Christie silently steers opioid panel into a ditch -- Editorial
Updated on June 20, 2017 at 6:31 AM Posted on June 20, 2017 at 6:30 AM
BY STAR-LEDGER EDITORIAL BOARD eletters@starledger.com
The new commission charged with finding solutions for the opioid crisis -- formed by President Trump, and chaired by Gov. Christie -- was a few minutes into its first hearing Friday, when one member reminded the panel what time it is.
It is high noon: "We're kidding ourselves if we don't think that what is happening over in Congress regarding issues of health care matters to this issue," said Gov. Roy Cooper (D-N.C.), referring to the Medicaid debate. "If we make it harder for people to get health care coverage, it's going to make this crisis worse."
Another panelist, former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, called Medicaid the "elephant in the room. It's the largest provider of coverage for people with mental illness and addiction in this country. So we have to mention that any repeal of Medicaid is a repeal of coverage that we currently have out there."
Dr. Joe Parks, the medical director for the National Council for Behavioral Health, also pointed out that "since the majority of increased opiate deaths and suicide occur in young and middle-aged adults - which is the expansion population - the Medicaid expansions must be maintained and completed."
And here is what we heard on this subject from the commission's Chairman:
(Crickets.)
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