Senate Health Committee schedules hearing on opioid crisis

The Senate Health Committee will hold a hearing on the opioid crisis next month. 

The committee will focus on the federal response to the crisis and conduct oversight of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, a law passed in 2016 that supports efforts to address the issue. 

The committee will also get an update on the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes $1 billion in grants to states over two years to combat the crisis. 

{mosads}Several administration officials, including Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, will testify at the Oct. 5 hearing.  

While President Trump has previously said he would declare the opioid crisis a “national emergency,” his administration still hasn’t taken any formal action. 

Declaring the crisis a national emergency could result in more funding to address the problem.