State lawmaker's plan to curb heroin abuse moves forward

The sponsor of the most far-reaching anti-heroin legislation in Springfield this year sparred with a state agency official over the cost of the proposal Wednesday.

State Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat, says he's come up with a compromise that garners support from most medical agencies.

The plan includes increased use of heroin antidotes, better drug education and improvements to the state's Prescription Monitoring Program that ensures patients aren't receiving more opioid pain medication than is needed.

But at a hearing Wednesday, Arvind Goyal, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services medical director, says he's not on board because Lang's plan would be "impossible" for the cash-strapped state.

"We found parts of the bill are good. Some have questionable value, and many are fiscally impossible," Goyal said.

Still, the House committee approved the proposal 8-0, sending it to the full House.

"State agencies don't decide what we're going to pay for, ladies and gentlemen. We decide what we're going to pay for," Lang said. "The members of the House and the Senate decide what we're going to pay for."

Lang says even though he's changed portions of his proposal, the original goals are still intact.

Gov. Bruce Rauner's spokeswoman Catherine Kelly says the governor will work with legislators in curbing the heroin epidemic.

"Heroin is a serious public health threat facing the state of Illinois, and Gov. Rauner looks forward to working with lawmakers on combating this issue," Kelly said.

And while Lang says he hopes Rauner would approve the legislation should it land on his desk, pushback from an agency Rauner directs casts doubt.

"When state agencies come rolling in here talking about their opposition to the bill, they're not sent here by accident," Lang said. "So I'm going to assume the governor of the state of Illinois wants to save lives."