O'Halleran Opioid Amendment Passes with Mental Health Bill

Press Release

Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) voted to pass the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act, legislation that works to increase the accessibility of mental health care and break down the unique barriers to care rural communities face.

Within the bill is also a vital, O'Halleran-led reauthorization of funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This measure will assist in developing coordinated local opioid response plans, expand access to medications that reverse an opioid overdose, and improve substance use disorder and mental health treatment for homeless individuals.

"In Arizona, the opioid crisis continues to tear families and whole communities apart," said O'Halleran. "As prices increase and more families struggle to make ends meet, I know that access mental health support has become more critical than ever. I'm working to ensure that this care is within reach for every community."

Additionally, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act passed with an O'Halleran-led amendment that adds the text of H.R. 2355, the Opioid Prescription Verification Act of 2021, which encourages the expanded use of electronic prescribing for prescription opioids. The amendment incentivizes states to maintain and fully utilize prescription drug monitoring programs and requires HHS to work with the CDC, DEA, and FDA to offer materials and guidance to pharmacists on how to verify the identity of patients to help facilitate safe and responsible opioid prescribing.

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