Representative Gus Bilirakis is calling for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to disclose information on balancing efforts to combat the growing opioid crisis with legitimate needs of patients.
He added that it’s imperative for the federal government to find a solution for this complex issue that has become a growing concern for the sunshine state.Bilirakis commented that “I hear this concern from constituents on a daily basis, especially among seniors. It is not a new problem, but has seemed to intensify in recent years. In 2015, I first questioned then head of DEA’s Office of Diversion Control, Joe Rannazzisi about this issue. In 2016, I co-sponsored the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2016, because of a provision in the bill which required all federal stakeholders to work together to prevent opioid abuse without jeopardizing patient access to their medications.”
Bilirakis cited Section 3(a) of that law, and his office commented that “specifically requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit an interagency report to Congress containing this critical information within one year of enactment.”
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Bilirakis concluded that “This issue is very important to me personally, and to my constituents. Public policy must ensure a delicate balance of putting necessary safeguards in place to prevent abuse while ensuring access to medication for those with legitimate pain. It also must respect the critical role of trained medical professionals, and not politicians, in developing appropriate treatment plans.”