The American opioid epidemic is officially a national state of emergency, with over 175 lives lost to opioid overdose every day. The time to lower the barriers to lifesaving treatments is now. Yet, when it comes to certain long-term recovery solutions like medication assisted treatment (MAT), lack of access is rampant. Only three out of every 100 people living with opioid addiction receive the most effective treatment - MAT - despite its proven effectiveness and the recent endorsement of the White House Opioid Commission. Medicare, for example, does not provide seniors access to all FDA-approved MAT treatments. With our rapidly aging population, this is adding fuel to the already raging fire of addiction and overdoses, and must be addressed. Join us as we discuss the role of MAT in addressing the opioid crisis, the White House Opioid Commission’s related recommendations, and Congress’ role in making the best practice for opioid addiction treatment the common practice, particularly in Medicare and other government sponsored healthcare plans. Panel Participants:

• Former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy, AOR Advisor, Member of the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis
• Former Congresswoman Mary Bono, Co-Founder, Collaborative for Effective Prescription Opioid Policies (CEPOP)
• Mark Parrino, President, American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, Inc. (AATOD)
• Dr. Frances Levin, Past President of American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry; Kennedy-Leavy Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University; Chief of Substance Abuse Division at NY Presbyterian Hospital
• Moderator: Brianna Ehley, POLITICO Healthcare Reporter

Light refreshments will be served.   To register for this event, click here.