; (3) traditional fee-for-service Medicare remains a plan option; (4) Medicare provides additional assistance for lower-income beneficiaries and those with greater health risks; and (5) Medicare spending is put on a sustainable path and becomes solvent over the long term. 512. Policy statement on combating the opioid epidemic (a) Findings The House finds the following: (1) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 91 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose. (2) Nearly half of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid. (3) Since 1999, the number of prescription opioids sold in the U.S. has nearly quadrupled. (4) Since 1999, the number of deaths from prescription opioids has more than quadrupled. (5) The CDC asserts that improving opioid prescribing practices will reduce exposure to opioids, prevent abuse, and stop addiction. (6) The CDC has found that individuals in rural counties are almost twice as likely to overdose on prescription painkillers as those in urban areas. (7) According to the CDC, nearly 7,000 people are treated in emergency rooms every day for using opioids in a non-approved manner. (8) The 21st Century Cures Act and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act were signed into law in the 114th Congress in an overwhelming display of congressional and executive branch support in the fight against the opioid epidemic. (9) Bipartisan efforts to eliminate opioid abuse and provide relief from addiction for all Americans should continue. (b) Policy on opioid abuse It is the policy of this concurrent resolution that— (1) combating opioid abuse using available budgetary resources remains a high priority; (2) the House, in a bipartisan manner, should continue to examine the Federal response to the opioid abuse epidemic and support essential activities to reduce and prevent substance abuse; (3) the House should continue to support initiatives included in the 21st Century Cures Act and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act