Bilirakis Sits Down with Community Leaders, Identifies Next Steps in Tackling Fentanyl Crisis

Congressman Gus Bilirakis held a roundtable discussion this week with local emergency room physicians, behavioral health clinicians, health department officials, law enforcement and other community leaders to learn more about how fentanyl is impacting the Tampa Bay area and identify ways Congress can provide more effective assistance. According to the CDC, 100,000 Americans have died from fentanyl-related overdoses in the past year. Pasco and Pinellas counties report approximately 800 fentanyl deaths in 2021 alone. The goal of the meeting was to identify specific policy recommendations that would assist local stakeholders who are on the front lines of this struggle.

"This is a public health crisis. While law enforcement plays a key role in addressing these problems, as long as there is demand criminal elements will always find a way to create supply. Since we cannot arrest our way out of this situation, we must find ways to better treat addiction. These are our neighbors who are dying, often accidentally because the substances they are taking are laced with deadly fentanyl," said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. "The time to act is now. We must expand access to treatment, enhance prevention strategies, remove barriers that keep providers from being able to implement best practices, crack down on China for supplying deadly drugs, secure our southern border, and give law enforcement the tools it needs to go after the suppliers who are profiting off those who are struggling with addiction."

The following actions were suggested by the group of local experts, some of which have already been acted upon by Congressman Bilirakis:

• Increase enforcement for existing behavioral health parity laws because it is a serious barrier to getting people the help they need. Congressman Bilirakis has sponsored the Mental Health Parity Enforcement Act to address this issue.
• The Tampa Bay region has received significant federal funding in recent years however much of it can't be spent within the timeframes established by federal agencies. Another issue is that many providers do not have the staffing needed to address the demand for services. Providers need more flexibility with the federal funds and a longer period to spend the funding. Also, the funds need to be reoccurring to prevent a fiscal cliff that negatively impacts patients being served. To address staffing issues, there is a bill that would allow other trained mental health counselors to treat substance abuse patients and be reimbursed through Medicare. This would expand access to treatment. All other payers allow this expanded scope of practice due to the urgent need. The Congressman will review this legislation and discuss these funding issues with his colleagues.
• The co-responding model Pasco County is using with Baycare has been very effective. The agencies need more funding to expand and replicate this successful model. In this model, law enforcement calls related to overdoses or drug abuse are flagged. A Baycare clinician responds to the call with law enforcement and instead of incarceration, the patient is offered treatment options.
• There is a great deal of prevention happening in schools (as early as elementary levels) but it isn't sufficient. With so many pills being laced with fentanyl and even vaping pens being tainted with fentanyl, there are many accidental overdoses. There needs to be more education about these dangers.
• AdventHealth has engaged in putting research into practice regarding opioid-free surgeries. This work needs to be expanded. Congressman Bilirakis has cosponsored HR 3259 that would address a key aspect to this problem.
• ER doctors want to be able to write prescriptions for the first dose of Medical Assisted Treatment but are prevented due to the X-waiver (buprenorphine). This limitation should be removed. There is an education component that will be needed for some doctors to feel comfortable prescribing new drugs in an area they are less familiar with, but the professional organizations can help. And it will save lives. Congressman Bilirakis has cosponsored HR 1374 to achieve this goal.
• Lack of affordable housing is a significant problem. If people return to the same environment, successful recovery is virtually impossible. More focus on the social determinants of health will help. Congressman Bilirakis has authored HR 3894 and 4074 to address social determinants of health issues.