A Democratic bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency Savings Act" aims to increase affordable access to evidence-based opioid treatments. It establishes a model to eliminate Medicare cost-sharing for specific drugs, behavioral health services, and recovery support services in 15 selected States. The bill also requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to cover opioid disorder treatments and recovery services without cost-sharing requirements. Additionally, it enhances the Federal medical assistance percentage for medication-assisted treatment under Medicaid to 90 percent. These changes for health plans are intended to take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +9
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?
The bill directly addresses the opioid crisis by increasing affordability and coverage for treatments and recovery support.
- Scored +8
Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes?
The bill increases the Federal medical assistance percentage to 90 percent for medication-assisted treatment under Medicaid.
- Scored +8
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?
The bill eliminates cost-sharing for drugs used to treat opioid use disorders or reverse overdoses.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would business owners be better off under this?
Health insurance issuers and group health plans face new coverage requirements without cost-sharing.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reduced Financial Burden for Medicare Beneficiaries: The bill seeks to eliminate coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles for drugs used to treat opioid use disorders or reverse overdoses, behavioral health services for treatment, and recovery support services like peer counseling and transportation (Section 2).
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Increased Support for Treatment Recovery: By covering behavioral health and community support services, including treatment in non-hospital residential facilities, the bill provides broader options for those seeking help (Section 2 and Section 3).
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Guaranteed Coverage from Private Health Plans: Group health plans and insurance issuers will be required to provide coverage for prescription drugs to treat opioid use disorders or reverse overdoses, as well as behavioral health and community recovery support services, without imposing cost-sharing requirements (Section 3).
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Increased Medicaid Support: The bill increases the Federal medical assistance percentage to 90 percent for medication-assisted treatment for States and the District of Columbia (Section 4).
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Expanded Medicaid Service Options: States will have the option to include recovery support services, such as transportation and peer counseling, as part of medication-assisted treatment to help individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Geographic Reach for Medicare Model: The Medicare cost-sharing elimination model is limited to 15 specific States selected based on criteria such as high proportions of beneficiaries, high overdose death rates, and significant rural areas (Section 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths? — The bill directly addresses the opioid crisis by increasing affordability and coverage for treatments and recovery support. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill significantly improves access to opioid treatment and recovery services via Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill increases the Federal medical assistance percentage to 90 percent for medication-assisted treatment under Medicaid. Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — The bill eliminates cost-sharing for drugs used to treat opioid use disorders or reverse overdoses. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill improves access to behavioral health services for treating opioid use disorders. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill enhances Medicare by eliminating cost-sharing for opioid treatments in selected states.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill expands Medicaid benefits which heavily benefits low-income populations. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill removes financial barriers to essential treatments for Medicare beneficiaries. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides significant cost-sharing relief for Medicare beneficiaries. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets states with significant rural areas for the Medicare model. Would business owners be better off under this? — Health insurance issuers and group health plans face new coverage requirements without cost-sharing.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill increases consumer protection by mandating coverage for opioid treatments without cost-sharing.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill includes rural area considerations in the selection of Medicare model sites.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal involvement through enhanced Medicaid matching and insurance mandates.
- 6/12/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont