WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 7, 2018) – Today, Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) joined Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) in introducing the Protecting Seniors from Opioid Abuse Act of 2018 to help combat the opioid epidemic by expanding eligibility for Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services for Medicare beneficiaries who are at-risk for prescription drug abuse.

“The opioid epidemic is wreaking havoc in communities across the country, including here in Eastern Washington,” said McMorris Rodgers. “As I meet with local leaders and providers who are fighting this battle every day, I continue to hear that we need to be doing more, providing more resources and programs to help combat this crisis. No one can fight the cycle of addiction alone, nor should they have to. Expanding access to the Medication Therapy Management services for Medicare beneficiaries who are at-risk for prescription drug abuse will allow them to receive expert advice on how to manage their prescriptions and reduce their risk of addiction and abuse.”

NOTE: Medicare currently offers Medication Therapy Management (MTM) programs for beneficiaries with complex health needs. A pharmacist or other health professional will give beneficiaries a comprehensive review of all their medications and talk them through how their medications work, what side effects may occur, if there might be interactions between drugs, and other problems that may occur. This counseling can help reduce the risk of prescription drug abuse through comprehensive medication review, targeted medication review, and interventions with their prescribers.

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