Congress Passes “No Surprises Act” To Protect Consumers From Unexpected Medical Bills
Tucked inside the omnibus appropriations bill that was passed in the waning days of the 116th Congress, the “No Surprises Act” aims to address the problem of surprise medical bills. Surprise medical bills happen when a patient unexpectedly receives services from an out-of-network provider or in an out-of-network facility. The bill provides protection from surprise medical…
States’ Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Helps Implement CDC Strategies to Reduce Tobacco Use
The Centers for Disease Control recently published results from its 2020 National Health Interview Survey on the subject of “Tobacco Product Use Among Adults – United States, 2019.”1 The CDC summarized the survey’s findings as follows: “In 2019, approximately 20.8% of U.S. adults (50.6 million) currently used any tobacco product. Cigarettes were the most commonly…
NAAG Asks FDA for Progress Update Under the SUPPORT Act
We have witnessed first-hand the devastation that the opioid epidemic has wrought on states in terms of lives lost and the costs it has imposed on our healthcare system and the broader economy.
Attorneys General Push FDA to Examine Progress in Opioid Fight
Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent a letter asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to examine recent progress in the agency’s fight against the opioid epidemic. The bipartisan coalition of state and territory attorneys general is seeking a progress report regarding recent steps taken by the FDA to…
Attorneys General Urge Congress to Pass Extension for CARES Act Funding as Pandemic Impacts Economy
Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent a letter urging Congress to extend the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy (CARES) Act funding until the end of 2021. COVID-19 has negatively impacted nearly every facet of American society. In anticipation of unprecedented costs and economic disruption stemming from the pandemic, Congress passed…
NAAG Urges Congress to Extend CARES Act Spending Deadline
With COVID-19 cases rising daily in much of the country and many states still under a health emergency declaration, we urge Congress to amend the CRF program to allow state and local governments to spend the funding at least until December 31, 2021.
NAAG Endorses Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues (SOFA) Act
States and localities are on the front line of this crisis and are a large part of winning the battle from both a law enforcement and public health perspective.
NAAG Urges Creative Community to Protect Young Viewers from Tobacco Imagery
NAAG is urging the five creative Guilds involved in producing and developing streamed movies and programs to take action to protect young viewers from tobacco imagery. A copy of the letter was sent to the Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, Screenwriters Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio…
AGs Urge Health Insurance Companies to Reduce Provider Incentives for Prescribing Pain Killers
The undersigned State Attorneys General are urging America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) to take proactive steps to encourage your members to review their payment and coverage policies and revise them, as necessary and appropriate, to encourage healthcare providers to prioritize non-opioid pain management options over opioid prescriptions for the treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain.
NAAG to Congress: Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act
As the legislative history of VAWA has shown, members from both sides of the aisle have come together to strengthen existing protections and fill gaps in the law. We, therefore, urge you to work together as leaders of your respective caucuses and committees to act before VAWA expires and pass a VAWA reauthorization bill that continues to ensure our nation’s most vulnerable victims are not left behind.
