Affordable Care Act opposition may be blocking the opioid epidemic fight, according to Los Angeles Times.
Here are five observations:
1. Nineteen Republican-led states have not approved Medicaid expansion, barring many poor adults from receiving healthcare.
2. Many opioid-addicted patients are not able to access recovery programs due to lack of coverage.
3. Overwhelmed by the influx of people seeking treatment, many addiction programs are also forced to turn people away.
4. Medicaid often provides patients better coverage for addiction medication than various private health plans.
5. House and Senate leaders are working to improve addiction treatment programs, including establishing more prescription drug monitoring programs.
