What We're Reading: Senate Opioid Bills; Michigan's Medicaid Work Requirements; Missouri Abortion Ruling

Senate Readying Package of Opioid Bills

Michigan Asks Trump Administration to Approve Medicaid Work Requirements

Missouri Wins Federal Court Case Allowing It to Further Regulate Doctors, Clinics Providing Abortions

The Senate appears ready to pass a package of opioid bills this week, The New York Times reported. It includes one that will try to prevent the shipment of fentanyl and other opioids to the United States from China through the mail; one that accelerates research to develop nonaddictive painkillers and other alternatives to opioids; one that allows the FDA to stipulate that opioids be sealed in plastic blister packs or limiting supply; and one that authorizes Medicaid payment for infants born exposed to opioids at special treatment centers. If approved, the Senate bill would be reconciled with the previously passed House measure.Michigan is asking for the Trump administration’s approval for work requirements for Medicaid, and said if the proposal is not approved it will end its Medicaid expansion. The Hill reported that under the state’s proposal, beneficiaries between the ages of 19 to 62 will have to work, volunteer, or train for jobs for at least 80 hours a month. There are 12 exemptions to the requirements. Michigan wants to start the program in 2020. If approved, Michigan would become the fifth state with Medicaid work requirements.The 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a 2017 ruling that blocked enforcement of a Missouri law that kept the state from enforcing new regulations on doctors providing abortions, Reuters reported. The law requires doctors who perform abortions to be affiliated with hospitals and abortion clinics to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers. Planned Parenthood sued the state over the law in 2016.