Rep. Poliquin Voices Strong Support for Treating Drug-Addicted Babies
Maine’s 2nd District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, spoke on the House Floor to support the Nurturing and Supporting (NAS) Healthy Babies Act.
Poliquin is an original cosponsor of the Nurturing and Supporting (NAS) Healthy Babies Act. The measure passed the House:
It cannot be said enough that every 25 minutes in this great country there is a baby is born addicted to drugs,”said Congressman Poliquin on the House Chamber Floor. “Last year alone, 1,000 of those babies were born in the Great State of Maine. 80 percent of these addicted infants are covered by Medicaid and treated at local hospitals. But, our hospitals are overwhelmed. They’re not equipped to provide the specialized care that these babies desperately need to recover from the drugs in their tiny bodies.
Click HERE to see Congressman Poliquin speak on the House Floor.
“I am very proud to serve as an original cosponsor of the Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act and I am thrilled that this bill is being considered today on the Floor.
“I want to congratulate Congressman Evan Jenkins of West Virginia—a Republican—and I want to congratulate Congresswoman Bustos from Illinois—a Democrat—for their leadership on this issue. This is not a political issue, Mr. Speaker! This is about our kids. This about our babies. This is about that generation.
H.R. 4978 makes sure that we get the information we need as to how hospitals and other medical facilities are currently treating these addicted babies such that we can fill in the gap with Medicaid coverage.
“Every baby born into this world deserves our compassion and our care. This bill offers real hope for a healthy, and a safe, and a loving start for thousands of American babies born addicted to drugs. Let’s all get together and let’s get this done, Mr. Speaker. This is not a political issue—this is about our kids.”
The Nurturing and Supporting (NAS) Healthy Babies Act will order a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on NAS (neonatal abstinence syndrome) to expand our knowledge of NAS babies, their specific medical needs, and the best strategies to ensure that they can be adequately covered through Medicaid or other providers. Congressman Poliquin is an original cosponsor.
The House has devoted this week to considering critical legislation to combat the opioid crisis.
Items to Note:
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