BECKLEY – In an effort to expand care programs for drug-exposed newborns, U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., introduced bipartisan legislation Wednesday called the Caring Recovery for Infants and Babies (CRIB) Act.
The CRIB Act would build on the best practices of Lily’s Place in Huntington for treating babies born exposed to heroin, opioids and other drugs. It would also make it easier for similar centers to open across the country by cutting regulatory red tape.
“Suffering through withdrawal from exposure to heroin and other opioids is a horrific way to start one’s life, but that’s the reality for many newborns in West Virginia and across the country," Jenkins said. "These newborns need specialized care to help them recover from drug exposure before they were even born."
Both Capito and Jenkins highlighted the level of care at Lily's Place in Huntington, and said more centers like this should be opened across the country.
"We can work together to cut red tape, fight the drug crisis, and ensure healthy lives for babies and children across our country."
The House bill is also sponsored by Mike Turner, R-Ohio; Tim Ryan, D-Ohio; and Katherine Clark, D-Mass.
“Every 25 minutes, a baby is born already suffering from opioid withdrawal, and in West Virginia, that rate is approximately three times the national average,” Sen. Capito said. “It is vitally important that we make sure infants experiencing this pain have access to specialized care and a range of treatment options."
The Senate companion bill is also sponsored by Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Angus King, I-Maine; and Rob Portman, R-Ohio.
Rep. Turner noted the bill will aid organizations that provide medical care for innocent drug-exposed newborns.
"Specifically, it will allow Medicaid to be used to reimburse medical facilities outside of hospitals that provide newborns with this important care," Turner said. "We are going to continue to fight for funding to address this issue of the heroin epidemic.”
The bill would establish residential pediatric care centers within Medicaid to treat babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, exposure to opioids during pregnancy. This legislation would establish a provider type for NAS treatment centers clearly defining residential pediatric recovery centers. This legislation also includes an emphasis on residential pediatric recovery centers offering counseling to the mothers and families to help build those important connections from birth.