Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH President | Official website
The American Medical Association (AMA) has expressed support for the decision by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to renew the public health emergency declaration concerning the opioid epidemic in the United States.
According to a statement from the AMA, "The American Medical Association (AMA) commends Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for renewing the public health emergency (PHE) declaration to address the nation’s opioid epidemic." Despite a reported 24% decrease in overdose deaths according to recent CDC data, overdoses remain a leading cause of death among Americans aged 18-44.
The AMA emphasizes that continuing this public health emergency reflects "the ongoing severity of the epidemic and the need to take decisive action now to save lives."
In their statement, they urge policymakers to utilize this renewed declaration to address barriers related to health insurance and pharmacy access by enforcing mental health and substance use parity laws. The AMA points out that many insurers are not complying with federal and state laws requiring equal coverage for mental health or substance use disorder treatments.
Additionally, they call on the Trump administration to defend against legal challenges related to a 2024 rule enforcing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). According to them, "Enforcing MHPAEA saves lives by ensuring access to care," while failure to uphold it could reverse progress made in combating overdoses.
"The AMA remains committed to working alongside federal, state, and local partners," they state, "to end the overdose epidemic and ensure that every person with substance use disorder gets the care they need."
