Mississippi House Bill HB718

Mississippi 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/25
• Refer: 1/15/25
• Failed: 2/4/25

Caption

Opioid use disorder; require substance use disorder facilities to provide pregnant women with onsite access to certain treatments.

Impact

The bill is set to impact state laws concerning the treatment of opioid use disorder, particularly for pregnant women. By defining the parameters around onsite access and the types of treatments that must be available, the legislation intends to enhance the quality and immediacy of care for expectant mothers. This move is seen as fundamental in promoting maternal and fetal health, thereby supporting wider public health objectives. Facilities that do not comply with the mandate will need to provide progress reports on their compliance status, introducing an element of accountability to ensure adherence to the new requirements.

Summary

House Bill 718 establishes new requirements for substance use disorder facilities that provide treatment for opioid use disorder to pregnant women. The bill mandates that these facilities must offer onsite access to at least one FDA-approved form of opioid agonist treatment for pregnant patients. This requirement aims to improve the availability of critical opioid treatments in facilities specifically providing care to pregnant women suffering from opioid use disorder, addressing a significant gap in healthcare service delivery for this vulnerable population.

Contention

Although the bill is primarily aimed at improving treatment access, some contention may arise regarding the practicalities of compliance, especially concerning the definitions of onsite access and the burden placed on facilities. Critics worry that the financial and logistical implications of maintaining onsite treatment options could strain resources in already limited mental health facilities. Additionally, there are concerns about the ability of facilities to attain necessary FDA approvals for the mandated treatments, which could complicate the implementation of the bill and create disparities in care availability across regions.