TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending June 11, 2004

S.1887 A bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act to lift the patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by medical practitioners in group practices.

 

BRIEF

   S 1887 would modify the FDA law that prohibits a doctor from treating more than thirty patients with heroin and Oxycotin replacement drugs like buprenorphine/naloxone, in an office-based setting. Under the bill, one doctor could still treat no more than thirty patients, but the restriction also applies to clinics where several doctors may be qualified to administer the treatment but, as a group, is still limited to thirty. The bill would allow for each of the clinic or group doctors to administer to the limit of thirty patients.

  Senator Orin Hatch explained that buprenorphine is a highly successful treatment for those addicted to heroin, Oxycotin or other opium based pain killing drugs in that patients can lose all desire for the original opiates, can function with a clear mind and meet their work and other responsibilities. According to Sen. Hatch word of the drug’s success has spread creating an enormous demand for treatment and the FDA prohibition is a caution but may be cautious to a fault.

Sponsor: Senator Orin B. Hatch (R-UT)

Vote: Passed Senate by unanimous consent

Cost to the taxpayer: No discernible cost. ## All Rights Reserved. No reproduction or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com