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Senate Opioids Bill Would Add Sunshine Provisions, Expand Medicare Telehealth Services

 
• By Sue Darcey

Senators on June 12 advanced a bill addressing the opioid crisis from the Finance Committee, including sunshine provisions expanding the types of providers that must report payments of value by drug and device manufacturers, requiring an essential Medicare handbook to describe non-opioid alternatives for pain control, and expanding telehealth payments for providers treating beneficiaries with substance use disorders.

An ampoule Opioid next to it is a note written in English Opioid epidemic. All around, many tablets and syringes are scattered.

The Senate Finance Committee on June 12 approved an opioid crisis response bill on a 27-0 vote that would beef up Sunshine Act requirements on pain-management providers to report payments they receive from drug and device manufacturers to a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) database, among other provisions.

The Senate bill, the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction and Lessen) Substance Use Disorders Act, would also expand telehealth services to providers using telehealth for treating beneficiaries with substance-use disorders,...

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