- Senate Health Committee Releases Draft of Bipartisan Opioid Bill The Hill by Rachel Roubein — Senate Health Committee leaders released Wednesday a bipartisan discussion draft of a bill aimed at combating the opioid epidemic — legislation that's the result of six hearings over the past six months. The panel will hold a hearing next week on the draft aimed at stemming the crisis killing thousands of people each year. It includes measures attempting to make it easier to prescribe smaller packs of opioids for limited durations, spur the development of non-addictive painkillers and bolster the detection of illegal drugs at the border.