Dayton Reporter

Congressmen Mike Turner and Paul Tonko have initiated an inquiry into various healthcare sectors to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act. This act, signed into law in 2022, aims to increase access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) by removing the waiver requirement for prescribing buprenorphine.

The MAT Act seeks to expand the number of medical professionals authorized to prescribe this treatment from 130,000 to 1.8 million. Congressman Turner highlighted the importance of this legislation, noting a 10% decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2023. He emphasized that ongoing efforts are necessary to sustain progress against opioid addiction.

Congressman Tonko expressed his commitment to ensuring accessible and affordable treatment for those battling substance use disorder. He stated, "We must use every tool possible to realize the dream of the MAT Act."

Turner and Tonko's initiative involves sending letters to hospitals, insurance plans, pharmacies, and other providers. The goal is to understand their current actions and plans related to MOUD accessibility.

These letters have been sent to organizations including UnitedHealth Group, Kaiser Permanente, CVS Health/Aetna, American Medical Association, and many others across the nation.

The inquiry follows Turner's previous actions in March 2021 when he hosted a roundtable with local leaders and experts on opioid addiction in Dayton. The aim was to address the crisis through legislative measures like the MAT Act.