Nov. 10, 2021
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Jack Rader (R-Monroe) that would assist Pennsylvania residents with drug addictions to receive treatment was unanimously advanced by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee this week.
House Bill 220 will next be considered by the full Senate.
Rader’s proposal would clarify that a person cannot be denied admission to a public or private treatment and rehabilitative facility based solely on a negative drug test. Facilities may still deny treatment for other than clinical reasons to those with a negative test.
“I am pleased this legislation is now one step closer to the finish line,” said Rader. “Unfortunately, the motivation for House Bill 220 was a tragedy that occurred in my own legislative district. A young man wanted to seek help for a drug problem. He allegedly was told a positive drug test was required to be accepted for treatment. So, he decided to use an opioid in order to test positive and suffered a fatal overdose.”
Rader sponsored similar legislation during the last session that passed unanimously in the House but failed to advance in the Senate.
Representative Jack Rader
176th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717-260-6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
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