In the states

The Coalition of Medication‐Assisted Treatment Providers and Advocates of New York State (COMPA) issued support and further encouragement to New York legislators last week for the passage of a package of bills to combat the opioid addiction epidemic by increasing access to medication‐assisted treatment (MAT). “We applaud the Senate and Assembly passing A2904 Quart/S4808 Harckham, which eliminates prior authorizations for all MAT medications for commercial insurance policies,” said Allegra Schorr, president of COMPA. “This will increase access to treatment and reduce barriers for delivering care.” She added, “We urge the passage of A7246 Rosenthal/S5935 Harckham, which provides critical access to all medications to vulnerable Medicaid populations during this opioid crisis. Moreover, in order to ensure that all New Yorkers can access care, we urge the state to implement the policy outlined in A833 Rosenthal/S2161 Bailey that would establish a patient‐centered MAT program for incarcerated individuals in jails and prisons, and COMPA supports A972A Rosenthal/S4643A Harckham, which would prohibit copays during the course of treatment at an opioid treatment program.” COMPA is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to treating addiction through the use of pharmacotherapy as a part of a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to treatment. COMPA's program members include both opioid treatment programs and office‐based opioid treatment providers. COMPA is the New York state member program of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.