National Governors Association shares recommendations to address opioid epidemic

The National Governors Association (NGA) recently released a list of federal action items it is recommending to Congress and the Trump administration to help address the opioid crisis in the country.

The recommendations call for federal action and outline several key areas that are critical, including:

• Increased federal support to states, with flexibility to meet communities’ needs;
• Improved coordination across federal agencies;
• Federal training and education requirements for opioid prescribers;
• Statutory flexibility for state Medicaid programs to provide the full continuum of evidence-based treatment;
• More flexibility for providers to prescribe medications to treat opioid use disorder;
• Additional training and technical assistance to facilitate data and information sharing across public health and public safety; and
• Enhanced federal support for justice-involved populations, including the option for state Medicaid programs to cover substance use and mental health services prior to conviction and up to 30 days prior to release from prison or jail.

The NGA meets in February for their annual winter meeting in Washington, DC and will continue discussions related to this important issue.  .

Read the statement issued by the NGA on 1/18/2018.