Legislation funds comprehensive strategies; holds Big Pharma accountable
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – The Minnesota House is prepared to vote Monday afternoon on HF 400, a bill authored by Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), the House Majority Whip, aimed at ending the state’s opioid crisis. The legislation has robust strategies for prevention, education, intervention, training, treatment and recovery.
“Minnesotans truly can’t wait any longer for leaders in this state to take meaningful action to address the terrible tragedies caused by this crisis,” Rep. Olson said. “The bill we’re set to pass today off the House floor looks at the issues around opioids in a holistic way, delivering resources to our communities to save lives. It also ensures long-overdue accountability for the drug makers who have profited off this crisis, and so-far have refused to be part of any solution.”
The legislation creates an Opioid Stewardship Advisory Council to recommend initiatives to end the crisis which has led to staggering levels of addiction, overdoses, and other impacts in communities throughout the state. These initiatives will be funded by grants from a new Opioid Stewardship Fund, resources for which would come from fees paid by pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.
“The opioid epidemic continues to cause heart-breaking tragedies for families across our state,” said Speaker Melissa Hortman. “Today’s action will get us one step closer to finally addressing this crisis and its devastating impact on Minnesotans. After House floor action, this bill will head to conference committee. The House is committed to insuring the bill that reaches the Governor’s desk holds pharmaceutical companies accountable for the costs they have imposed on Minnesotans.”
“Pharmaceutical companies knew early on that their products were being abused, yet they still promoted them as less prone to abuse and addiction. Pharmaceutical companies misled the public about the dangers of their product, and they aggressively marketed the product to doctors,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “These companies have profited greatly off a problem they created, and they must be held accountable.”
Recognizing that Native populations have been particularly harmed by the opioid crisis, the bill funds culturally-specific prevention and treatment programs for tribal governments. In addition to grants in the bill, the legislation expands coverage of pain management services with comprehensive assessments of patients to better determine treatment options.
In 2017, there were more than 2,000 visits to Minnesota emergency rooms for opioid-involved overdoses. In 2016, 395 Minnesotans lost their lives due to overdoses. Since 2010, the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths has steadily increased each year.