Common Ground: A Letter to President Trump
Dear President Trump:
As you are aware, opioid misuse and abuse is a crisis affecting families and communities in every state across our nation. In Missouri, we have seen a shocking increase in the number of opioid-related deaths. I’ve heard firsthand from Missourians about this crisis at town halls across my state and that is why last year, I took steps to open up federal resources to local and county governments to assist in their fight against this public health emergency; but more must and should be done. Given your remarks during your campaign for presidency and your recent establishment of a White House commission on opioids, I am encouraged that our goals in stopping this crisis are the same — to help as many afflicted by this crisis through effective, strategic planning and implementation.
This is why I am greatly disturbed by recent news reports that the Administration is proposing to cut the budget for the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) from $388 million to $24 million, which would be a 95 percent reduction. Such a cut would hamper the enormous efforts required to help manage and overcome the opioid epidemic. ONDCP provides assistance and technical expertise to strategically combat overdoses, illegal drug use, drug-trafficking, in addition to engaging in public awareness campaigns. I am concerned that reducing this office’s budget so dramatically will only turn the clock back on our progress and create insurmountable damage in an increasing health emergency.
Unfortunately, this is not the only action taken by this Administration that would have the impact of undermining efforts to combat the opioids epidemic. Recently, you signed an Executive Order on Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America which sunset the White House Rural Council led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and replaced it with an interagency task force that is not explicitly charged with addressing opioid misuse. As you are aware, the opioids crisis disproportionately affects our rural communities, with 21 percent of newborns suffering from withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction were from rural counties.[1] I am concerned that dissolving the White House Rural Council is not only removes an important voice for rural America within the White House but represents a step backwards in ensuring the USDA leads the effort of addressing the opioid epidemic in rural areas. I am hopeful you and your Administration will take the necessary steps to ensure that rural specific needs are included in broader policies and partnerships related to the opioid epidemic.
Lastly, I think it is important to note that the House-passed America Health Care Act (AHCA) could have devastating impacts to the Medicaid population in Missouri who receive medication-assisted treatment that help to address opioid addiction. Under the AHCA, Medicaid programs will be cut by $839 billion. A cut this large to Medicaid will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the 15.7 percent of patients in Missouri who receive medication-assisted treatment through Medicaid.[2]
The combination of these actions raises serious concerns that the Administration may be reducing its commitment to combating the opioid problem in our country. I am hopeful this is not the case and would welcome additional information from the Administration on the specific actions you are taking or will be taking to fight this devastating epidemic.
There is no question that it is going to take all levels of government to fight this public health crisis in our country and I am committed to working with you and your Administration to do everything we can to stop the endemic in its tracks.
Sincerely,
[1] Doctors track “an explosion” of newborns addicted to opioids, CBS News (December 13, 2016) (online at http://www.cbsnews.com/news/opioid-epidemic-newborn-babies-mothers-addicted-to-painkillers).
[2] Visualized: What Medicaid Pays for addiction treatment meds, state by state, STAT (March 14, 2017) (online at https://www.statnews.com/2017/03/14/medicaid-addiction-treatment/).
