some and offer other aid - Entrepreneur Generations

Posted by Entrepreneur Generations

Tweet