Rep. Marcia Fudge announces legislation to expand addiction treatment

Published July 18, 2014 at 1:23 PM

By Brandon Blackwell from Cleveland Plain Dealer 

U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge on Friday announced legislation aimed at expanding community-based treatment options for heroin addicts and others who face drug or alcohol dependency.

The legislation introduced in Congress Thursday aims to set up a five-year demonstration project that removes a decades-old Medicaid rule barring reimbursement to treatment facilities with more than 16 patient beds.

The 1965 rule has left millions of addicts across the country waiting in line for treatment -- sometimes with fatal results, Fudge said.

The Democratic congresswoman from Warrensville Heights will request $300 million for the project.

"We are doing it because it's the right thing to do," Fudge said. "We have to take care of our citizens."

The legislation co-sponsored by Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan will be pushed in August.

"I am hopefully going to get enough Republicans to convince their colleagues that this is an epidemic," Fudge said.

Nearly 200 people died from a heroin overdose in Cuyahoga County last year, shattering the 2012 record of 161 deaths.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/07/rep_marcia_fudge_announces_leg.html