Brooks, Engel, Barton, DeGette Bipartisan Poison Control Bill Passes #SubHealth

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health passed H.R. 5329, the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act of 2018, which was recently introduced by Representatives Susan W. Brooks (R-IN), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Joe Barton (R-TX) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) to combat the opioid epidemic.

This bill reauthorizes funding for the poison control center’s toll-free number. It also clarifies that poison control centers can be called upon to assist with public health emergencies, responses, and preparedness; requests that enhanced communications capabilities like texting be established; requests the FCC work with HHS to ensure calls to our 1-800 number are properly routed; and directs HHS to implement call routing based on the caller’s actual location to ensure timely responses. In March, #SubHealth held a hearing where they discussed H.R. 5329 and other bills focused on combating the opioid epidemic.

“Poison control centers are essential to combating the opioid crisis that is tearing through our communities because they are not only a place for people to report emergencies, such as overdoses, but also compile data that can be used to discover hotspots for opioid abuse and misuse,” said Brooks. “I am proud the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health has passed our legislation. We are one step closer to providing these vital centers the resources they need in order to continue saving lives.”

“Since 2011, U.S. poison centers have handled nearly 200 cases per day involving opioid misuse,” said Engel. “Poison center experts have also helped detect trends in the epidemic and educated Americans about the crisis. This bill would ensure these activities continue. I co-authored the last poison center reauthorization, the Poison Center Network Act (P.L. 113-77), which was signed into law in 2014, and I am pleased to see this bill moving forward.”

“Representatives Susan Brooks, Eliot Engel, Diana DeGette, and I have been working on the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act of 2018, which will help reauthorize the poison control center program,” said Barton. “The reauthorization of the poison control center program is necessary to help combat the opioid crisis by providing free services that save lives, prevents unnecessary hospital visits, and reduce healthcare costs in our country.”

“This bipartisan bill will save lives,” said DeGette. “When an overdose happens, the poison control center is often the first place people call. In light of the staggering number of people in this country wrestling with opioid addiction, these centers need much better support. We intend to give them the resources they need.”

For more information on today’s House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health mark-up, including a background memo, click here.

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