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Last updated on Thursday, February 23, 2017
(STATEHOUSE) - The Indiana House of Representatives voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of State Rep. Steve Davisson’s (R-Salem) bill that would create mobile addiction teams to serve more rural areas of Indiana affected by the opioid crisis.
Davisson says many families struggling with opioid addiction often cannot find appropriate treatment because of the shortage of care providers. Mobile addiction teams established under Davisson's proposal would include an advanced practice nurse or a physician assistant, a licensed clinical addiction counselor and a certified recovery coach.
"This legislation would provide an innovative solution to the problem rural counties are facing," Davisson says. "Since many people in recovery also need a job after treatment, my proposal would also allow the Department of Workforce Development to work with these addiction treatment teams to connect patients with jobs and training."
According to Davisson, because of the training that would be involved and the mobile nature of these teams, funding for the program would not be from Medicaid, but from the Recovery Works program. Davisson said this would promote flexibility by allowing these recovery teams to visit small, rural jails, some of which are in severe need for addiction treatment services for their inmates.
This bill will now proceed to the Senate for further consideration.
Rep. Steve Davisson represents Washington County and parts of Orange, Lawrence, Jackson, Clark and Harrison counties.
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