News Summary
Lawmakers in Kentucky have advanced a bipartisan measure to combat overdose deaths and enhance recovery support. The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act aims to increase access to drug treatment and expand addiction prevention programs. Key components include the reauthorization of the CAREER Act, which provides job training for individuals recovering from addiction. Despite progress, overdose fatalities remain a concern in the state, highlighting the need for heightened funding and resources to fight the ongoing addiction crisis.
Frankfort, Kentucky — Lawmakers in Kentucky have advanced a bipartisan measure designed to combat the rising tide of overdose deaths and support those recovering from addiction. The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act was recently passed in the House, spearheaded by Representative Brett Guthrie, a Republican from Bowling Green. This legislation aims to broaden access to drug treatment and enhance addiction prevention programs.
Representative Guthrie stated that the reauthorization of this critical legislation is essential for increasing prevention initiatives, ultimately reducing drug-related fatalities and restoring hope to families struggling with addiction. Included in this legislation is the reauthorization of the CAREER Act, which was initially adopted in 2018 under the direction of Representative Andy Barr, a Republican from Lexington. This act focuses on providing job opportunities, skills training, and employment readiness programs for individuals in recovery from addiction.
Kara Ball, a representative from Isaiah House, a Kentucky-based treatment facility, highlighted that the CAREER Act has provided her organization with $2.5 million in grant funding over the past five years to support peer recovery initiatives. Despite the progress made, the most recent 2024 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report revealed that 1,410 Kentuckians succumbed to drug overdoses last year. While this marked a 30% decline from the previous year, Kentucky still ranks among the top ten states in the country for overdose deaths.
Representative Barr has emphasized the necessity of renewing and increasing funding for the CAREER Act due to persistent challenges with overdose incidents in the state. The reauthorization plan includes an anticipated annual funding increase of $7 million over five years for initiatives under the CAREER Act, bringing the total funding to $210 million.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, originally introduced the CAREER Act in the Senate in 2018 and is currently pushing for its reauthorization. Kentucky recovery advocates have expressed concerns regarding proposed changes to federal health agencies, particularly a plan to merge the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) into a new health administration aimed at improving efficiency and coordination for low-income Americans. Ball has cautioned against restructuring federal health services, stressing that current efforts are vital to combating the addiction crisis.
In a related context, Kentucky experienced a tragic tornado that resulted in the death of Ronnie Hill, a known advocate for addiction recovery. Additionally, Kentucky’s largest addiction recovery provider, Addiction Recovery Care (ARC), has recently closed four more residential facilities amid ongoing investigations by the FBI into potential Medicaid fraud. In total, ARC has shut down nine facilities in the past two months, attributing these closures to pending reimbursement cuts for addiction and mental health services.
The closed facilities include Sanibel House in Catlettsburg, Lake Hill Oasis in Somerset, Belle Grove Springs in Wallingford, and Beth’s Blessing in Tyner. Although officials from ARC stated that the safety and care of clients remain top priorities, they have not disclosed the number of employees impacted by these closures.
The investigation by the FBI concerns potential healthcare fraud related to ARC, which is cooperating with authorities but has not been formally charged. As of October 3, 2023, the FBI had received 400 responses regarding potential victimization connected to ARC’s operations. Following an earlier round of closures, ARC previously shut down five key locations in Louisa, leading to unknown layoffs and client relocations.
Recently, ARC announced the impending closure of two additional facilities, Creekside in Pippa Passes and Hazel Hills in Owingsville, set to take effect on December 5, 2024. This decision has been made in light of ongoing financial difficulties in the addiction treatment sector. ARC has reassured that clients from the closed facilities will be provided with options for transitioning to other treatment centers while maintaining their commitment to quality care.
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Additional Resources
- Spectrum Local News: Recovery Legislation Passes
- Wikipedia: Addiction Recovery
- New York Times: Opioid Addiction Recovery in Kentucky
- Google Search: Kentucky Addiction Recovery
- WLKY: Tornado and Addiction Recovery
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Substance Use Disorder
- Kentucky.com: Local Crime and Addiction
- Google News: Addiction Recovery in Kentucky
- Kentucky Lantern: Addiction Recovery Care Layoffs
- Google Scholar: Addiction Recovery
