This week, the House Energy and Commerce and Education and the Workforce Committees approved bills to address opioid abuse.
Energy and Commerce Committee
On April 27, the Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 4978, the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act, as amended. The following day, the committee approved H.R. 3691, the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act, as amended. The Subcommittee on Health approved the measures on April 20 (see The Source, 4/22/16).
Education and the Workforce
On April 28, the Education and the Workforce Committee approved H.R. 4843, the Improving Safe Care for the Prevention of Infant Abuse and Neglect, as amended.
Sponsored by Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), the bill would amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (P.L. 111-320) to include best practices for treating infants born with symptoms resulting from illegal substance abuse or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Among other provisions, the bill would direct states to develop plans for the care of such infants once they are released from the care of health care providers, which may include addressing the health care needs of the family or caregivers.
