Issue Brief 18-26
June 27, 2018
Summary 

Addressing the opioid crisis is a major item on the congressional agenda. The full House and four Senate committees have approved multiple bipartisan opioid-related bills, with additional action expected in the coming months. The bills cover a wide range of issues, including expanding access to services through Medicare and Medicaid, improving drug safety, strengthening law enforcement, and enhancing prevention and treatment efforts.

This Issue Brief focuses on the grant provisions in the bills, highlighting new programs, changes to existing ones, and Medicaid reforms. Within these areas, there are some similarities between the House and Senate, but many differences remain.