Where does Obamacare repeal leave fight against opioid abuse?

An issue that is still looming with the new administration is the fate of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Throughout the campaign season, President Doanld Trump pledged to repeal the measure.

During a teleconference Wednesday, U.S. Senator for Virginia Senator Tim Kaine told members of the press he has written a letter to President Trump citing his concerns.

According to Senator Kaine, lawmakers against the repeal are "making progress" convincing colleagues in the Senate that a full repeal without replacement would be detrimental, especially -in terms of fighting the opioid crisis.

He says tens of thousands across the country receive medical care for addiction because of Medicaid expansion, not to mention community health centers which have received funding for services.

"If you repeal the Affordable Care Act without a thoughtful replacement, you're going to push an awful lot of people back out on the street where instead of getting care, they may tempted again to buy heroin or illegally-used prescription opioids in ways that would really, really hurt our communities," explains Senator Kaine.

Congressional briefing sessions on tracking the repeal of Obamacare are slated to begin next week. Key committee leaders are working through proposals and will be involved in those sessions.