Congress keeps IMD provision in final opioids package

Modern Healthcare: Congress finalized its deal on opioids legislation late Monday afternoon, including one long-shot measure to free up Medicaid funds for inpatient addiction treatment.

Although the specific legislative text has not been released, the opioid package includes a so-called IMD exclusion bill authored by Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). The proposal would temporarily lift the ban on Medicaid funds for institutional treatment of substance use disorder. Unlike the House bill, Portman's measure would treat all addiction, not just opioids and cocaine.

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