Sarbanes Leads Bipartisan Effort to Expand Access to Opioid Treatment Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Congressman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) in introducing the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act (H.R. 5102), a bipartisan bill to help increase the number of health care professionals working in addiction treatment and substance use disorder programs around the country.

The legislation aims to close the addiction treatment gap in America – which is largely attributed to a shortage of treatment providers – by creating incentives, in the form of student loan forgiveness, for health care professionals who provide direct patient care at opioid treatment programs in high-need areas. The bill would forgive up to $250,000 in student loans.

"This bipartisan effort is a prime example of the kinds of innovative solutions that can help tackle the opioid crisis and provide better treatment for those suffering from addiction," said Congressman Sarbanes. "By creating incentives that encourage health care professionals to provide care to people with substance use disorders, we can expand the number of treatment programs that are available to communities in Maryland and across America."

To qualify for the program, participants must be employed full-time, for up to 6 years, in an occupation that directly serves patients with substance use disorders. It can include physicians, registered nurses, social workers, recovery coaches and many other roles. Participants can serve in a wide range of treatment facilities, as long as they are located in an area with a shortage of mental health professionals or a high rate of overdose deaths.

For more information about the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act, see here.

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