The Case for SPENCER’s Law:

Safety Protocols, Ethics, and Needs-Based Care for Effective Recovery

 

SPENCER’s Law establishes a national framework to address the overdose crisis by codifying fiduciary responsibility—an ethical standard requiring providers to put patients first. It prioritizes safety, evidence-based care, and accountability, while promoting cost-effective reform with bipartisan appeal.

 

Why It Matters

• Overdose is a leading cause of death for individuals under 40.

• The economic burden exceeds $1.5 trillion annually in the U.S.

• MAT reduces overdose mortality by up to 50%, yet only 1 in 5 patients receive it.

• Early recovery is high-risk: low tolerance, high relapse, and powerful street drugs.

 

What SPENCER’s Law Does

Fiduciary Standards

• Requires providers to act in the patient's best interest.

• Codifies duties of care, prudence, disclosure, and overdose prevention.

Safety Protocols

• Prohibits discharge without safety plans.

• Embeds harm reduction across care transitions.

• Authorizes short-term safety holds to protect patients.

Accountability

• Protects against negligence, fraud, and exploitation.

• Promotes evidence-based practices with minimal taxpayer burden.

• Empowers oversight agencies to enforce standards.

Care Coordination

• Sets expectations for provider collaboration.

• Requires communication with HIPAA-approved family members.

• Utilizes peer support during transitions.

 

Strategic Impact

• Cost-Effective: Minimal upfront costs, long-term savings.

• Grounded in Harm Reduction: Expands life-saving tools.

• Bipartisan Appeal: Saves lives, protects families, holds private actors accountable.

• Foundational: Establishes principles for broader behavioral health reform.

 

Call to Action

Delaying action costs lives and deepens the economic burden. By supporting SPENCER’s Law, legislators and advocates can lead a bipartisan effort to codify safety standards and protect millions of Americans in recovery.