[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 103 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING RELIABLE OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ACT 
                                OF 2018

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                               speech of

                           HON. ERIK PAULSEN

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 19, 2018

  Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, the opioid crisis is an epidemic that is 
impacting every community across the country. It is a crisis that is 
getting worse and worse.
  The chances are that everyone knows someone who has been personally 
affected--wrestling with addiction, providing support to a loved one in 
recovery, or simply offering comfort to a friend who may be dealing 
with loss.
  For the second consecutive year, American life expectancy has 
actually declined. Opioid-related overdoses caused more than 33,000 
deaths in 2015 and more than 40,000 in 2016.
  It's no coincidence that most people are just prescribed opioids to 
manage their pain even though the government will also pay for hundreds 
of medical devices, physical therapy and non-opioid medications.
  The fact is many people and providers simply aren't aware of other, 
equally effective therapies like medical devices, non-opioid 
medications and physical therapy. We need to change that.
  That's why I authored the Medicare CHOICE Act with my colleague 
Representative Kind. It which is one of the bills in this package H.R. 
5775, the PROPER Act.
  The CHOICE Act will require Part D drug plans to inform seniors about 
other, non-addictive pain management therapies that Medicare covers so 
that when they get injured or have some other type of pain, they will 
be able to ask their doctor the right questions to make sure that they 
receive the most effective and least harmful pain management therapy.
  Education is important and can be an effective tool for providers and 
can help make a difference in the fight against opioid addiction.
  Representatives Black, O'Halleran and Crowley also have an initiative 
included in the PROPER Act package to educate seniors about ways they 
should safely dispose of unused opioids and how providers should take 
into account the whole patient when discussing pain. I thank them for 
their important work.
  This package has strong bipartisan support and I want to thank my 
colleagues for working together to get these initiatives moving for 
action on the House floor.
  It will make a difference in addressing an epidemic that continues to 
bring tragedy and sadness to so many families.
  Madam Speaker, I am glad that we are taking action to educate seniors 
on their alternative pain management therapies, how they can safely get 
rid of unused opioids, and how providers should look at the whole 
patient when delivering advice for pain management.

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