Statement attributable to:
Patrice A. Harris, M.D., MA
Immediate Past Chair, American Medical Association Board of Trustees
Chair, AMA Opioid Task Force
“The American Medical Association (AMA) commends The President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis for delivering a comprehensive report that provides an excellent roadmap for increasing access to medication-assisted treatment for patients with substance-use disorders and also demonstrates the need to eliminate barriers to accessing the full spectrum of multidisciplinary pain treatment options. The AMA is pleased that the commission agreed with many of the AMA’s previous suggestions, and we look forward to working with the Administration and Congress on next steps, including the needed financial resources.
“The AMA is also encouraged by the new policy announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to allow states to design demonstration projects that will increase access to treatment for substance use disorders. The AMA has strongly supported efforts by the federal government and states to develop and implement innovative approaches to providing care for patients with substance-use disorders, and we are encouraged that today’s announcement will lead to more patients receiving care — and importantly, helping end the nation’s opioid epidemic.”
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The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
