OCAN's Partnership with Savage Sisters Made Official Today with Tour and Donation

OCAN co-founders, Heather and Larry Arata, visited one of Savage Sisters' recovery homes in South Philly today and met with the Property Manager, Brandy Hamilton, House Manager, Missy Fulmer, and two residents. We asked a lot of questions about their policies and received a tour. They adhere to all best practices and provide many services critical to their residents' recovery journeys. The Aratas provided a $1,580 donation on behalf of their non-profit, the Opioid Crisis Action Network, to cover the first month's rent for the next two incoming residents. OCAN looks forward to a long partnership with this outstanding organization. Stay Savage!

Savagesisters.org

Please call PA Senator Michele Brooks (R-Erie), Chairperson of the Health and Services Committee, ASAP!

OCAN Teammates,

Please call PA Senator Michele Brooks (R-Erie), Chairperson of the Health and Services Committee, ASAP, and ask her (or leave a message for her, asking her to) vote SB 975 and SB 976 to the floor. As the Committee Chair, she has the power to do so or kill the bills in her committee.

Her office phone number is 717-787-1322.

SB 975 forbids the denial of treatment and coverage for treatment to anyone due to their sobriety status at the time of reporting for treatment. My son, Brendan Arata was denied coverage by Independence Blue Cross because he was sober when he reported to Mirmont suffering from urges to relapse. Mirmont wanted to admit him but IBC refused to cover his admittance because they deemed it "not medically necessary." With thousands of people dying as a result of overdoses suffered after a relapse, this practice is tantamount to accessory to murder. This is a life-saving bill.

SB 976 mandates that the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) send a survey / questionnaire to all treatment centers and recovery homes in the state requesting information about the services they provide, qualifications of their staff and outcomes of their patients and residents, and publish on their website the information they receive. Those who do not respond will be listed as "did not respond." It is similar to a Department of Education practice which sends surveys / questionnaires to all childcare centers in the state and publishes results on their website. Parents can evaluate childcare centers by zip code. DDAP should provide basic information about treatment centers and recovery homes. This life-saving bill will provide transparency to prospective patients and residents, and their loved ones, evaluating treatment centers and recovery homes. When we were searching for a recovery home for Brendan, there was no reliable source of information. This life-saving bill mandates that there will be a place to start.

If you have any questions, please call me at 610-290-3934.

Again, please call Senator Brooks and ask her to vote these two life-saving bills to the Senate floor. Please also forward this email to your friends and share it on your Facebook page.

Sincerely,

Larry Arata

Co-founder,

Opioid Crisis Action Network

610-290-3934

OCAN Co-Founders, Heather and Larry Arata Testify before PA Senate Democratic Policy Committee 12/6/21

Heather Griggs Arata and I testified before the PA Senate Democratic Policy Committee, chaired by Katie Muth 12/6/21. Our testimony begins at about 10:08 on the recording. Click on the 12/6 meeting to access the video and the written testimony of all the wonderful speakers who appeared that day. Thank you Senators Muth, Schwank and Tartaglione for hosting us and supporting our two bills, SB 975 and 976.

Senatormuth.com/policy

Join OCAN Co-Founders, Heather and Larry Arata, via Zoom as they testify 12/6/21 at 10:00 AM before the PA Senate Democratic Policy Committee Meeting

The PA Senate Democratic policy hearing hosted by Senators Muth, Schwank and Tartaglione tomorrow, 12/6/21, at 10:AM, will explore how best to evaluate and improve drug treatment centers in Pennsylvania. It will feature testifiers, Heather Griggs Arata and Larry Arata, Co-founders of the Opioid Crisis Action Network, who have first-hand experience dealing with drug treatment centers, treatment providers, and statewide and local experts who can offer solutions. Choosing a drug treatment center is a decision of considerable importance. Individuals or loved ones seeking a treatment center want an idea of how successful they’ve been in getting and keeping patients sober. The Policy Committee hearing will look into what can be done to make sure people have all the information they need about a center before they move forward with treatment. This will make sure they can find a center that will be the best for their individual circumstance.

The hearing will begin 10:00 am in room 118-120 at the Schmidt Technology Center on the campus of the Reading Area Community College located at 10 S. 2nd Street in Reading. There will also be a virtual option.

Register in advance for the virtual option here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkcOqvrDIpEtX6pSRn9hiXlG4t1XGFbhNn

Have a good weekend everyone. I look forward to seeing you all on Monday!

Gareth Alister Orme (He/Him/His)

Executive Director, Democratic Caucus Policy Committee

Office of Senator Katie Muth - Chair, Democratic Caucus Policy Committee

District: 338 Main St. Royersford, PA 19468

Capitol: 185 MC | Senate Box 203044. Harrisburg, PA 17120

Mobile: (610) 290-6475

Office: (610) 792-2137

Email: gareth.orme@pasenate.com