In Harrisburg yesterday, the state House Health Committee approved two pieces of legislation authored by Representative Jim Struzzi.
House Bill 1214 would add pain management clinics to the list of health care facilities regulated by the Department of Health. The bill is designed to help prevent the diversion, misuse, and abuse of controlled substances.
House Resolution 268 would direct the Joint State Government Commission to study the impact of behavioral health on hospital emergency departments and patient health. The commission would examine both behavioral health needs and the capacity of the behavioral health care system.
Both the bill and the resolution have been sent to the full House for consideration. Struzzi says both bills address issues connected to drug addiction. The pain management bill, he says, would help get a better handle on clinics and the opioid crisis. The resolution on behavioral health would enable a better understanding of the shortcomings of the behavioral health system and equip providers with the resources to improve their services.
