New Opioid Legislation Circulating

Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) and various co-authors have circulated a new package of bills to address substance use disorder. Nygren has led the legislative effort to combat Wisconsin’s opioid epidemic with his Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) agenda starting in the 2013-14 session and continuing through 2018. Read more about Wisconsin’s work in fighting the opioid abuse crisis.

Below is an overview of each of the newly circulated bills:

  • LRB 3806 would create a registry for recovery residences in DHS. Additionally, the bill provides exemptions from disciplinary action for state employees using controlled substances as part of medication-assisted treatment.
    Co-authors: Reps. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) & Jon Plumer (R-Lodi) and Sens. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) & Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield)
  • LRB 2010 would extend the sunset of Wisconsin’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). The bill extends until 2025 the requirement that providers review patients’ PDMP records before issuing a prescription. The bill also extends until 2025 the requirement that the Controlled Substances Board perform quarterly evaluations of PDMP outcomes.
    Co-authors: Assembly Committee on Substance Abuse & Prevention members – Reps. Jon Plumer (R-Lodi), Gae Magnafici (R-Dresser), Warren Petryk (R-Eleva), Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield), Jesse James (R-Altoona), Deb Kolste (D-Janesville), Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) & Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) and Senate Health Committee Chair Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point)
  • LRB 4312 would allow county jails to obtain a supply of naloxone or another opioid antagonist and allow certain county jail personnel to administer the medications to individuals undergoing opioid-related drug overdoses. The bill provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for jail personnel administering opioid antagonists. The bill further requires DHS, with the help of the Department of Corrections, to study possible implementation of medication-assisted treatment in county jails.
    Co-authors: Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills)
  • LRB 3740 would place $5 million in each year of the biennium in the JFC supplemental appropriation for physical health service provider reimbursement. Physical health services are “nonpharmacologic interventions used for treatment or mitigation of pain, including chiropractic methods and physical therapy.” Gov. Evers vetoed a provision for this funding in the 2019-21 state budget. The bill also includes acupuncture as a reimbursable benefit in the Medical Assistance program. According to the cosponsorship memo, acupuncture is an underutilized chronic pain treatment alternative that could reduce opioid use.
    Co-authors: Sen. Kathy Bernier (R-Lake Hallie)
  • LRB 2886 would require coverage for peer recovery coaches for mental illness or substance use disorder treatment in the state’s Medical Assistance program. The bill also requires DHS to establish a program to facilitate overdose treatment providers to educate patients on access to follow up care, among other education and treatment options listed under the bill.
    Co-authors: Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point)
  • LRB 4530 would require the Medical Examining Board to issue guidelines on best practices for treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome.
    Co-authors: Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield)
  • LRB 4771 would repeal the sunset on a current law providing immunity from revocation of probation, parole or extended supervision for persons who call emergency services because another person is suffering from an overdose. Current law provides immunity from prosecution for controlled substances crimes and immunity from revocation of probation, parole or extended supervision for aiders. However, the immunity from revocation of probation, parole or extended supervision sunsets on Aug. 1, 2020. This bill would eliminate the sunset.
    Co-authors: Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon)