Brown, Portman introduce new bill

The bill would increase access to treatment beds for those on Medicaid. They called the current biill “outdated.”

Ohio’s U.S. Senators have introduced a bill that would increase access to treatment beds for those on Medicaid.

Current law limits use of Medicaid funding for residential mental health or substance abuse treatment to facilities with just 16 or fewer beds. The bill sponsored by Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Rob Portman would allow Medicaid coverage for up to 40 beds at accredited residential addiction treatment facilities for up to 60 consecutive days.

The Senators called the current cap “outdated.” It dates back more than 50 years when Medicaid was created.

“Red tape shouldn’t keep Ohioans from needed treatment and this simple fix will provide real relief to those struggling with addiction,” Brown said.

Portman called it a “necessary change,” and is urging the full Senate to act on the issue “as quickly as possible.”

“We have a heroin and prescription drug crisis in our state and this bipartisan bill would remove an unnecessary barrier that is limiting access to residential treatment in Ohio,” Portman said.

Ohio has seen some of the worst of the opioid epidemic and Medicaid covers 50 percent of all addiction treatment in Ohio.

Brown said Ohioans on the front line of the epidemic have told him the lack of beds at these facilities is the number one barrier to getting people on the path to recovery.

“Medicaid expansion has already helped hundreds of thousands in Ohio receive treatment, and we need to build off that success to make sure all treatment options are on the table for all Ohioans, regardless of their insurance,” Brown said.

The Senators said the legislation also establishes a $50 million youth in-patient addiction treatment program to fund facilities that provided substance use disorder treatment services to underserved, at-risk Medicaid beneficiaries who are under 21 years old. They said the emphasis will be on those in rural communities.

Additionally, the Senators said the bill would “increase flexibility for pregnant and postpartum women who are seeking treatment, and would allow them to access the services they need to ensure positive birth outcomes.”