Bill aims to reduce prenatal opioid abuse and neonatal abstinence syndrome; National Coalition for Infant Health urges President to sign legislation
WASHINGTON, November 20, 2015 – Today, the National Coalition for Infant Health (NCfIH) made the following statement regarding the final passage of the Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015. The bill, championed by Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), will require federal and state health care agencies to work together closely to monitor and reduce opioid abuse cases and the subsequent problems that infants face when they have been exposed to these addictive drugs during gestation.
The House unanimously passed the bill earlier this week. The bill previously passed the Senate at the end of October. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.
STATEMENT FROM MITCHELL GOLDSTEIN, M.D., MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR INFANT HEALTH:
“As health care providers and patient advocates for our nation’s infants, we are thrilled to see that Congress passed this important legislation to help protect our nation’s most vulnerable infants. We are thankful for Rep. Clark’s leadership, along with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Bob Casey, and look forward to President Obama signing this bill into law.”
The National Coalition for Infant Health educates and advocates on behalf of premature infants from birth to age two. NCfIH envisions safe, healthy infants whose families can access the information, care and treatment their babies need.
NCfIH is a collaborative of professional, clinical, community health, and family support organizations focused on improving the lives of premature infants and their families. NCfIH's mission is to promote lifelong clinical, health, education, and supportive services needed by premature infants and their families. www.infanthealth.org
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