WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is pushing several pieces of legislation as key Senate Committees begin putting together the next package of legislation aimed at curbing the opioid epidemic. This week, Brown introduced three new, bipartisan bills to be considered by the Senate Finance Committee, including one to require drug companies and medical device makers to publicly disclose the payments that they make to nurse practitioners and physician assistants – medical providers who often prescribe opioids.
The Senate HELP and Finance Committees are each moving forward with opioid bills in hopes of passing a broad legislative package this year. Brown is actively engaged in the work on both Committees and supporting several bills introduced by his colleagues.
“Eleven Ohioans will die today of an opioid overdose, and Congress must be doing everything in our power to fight this epidemic on all fronts,” Brown said. “From making sure patients know about any drug company kickbacks going to their prescriber, to better caring for babies born with addiction and seniors on Medicare, there are many important bipartisan steps we can take right now. As these bills move through Congress, I will also keep fighting to get meaningful investments to Ohioans fighting the addiction epidemic on the front lines.”
The bills Brown introduced this week are the:
Brown is also a cosponsor of several other bipartisan bills introduced by other members of the Finance Committee that are likely to be considered by the committee in the coming weeks, including the Help for Moms and Babies Act, introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and the Informing Seniors About Opioids Act, introduced by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL).
Brown will also continue to push legislation he has already introduced, including:
Earlier this year, the Senate passed Brown’s Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, which will establish a Federal Task Force to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, which would identify, coordinate, and share information and resources to help grandparents and other relatives who are stepping up to raise children in light of the opioid epidemic.
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