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Tonko, Trone Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Better Coordinate Federal Response to Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Crises

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Rep. Paul Tonko

WASHINGTON—As millions of American struggle with mental health and substance use disorder challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and David Trone (D-MD) along with Representatives Tom Emmer (R-MN), Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) announced today that they introduced the Behavioral Health Coordination and Communication Act of 2021,…

Tonko Advances Bill to Expand Mental Health & Addiction Treatment

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Rep. Paul Tonko

WASHINGTON—Congressman Paul D. Tonko heralded the advance of his bipartisan Medicaid Reentry Act today as part of the COVID-19 relief budget reconciliation bill currently being debated by the full House Committee on Energy & Commerce. Tonko’s bill empowers states to restore Medicaid eligibility for incarcerated individuals up to 30 days before their release to ensure those…

Tonko-Baldwin Medicaid Reentry Act Added to E&C Reconciliation

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WASHINGTON—Congressman Paul D. Tonko heralded news that his bipartisan Medicaid Reentry Act has been incorporated into the House Committee on Energy & Commerce budget reconciliation proposal. This legislation empowers states to restore access to addiction treatment through Medicaid for incarcerated individuals up to 30 days before their release and is sponsored by Senator Tammy…

Tonko Leads Bipartisan Call for White House to Back Addiction Treatment Bill

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Rep. Paul Tonko

WASHINGTON—Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY), Antonio Delgado (D-NY), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Mike Turner (R-OH) and Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) sent a letter to the White House last night calling on President Biden and his administration to support the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act. This bipartisan bill would significantly expand access to…

Tonko Heralds Federal Action to End Restriction on Addiction Treatment

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Rep. Paul Tonko

WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko cheered the announcement today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will release new guidelines allowing physicians to more easily prescribe buprenorphine—a proven effective opioid addiction treatment—to patients. Tonko has long fought to remove this outdated barrier and expand access to the life-saving medication with his…

In Bipartisan Letter, Lawmakers Seek Emergency Funding for Behavioral Health Organizations in Next Coronavirus Stimulus Package

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Washington, DC—United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congressman Joe Kennedy III (D-MA-04), along with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); and Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA-06), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), John Katko (R-NY-24) and 68 of their Senate and House colleagues, sent a letter to Congressional leadership requesting emergency…

Tonko, McKinley Push Addiction Treatment Access with New Bill

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WASHINGTON—U.S. Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and David McKinley (R-WV) announced the introduction of new bipartisan legislation today in the House of Representatives to reduce red tape and make it easier for patients with a substance use disorder (SUD) to get treatment through state-run Medicaid programs. The legislation, H.R. 3925: Reducing Barriers to Substance Use Treatment…

Tonko, Turner Reintroduce Bipartisan Addiction Treatment Bill

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WASHINGTON – Representatives Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Michael Turner (OH-10) have formally introduced bipartisan legislation empowering states to expand access to addiction treatment through Medicaid for individuals up to 30 days before their release from jail or prison. The bill, H.R. 1329: the Medicaid Reentry Act, responds to alarming evidence that individuals reentering society after…

Tonko Announces Four Priority Bills Included in Final Opioid Package

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WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, by a vote of 393-8. Four sections of the bill were written by Congressman Tonko, including an expansion of medication-assisted treatment, a multi-year priority that will help meaningfully combat the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. “Overdoses claimed more than 64,000…

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