Bill would test opioid alternatives in emergency departments

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators have introduced legislation to help boost hospitals’ resources in the fight against opioid addiction.

The Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act would establish a demonstration program to test alternative pain management protocols to limit the use of opioids in hospital emergency departments. The legislation also provides grant funding to implement these programs.

Following the completion of the program, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) would submit a report to Congress on its results and issue recommendations for broader implementation.

“Tackling the opioid epidemic will require an all-hands-on-deck approach, and the ALTO in the Emergency Department Act is another tool that will help in the fight,” said U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito. “Millions of opioid prescriptions are written each year, and a significant portion of opioid overdose deaths involve these prescription opioids. There are alternatives to treating pain that can help save lives, and that is exactly what our bill aims to do. By helping to explore non-opioid pain treatments, I am hopeful this bill will help decrease opioid usage in West Virginia.”

Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek emergency medical attention. More than 200 million opioid prescriptions are written in the U.S. each year, and 40 percent of opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid.

Other original co-sponsors include Senators Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; and Cory Gardner, R-Colo.; and U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr., D-N.J.;  David McKinley, R-W.Va.; Diana DeGette, D-Colo.; and Scott Tipton, R-Colo.