The TREATs Act gives Kentuckians a lifeline to treat substance use. Congress must improve telehealth.
Kentuckians, particularly those in rural areas, have long struggled to access substance use disorder treatment services. Fortunately, the federal government has allowed more patients to receive care via telehealth over the past several years, eliminating many challenges—such as lack of transportation, few or no local available health care providers and work and childcare commitments—that previously limited access. But unless Congress acts, patients will lose the ability to receive lifesaving care remotely.
That’s why my organization, People Advocating Recovery, unwaveringly endorses the Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act. This legislation would permanently allow patients with opioid use disorder to receive buprenorphine—an FDA-approved medication that reduces overdose risk and supports recovery—through a telehealth visit, without needing an in-person consultation first.
The TREATs Act means better telehealth treatment for Kentuckians
Temporary federal regulations currently allow patients to receive buprenorphine remotely, but those will expire at the end of the year, forcing patients to return to in-person care.
Congress can ensure patients can receive telehealth treatment by passing the TREATS Act. Doing so would benefit Kentuckians by:
Breaking down geographic barriers. Kentucky's rural landscapes often mean patients live in health care provider deserts, where the scarcity of substance use treatment becomes a formidable obstacle to recovery. The TREATS Act eliminates these provider deserts by allowing patients to connect with clinicians either through telephone or video visits no matter where they live. In fact, during the pandemic, individuals living in rural areas were able to access treatment because of telehealth, and audio-only appointments were just as effective as video visits.
Ensuring timely access to critical services. In the journey towards recovery, time is of the essence, and the TREATS Act addresses this urgency. Patients have often faced long wait times when trying to see a health care provider in person, with recent national average wait times for behavioral health services coming in at 48 days. But remote visits help eliminate those long wait times. In rural Kentucky, this prompt access has been a game-changer, providing a safety net for people that is crucial for sustained recovery.
Fostering supportive care throughout a person’s recovery journey. Our organization knows that access to a comprehensive range of health and social services is essential to supporting people with opioid use disorder in their recovery. The virtual connections permitted under the TREATS Act help individuals engage in ongoing support, counseling and community-level care.
I am a living organ donor: HB 131 is essential for helping donors give the gift of life.
TREATs Act is a lifesaver for those suffering with substance abuse
Passing the TREATS Act would be a transformative moment for Kentuckians. I know this acutely as a person in recovery for 13 years. I’ve experienced the numerous barriers that keep people from accessing treatment, so now I advocate for all those who remind me of myself—people working towards or in recovery who just want to make something of themselves.
I call on Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul and Rep. Morgan McGarvey to support this lifesaving bill. Doing so would foster a future in Kentucky where every person struggling with addiction or on the path to recovery has the support and resources they need to thrive.
Tara Hyde, MPAP is the Chief Executive Officer of People Advocating Recovery, a Kentucky-based organization working to eliminate barriers to recovery from substance use disorder.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: If Congress passes the TREATs Act, KY telehealth treatment improves
