State legislators plan to examine West Virginia methadone clinics' operations over the coming year, after a proposal to tax the medication caused a stir.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State legislators plan to examine West Virginia methadone clinics' operations over the coming year, after a proposal to tax the medication caused a stir.
In February, several delegates proposed a $1 tax on clinics for each dose of methadone they distribute. The money would help fund addiction prevention, treatment and recovery programs.
Methadone is used to treat addiction to narcotics such as heroin and OxyContin. Last month, patients and clinic employees spoke out at a public hearing and with phone calls and faxes to lawmakers, calling the proposed tax "discriminatory."
In the meantime, the bill died in the committee process. Now, some lawmakers want to study methadone clinics over their interim meetings to see exactly how a tax would impact business operations and patient care.
On Thursday, House Health and Human Resources Chairman Don Perdue, D-Wayne, said "procedural problems" and time constraints doomed the bill (HB2027).
He and others say West Virginia lacks comprehensive recovery programs. About 5,000 people a day receive methadone treatment in West Virginia, but less than 300 have access to in-patient recovery care.
Unlike some bordering states, West Virginia's nine clinics are for-profit businesses, and many people believe the clinics are profitable enough to absorb a tax without hurting either their business operations or patient care, Perdue said.
If legislators had the details from a study, "it would give us some informed confidence that any action we take in the future, we can defend," Perdue said.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State legislators plan to examine West Virginia methadone clinics' operations over the coming year, after a proposal to tax the medication caused a stir.
In February, several delegates proposed a $1 tax on clinics for each dose of methadone they distribute. The money would help fund addiction prevention, treatment and recovery programs.
Methadone is used to treat addiction to narcotics such as heroin and OxyContin. Last month, patients and clinic employees spoke out at a public hearing and with phone calls and faxes to lawmakers, calling the proposed tax "discriminatory."
In the meantime, the bill died in the committee process. Now, some lawmakers want to study methadone clinics over their interim meetings to see exactly how a tax would impact business operations and patient care.
On Thursday, House Health and Human Resources Chairman Don Perdue, D-Wayne, said "procedural problems" and time constraints doomed the bill (HB2027).
He and others say West Virginia lacks comprehensive recovery programs. About 5,000 people a day receive methadone treatment in West Virginia, but less than 300 have access to in-patient recovery care.
Unlike some bordering states, West Virginia's nine clinics are for-profit businesses, and many people believe the clinics are profitable enough to absorb a tax without hurting either their business operations or patient care, Perdue said.
If legislators had the details from a study, "it would give us some informed confidence that any action we take in the future, we can defend," Perdue said.
An interim study likely would start in June if the Legislature approves one, Perdue said.
Among other things, Perdue wants to know how many people return time and again to the clinics, and how carefully doctors follow up with patients.
One of the bill's sponsors, Delegate Ralph Rodighiero, D-Logan, said Thursday that some delegates "backed off" the plan after it became clear the patients would be hit with the tax.
"It was the fact that [the clinics] stated they were going to hand the cost down to the patients," he said.
Angela Wagner, regional director for CRC Health Group, which owns seven methadone clinics in West Virginia, said the company had no comment.
The Logan County Democrat said the bill was never intended to hurt patients, but to help fund options other than methadone clinics.
"We want all the patients to live a drug-free life," Rodighiero said.
Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1240.
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