Reps. Kelly and Balderson Bill to Combat Opioid Addiction Passes House, Heads to Senate

Washington, D.C. –The House overwhelmingly passed the Remote Opioid Monitoring Act by a vote of 386-37. The bill, which was introduced by U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Troy Balderson (OH-12) in June, would direct the federal government to conduct a study on the benefits and efficacy of remote monitoring technology that would enable healthcare providers to track and ensure the wellbeing of patients who are prescribed opioids.

Addiction can quickly set in when opioids are involved, making it even more important for medical professionals to intervene as soon as possible when they see the warning signs. Remote monitoring gives healthcare providers the ability to view trends and identify problems in physiological functions when a patient is no longer under their direct supervision. This can include tracking medication adherence and monitoring patients’ vital signs. The bill was included as a part of the larger Support for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, which focuses on equipping communities to fight substance abuse. In 2020, the Illinois Department of Public Health documented19,451 overdoses, with 2,944 resulting in fatality.

“The right medication can be life-changing, and even life-saving, but we must ensure that medications like opioids are used safely,” said Congresswoman Kelly. “We need to better understand how to leverage current technologies by studying the efficacy and outcomes of remote monitoring of patients who are prescribed opioids. I’m proud to lead this legislation, which will bring us closer to overcoming the challenges of substance abuse faced by so many Americans.”

“For many Ohioans, their first exposure to opioids comes from a lawful prescription from their doctor,” said Balderson. “Sadly, through either misuse or abuse, patients can become addicted to the medication. Remote monitoring is an invaluable tool for physicians to prevent addiction from the outset and save lives.”

The Remote Opioid Monitoring Act would require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the remote monitoring of patients prescribed opioids. The study would look at the efficacy and current use of remote monitoring in federal health care programs, and it would provide recommendations to expand remote monitoring services within those programs.

The legislation will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration.

Full text of the Remote Opioid Monitoring Act can be found HERE.