Ryan, Brown sponsor bill to aid babies in withdrawal

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown are sponsoring a bipartisan bill to help newborns suffering from neonatal abstinence syndrome, a withdrawal condition often caused by pregnant women who use opioids and other addicting drugs.

The Caring Recovery for Infants and Babies (CRIB) Act would recognize residential pediatric recovery facilities as providers under Medicaid, allowing them to bill Medicaid for the services they offer. The bill does not cost additional money, but allows babies to receive quality care in the best setting.

“Heroin and prescription- drug addiction is destroying lives, disrupting families and destabilizing communities here in Ohio and across our nation,” said Ryan, of Howland, D-13th.

“Too many victims of this epidemic are the infants born to mothers who struggle with addiction,” said Brown, a Cleveland Democrat. He called the recovery facilities a “promising new option.”

Other lead sponsors are Sen. Shelley Moore, a Republican from West Virginia; Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine; and Rep. Mike Turner, a Republican from Dayton.