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House Approves Larson Bill to Prevent Senior Opioid Overuse

June 20, 2018

This is the 7th Larson-Led Bill to Pass the House this Year

Washington, D.C. – Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statement after the Commit to Opioid Medical Prescriber Accountability and Safety for Seniors (COMPASS) Act (H.R. 5716) passed in the House of Representatives yesterday. Along with Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), Larson introduced this bipartisan legislation to require Medicare to work with medical providers to examine their opioid prescriptions, compared to their peers, and address ways to avoid over-prescribing opioids to Medicare beneficiaries. This is the seventh Larson-led bill to pass the House this year, of which six have been signed into law.

"The opioid crisis has ravaged communities in Connecticut and across America. What is often overlooked is that seniors are being prescribed opioids at extremely high rates. The COMPASS Act is a commonsense solution to help medical providers evaluate their opioid prescribing practices and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries are getting their pain needs addressed in a safe and responsible way. I urge my colleagues in the Senate take it up quickly and move this important piece of legislation to the President's desk for ultimate passage," said Larson.