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Washington, DC– Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), vice chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, applauded full committee passage of his bill, the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act of 2018. Following yesterday’s approval by the Energy and Commerce Committee, this bill can now advance to the House floor for a vote.

Guthrie introduced the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act earlier this year to help those suffering from opioid use disorder get care that is specifically tailored to their individual needs. This bill provides grants to treatment facilities that provide comprehensive opioid recovery services, including the full range of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved options for patients, family counseling services, community outreach and job training. Guthrie introduced this bipartisan legislation with Health Subcommittee ranking member Gene Green (D-TX) and committee members Congressmen Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN).

“Just like there is no one-size-fits all approach to solving the opioid crisis, there should not be a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment,” said Guthrie. “The Comprehensive Opioid Recover Centers Act will establish treatment centers that offer all of the FDA-approved opioid use disorder treatments as well as offer services to help patients re-enter society – helping patients explore options and get the treatment they need.”

The Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act of 2018 was also passed by the full committee yesterday. Guthrie joined Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) as well as Reps. Michael Burgess (R-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) to introduce the bill last year. This legislation would improve the FDA’s process for approving over-the-counter medications to ensure innovative new medications can get to the market quickly and effectively.

“The Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act is an important step toward ensuring over-the-counter medications are more accessible and affordable,” continued Guthrie. “I thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their hard work on all of the bills considered yesterday but especially for passing the Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers Act and the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act of 2018.  I look forward to supporting these bills and other parts of the opioids package that goes to the House floor.”

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