Titan Pharmaceuticals Inc (TTNP)

[Doctor Detroit]

Well, they didn't call for any level of funding, and my first response was that would have been a useful benchmark to include to measure the government's response. But the more I see actual effect of the government's response to the opioid epidemic, the more I believe that block grants of money to the States are just wasted. It is not spent on treatment. Instead, they spend it on more state funded counselors, ad campaigns, education centers...on jobs and political favors to political appointees rather than getting medicine to addicts. Those appointees are sure to be campaign workers for the governor who got them the job, etc. That's the problem with giving states/governors money. They use it to solidify their own political position, not on medicine.

The report pushes "evidence based" treatment (Mediciation Assisted Treatment), which is good.

The thing I liked the most was the detailed section on enforcing the Mental Health Parity Laws. And the comments by the Secretary of Labor at the final public meeting. He is itching for the power to go after insurance companies. Right now, the Federal Government doesn't have the standing to go after the insurance companies...its up to each State's insurance commissioner. Most state insurance commissioners come from the insurance industry!!! It's all politics...they are they as a quid pro quo for insurance company campaign contributions to state politicians, and basically what they do is make sure that insurance companies don't have to follow the law.

Giving the federal government the power to go after state insurance plants to enforce the Mental Health Parity laws would be huge. No more "prior approvals" or other "administrative burdens" that are slowing down probuphine sales.