Renewed funding for ALTO program developed in Paterson hospital reported to full committee
Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today thanked his colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Health Subcommittee for their swift and unanimous reauthorization of the Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act. Led by Pascrell, ALTO encourages the use of non-opioid treatments in emergency departments throughout the country. Language from Pascrell’s bill, the bipartisan H.R.4846, the ALTO Reauthorization Act, to upgrade the ALTO program from a pilot to a full permanent program was included in a larger Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder legislative package led by E&C Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06).
“I want to thank my friend and colleague Chairman Frank Pallone for his steadfast leadership in advancing renewed funding for my bipartisan ALTO program. Opioids have had a dire and devastating effect on communities nationwide. This program takes the fight directly to the source and helps save lives. I am thrilled the Energy and Commerce Committee has agreed to make the program permanent and reauthorize it for another five years,” said Congressman Pascrell. “This remarkable program was pioneered by the heroes at Saint Joseph’s Health in Paterson, New Jersey. Once I learned about their work, we collaborated on legislation to implement their program nationwide. We first got ALTO passed in 2018 and I’ll continue to ensure it receives the funding it requires each and every year.”
The ALTO Demonstration program is modeled on an initiative pioneered by St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey that reduces the use of opioids in emergency departments. Congressman Pascrell was the primary sponsor of H.R. 5197 which established the ALTO program and has worked to increase annual funding for the program since its enactment. He most recently led the request for $10 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2023. Pascrell was joined on the original bill by Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), David B. McKinley (R-WV-01), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02).
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