Congress of the United States Mashington, BE 20515 ‘August 22, 2017 ‘The Honorable Donald J. Trump President ofthe United States ‘The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DU 2US00 Dear President Trump, ‘We write to you today to urge you to heed the advice of your Commission on Combating Drug Adklction and the Opioid Crisis to lift the Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusion within the Medicaid program. The opioid criss is now a national public health emergency. Since 1999, more than 300,000 Americans have died from opioid averdoses. Many of our disticts hhave been hard hit hy this crisis, As a result, it remains more important than ever to ensure that everyone has access to treatment. ‘The IMD exclusion in current Medicaid policy has the unintended consequence of limiting ‘treatment forthe most vulnerable populations, Medicaid beneficiaries are more likly to sufTer from addietion because they are prescribed painkillers at twice the rate of non-Medicai patients, "Nearly one-third of the Medieaid expansion population has a behavioral health disorder, but old ‘Medicaid rules undermine recent coverage gains. As the Commission’ interim report points out, there isa wide consensus to eliminate this exclusion. Govemors, treatment providers, parents, and non-profit advocecy organizations urged the Commission “to eliminate the IMD exclusion within the Medicaid program.” We should actively use every weapon in our arsenal to combat this epidemic, which is why we urge you to direct Health and Human Services to rapidly expand access to treatment by granting waivers from the IMD exclusion, We look forward to working with you ina bipartisan way to combat this national problem. — Blb Soxtbe Bran 1 Uoavaos ies Pete aa —— ees moet ligene = ae ae oeLeal Gonray, Logs Member of Congress Member of Congress rine Clarke ‘Member of Congress Maroy Ki Member of Congress ¢ Collin. Peterson ‘Member of Congress 3 eS “Member of Congress ek Kilmer William R. Keating ‘Member of Congress Member of Congress Rane onal Noreross Member of Congress fat Daa Ted Deutch ‘Member af Congress “Member of CongressMarcia L. Fudge ¢ Member of Congress ‘Member of Congress Vlome Yow ‘Norma I. Tomes “Member of Congre% Louk, H afb Brendan F. Boyle Memibgr of Congress Seth Mouton Member of Congress Seaciige Boned ‘Member of Congress 3 eS . Sean Pairk Maloney Member of Congress /Member of Congress Dent wDe—~ Hr. Daniel M. Donovan ‘Member of Congress a Michelle Lujan Grisham Member of Congress befedtn Member of Congress Eighien Sinema Member of CongressOs Ancié Canon Mame af Congress bat Melee Lisa Blunt Rochester Member of Congress 4 Lae { Meniber of Congress Cw. k Meatig ‘Aloee I. Hastings ‘Member of Congress Sean Duly ‘Member of Congress Mark 5 “Member of Congress Caen nile ray) c Member of Congress Akan Peter A. DeFazio “Member of Congress 4 ‘Member of Congress “Member of Congress Cok Soar Carol Shea-Porter Member of Congress Raskin ber of Congress ‘Harold Rogers ‘Member of Congress oe Ton Delaney ‘Member of Congress