​As part of Governor Holcomb’s five-pillar plan to take Indiana to the next level, the Governor put the weight of his administration behind Senate Enrolled Act 226 (Prescribing and Dispensing of Opioids). SEA 226 was authored by Senator Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis), a strong advocate for a comprehensive plan to tackle the state’s addiction issues. Senator Merritt and other legislators passed other bills in the 2017 session of the Indiana General Assembly related to the opioid crisis and substance abuse treatment, and you can read more about this legislation here.

IHA and the Indiana State Medical Association (ISMA) worked with Senator Merritt and the Governor’s team to craft legislation which aims to reduce risks of long-term opioid reliance and potential addiction by limiting the amount of certain medication that can be prescribed in acute pain situations. See the main components of 226 here.