WASHINGTON, DC (June 19, 2018): Health IT Now's Opioid Safety Alliance - a working group of prescribers, dispensers, professional societies, and patients advocating for the use of technology to fight illegitimate opioid use - applauded the unanimous House passage today of H.R. 5773, the Preventing Addiction for Susceptible Seniors (PASS) Act of 2018, sponsored by Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL).

The measure - a repackaging of multiple previously introduced opioid-related bills - included provisions of H.R. 4841, the Standardizing Electronic Prior Authorization for Safe Prescribing Act. The bill, endorsed by HITN's Opioid Safety Alliance and originally introduced by Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), would facilitate the use of electronic prior authorizations in Medicare Part D.

HITN Opioid Safety Alliance Executive Director Joel White released the following statement:

"Electronic prior authorization (ePA) is already working in the commercial market to streamline PA claims and ensure legitimate beneficiary access to prescribed medications while preventing misuse and abuse of medication under PA, such as many opioids. It is only common sense that we would finally bring this same technology into the Medicare space," said HITN Opioid Safety Alliance Executive Director Joel White. "Health IT Now's Opioid Safety Alliance thanks Representatives Roskam, Schweikert, and our many other champions on Capitol Hill for their work to secure House passage of this important solution and urges the Senate to quickly follow suit."

White concluded, "We look forward to continued action over the remainder of the week on other Alliance priorities, including the urgently needed telehealth and electronic prescribing provisions in the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act and the planned vote on the OPPS Act to reform the flawed 42 CFR Part 2 law that puts too many patients at risk."

The Opioid Safety Alliance's Track Record of Advocacy for Electronic Prior Authorization:

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