I am here for all of the people who use online Telemedicine for buprenorphine and changing all of the lives of the strong people who fell victim to opiates. I know from a personal perspective, that using suboxone has given me a life again. 

TREATS Act ( H.R. 1647, the Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Service Act)

Substance abuse treatment is good for the health care system, too. These programs are much less costly than other alternatives, such as incarceration. In fact, every dollar spent on treatment saves as much as $4 in health care costs.

Currently, substance abuse accounts for more than $120 billion per year in American health care costs, which exceeds the direct and indirect costs attributable to diabetes, obesity, and even smoking.

"Dear Editor,

We’re in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic, but hidden in the background is that the addiction crisis our communities have long struggled with is getting worse, not better. In fact, more Americans died of drug overdoses between May 2019 and May 2020 than any other 12-month stretch in U.S. history. While we wait on new data from more recent months, early evidence shows the drug overdose crisis has only deepened since. 

Right now we need to be doing all we can to ensure more Ohioans don’t lose their lives to addiction, which is why I support Senator Portman’s TREATS Act to expand telehealth addiction treatment services. These virtual treatment options have been one of the few bright spots in fighting addiction during the pandemic, but they will expire soon without Senator Portman’s legislation. 

Telehealth services are an indispensable addiction treatment option that helps us increase services to Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin Counties. The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board is working hard to save lives in our community and the TREATS Act will help us do that after these time-limited measures run out. Congress should pass this important legislation immediately.

Sincerely,

Tammie Colon

Executive Director 

Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin Counties"