OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Issue Position: Behavioral Health

Issue Position

Date: Jan. 1, 2020
Issues: Health Insurance Health and Health Care Drugs

Mental health is physical health.

After previous administrations needlessly tossed New Mexico's behavioral health system into crisis, communities across our state suffered tremendously. I have spent years working to help undo this damage to ensure all New Mexicans have access to the mental health services they need.

As substance use disorder continues to destroy lives, I will continue to fight for expanded prevention services, high-quality treatment opportunities, and robust recovery programs. I was successful in securing more than $1 billion dollars in nationwide funding to combat the opioid epidemic -- and millions of these dollars ended up in New Mexico.

I will continue holding opioid manufacturers accountable for their role in pumping unnecessary prescription drugs into our communities and will not rest until mothers, fathers, and families are no longer losing their children and loved ones to a substance use disorder.

My Record on Substance Use Disorder/Behavioral Health

Authored the Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act, President Obama's $1.1 billion proposals to address the opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic
Supported Medicaid substance use disorder treatment via telehealth options
Pushed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part D with a history of opioid-related overdose and include them in its system for monitoring those potentially at-risk for substance use disorder
Expanded the number of patients providers are allowed to treat for opioid use disorder
Allowed clinical physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse specialists, certified nurse midwives, and certified registered nurse anesthetists to prescribe buprenorphine
Extended theResidential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women grants which help new moms struggling with a substance use disorder
Supported the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency Act of 2019 and the Maternal Opioid Treatment, Health, Education, and Recovery Act of 2018.


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