Will come, everybody and thank you for your attendance, particularly those who have to testify and answer questions for us because i know you put in a lot of extra work to be ready for it. This hearing is on the oversight of a bill that has a long name called ensuring Patient Access and effective Drug Enforcement act. Somebody is going to have a pronunciation for the acronym, but i will refer to it as the law, or the bill. I am eager to hear from all of our witnesses today. See this lawto repealed. Others insist that it should remain in place. I have not made my mind up on the issue, so i am interested in hearing both sides of the argument. This discussion is particularly important, giving the continuing Opioid Epidemic that has ravaged this country through the past several years. I do have concerns with how we , and the we are today discussions we are having today. When Congress Took this bill up in 2015 and 2016, there was little to no fanfare about the proposal. Billasic goal of the
[inaudible conversation] welcome everybody. Thank you for your attendance, particularly those who have to testify and answer questions for us. I know you put in a lot of extra work to be ready for it. This hearing is on the oversight of a bill that had a long name. But for maturing Patient Access and it took the Drug Enforcement act. Somebodys going to have a pronunciation for that acronym but im not going to. Im going to refer to it as the law or the bill. And im eager to hear from all of our witnesses today. Some would like to see this law repealed. Others insist that it should remain in place. I havent made my mind up on that issue. So im interested in hearing both sides of the argument. This discussion is particularly important given the continuing Opioid Epidemic. That has ravaged this country through the past several years. I do have concerns with how we got where we are today. The discussions that weare having today. When Congress Took this still up in 2015 and 2016 , there was
[gavel banging] welcome, everybody, and thank you for your attendance, particularly those who have to testify and answer questions for us because i know you put in a lot of extra work to be ready for it. This hearing is on the oversight of a bill that has a long name called insuring Patient Access and effective Drug Enforcement act. Now somebody is going to have us pronunciation for the acronym. Im not going to. Im going to refer to as the law and the bill. Some would like to see this law repealed. Others insist that it should remain in place. I havent made my mind up on that issue. So i am interestedn hearing both sides of the argumt. This discussion is particularly important giving the continuing Opioid Epidemic that has ravaged this country through the past several years. I do have concerns with how we got to where we are today and the discussions that were having today. When Congress Took this bill up in 2015, and 2016, there was little, to no fanfare about the proposal. The basic
Senate committee on health, education, labor and pensions will please come to order. Senator murray and i will each have an Opening Statement and then well a introduce the witnesses. After the witnesses testimony senators will each have five minutes of questions. There is a vote scheduled for 10 30. I think what well do is continue right on through until about 10 45. And then well alternate going back and forth to vote. I think well have time for all of us to hear the witnesses testimony before we have to leave for the vote. Today were holding a hearing which is the second in a series on Prescription Drug costs and response to a bipartisan request led by senators cassidy, senator franken, along with senators collins, baldwin, murkowski, whitehouse, cap tow, sanders, enzi and warren as well as other senators interested in the subject. Not only was the request for these hearings bipartisan, but both this hearing and the first hearing on drug prices were bipartisan, which means senator mu
Order and for an opening statement. In the midst of a fierce battle against an epidemic by opioids. This crisis has touched every corner of american society. Whielt new england and the regions represent states hardest hit by the epidemic. Health officials from the south and reaching across the Mountain West all reported growing over dose deaths in those counties. The latest deaths is astounding. 91 americans died every day from an over dose. Now more than ever we must come together and strengthen our commitment to fight this malady. I expect todays member state will bring to the forefront key insights and solutions on this critical issue. The energy in Congress Committee led several bipartisan initiatives. And the comprehensive Addiction Recovery alct and the 21st century act are now law at the state and local levels. Much needed policy changes are being implemented. The inflicted passage of kara and cures. As a result, patients now have greater access to evidencebased treatment, adiks