MAT Act of 2026

This legislative proposal directs the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction to all pregnant women held in federal custody. The primary goal is to ensure that this vulnerable population receives necessary medical care to address opioid use disorder during pregnancy, promoting better health outcomes for both mother and child. A crucial provision of the bill allows for an exception, stating that any pregnant woman who is deemed mentally competent has the right to decline the provision of medication-assisted treatment. This ensures that while treatment is offered as a standard practice, individual autonomy and informed consent are respected within the correctional system.