Premier Supports Bill to Bolster Substance Use Disorder Workforce

Premier joined 40 other organizations in sending a letter in support of the bipartisan Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act (H.R. 7050), legislation introduced last month by Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Ann Kuster (D-NH), David Valadao (R-CA), Mike Carey (R-OH) and Mike Kelly (R-PA). The bill would make available 1,000 new Medicare-supported residency positions to hospitals that have — or are in the process of establishing — approved residency programs in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine and their prerequisite programs. Of the 1,000 positions provided in the legislation, 500 would be set aside for hospitals with established programs in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine, and 500 slots would be set aside for hospitals that have established or are in the process of establishing such programs. Hospitals would not be able to receive more than 25 slots each.