Methadone clinic bill passes committee

by Conrad Wilson, Minnesota Public Radio

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A bill that would further regulate methadone treatment clinics in Minnesota was approved by a Senate committee following a hearing Monday night.

The bill would make the state's Department of Human Services the primary regulator for the clinics by brining state regulations in line with federal standards.

Methadone is used as a pain killer, but is to treat addictions for opiate drugs like heroin.

The bill's co-author, Republican Sen. Julie Rosen, said it tries to address a series of issues facing people who need methadone for treatment, while increasing regulations.

"We have a situation with transportation, especially in greater Minnesota where these people need to get their drugs for this addiction and we have these great distances and a huge cost on providing this treatment to them," Rosen said.

A companion bill will be heard Tuesday afternoon in the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee.