Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on October 1, 2015.  Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review its activities related to prenatal opioid use, including neonatal abstinence syndrome, and develop a strategy to address gaps in research and gaps and overlap in programs. (An opioid is a drug with effects similar to opium, such as heroin or certain pain medications. Neonatal abstinence syndrome is withdrawal in a newborn.) (Sec. 3) HHS must conduct a study and develop recommendations for preventing and treating prenatal opioid use disorders, including the effects of those disorders on infants. HHS must publish a report that includes:  an assessment of existing research on neonatal abstinence syndrome; an evaluation of the causes, and barriers to treatment, of opioid use disorders among women of reproductive age and recommendations on preventing opioid use disorders in these women; an evaluation of, and recommendations on, treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorders and the effects of prenatal opioid use on infants; and an evaluation of the differences in prenatal opioid use between demographic groups and recommendations on reducing disparities.  (Sec. 4) HHS may continue providing technical assistance: (1) to states and Indian tribes to improve neonatal abstinence syndrome surveillance; and (2) to states to support implementation of effective public health measures, such as disseminating information to educate the public on prenatal opioid use and neonatal abstinence syndrome.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Our Infants Act of 
2015''.
SEC. 2. ADDRESSING PROBLEMS RELATED TO PRENATAL OPIOID USE.
    (a) Review of Programs.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a review 
of planning and coordination related to prenatal opioid use, including 
neonatal abstinence syndrome, within the agencies of the Department of 
Health and Human Services.
    (b) Strategy.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
develop a strategy to address gaps in research and gaps, overlap, and 
duplication among Federal programs, including those identified in 
findings made by reports of the Government Accountability Office. Such 
strategy shall address--
        (1) gaps in research, including with respect to--
            (A) the most appropriate treatment of pregnant women with 
        opioid use disorders;
            (B) the most appropriate treatment and management of 
        infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome; and
            (C) the long-term effects of prenatal opioid exposure on 
        children;
        (2) gaps, overlap, or duplication in--
            (A) substance use disorder treatment programs for pregnant 
        and postpartum women; and
            (B) treatment program options for newborns with neonatal 
        abstinence syndrome;
        (3) gaps, overlap, or duplication in Federal efforts related to 
    education about, and prevention of, neonatal abstinence syndrome; 
    and
        (4) coordination of Federal efforts to address neonatal 
    abstinence syndrome.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report concerning 
the findings of the review conducted under subsection (a) and the 
strategy developed under subsection (b).
SEC. 3. DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTING AND TREATING PRENATAL 
OPIOID USE DISORDERS.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a study and develop 
recommendations for preventing and treating prenatal opioid use 
disorders, including the effects of such disorders on infants. In 
carrying out this subsection the Secretary shall--
        (1) take into consideration--
            (A) the review and strategy conducted and developed under 
        section 2; and
            (B) the lessons learned from previous opioid epidemics; and
        (2) solicit input from States, localities, and Federally 
    recognized Indian tribes or tribal organizations (as defined in the 
    Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
    450b)), and nongovernmental entities, including organizations 
    representing patients, health care providers, hospitals, other 
    treatment facilities, and other entities, as appropriate.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall make available on the appropriate 
Internet Website of the Department of Health and Human Services a 
report on the recommendations under subsection (a). Such report shall 
address each of the issues described in subsection (c).
    (c) Contents.--The recommendations described in subsection (a) and 
the report under subsection (b) shall include--
        (1) a comprehensive assessment of existing research with 
    respect to the prevention, identification, treatment, and long-term 
    outcomes of neonatal abstinence syndrome, including the 
    identification and treatment of pregnant women or women who may 
    become pregnant who use opioids or have opioid use disorders;
        (2) an evaluation of--
            (A) the causes of, and risk factors for, opioid use 
        disorders among women of reproductive age, including pregnant 
        women;
            (B) the barriers to identifying and treating opioid use 
        disorders among women of reproductive age, including pregnant 
        and postpartum women and women with young children;
            (C) current practices in the health care system to respond 
        to, and treat, pregnant women with opioid use disorders and 
        infants affected by such disorders;
            (D) medically indicated uses of opioids during pregnancy;
            (E) access to treatment for opioid use disorders in 
        pregnant and postpartum women; and
            (F) access to treatment for infants with neonatal 
        abstinence syndrome; and
            (G) differences in prenatal opioid use and use disorders in 
        pregnant women between demographic groups; and
        (3) recommendations on--
            (A) preventing, identifying, and treating the effects of 
        prenatal opioid use on infants;
            (B) treating pregnant women who have opioid use disorders;
            (C) preventing opioid use disorders among women of 
        reproductive age, including pregnant women, who may be at risk 
        of developing opioid use disorders; and
            (D) reducing disparities in opioid use disorders among 
        pregnant women.
SEC. 4. IMPROVING DATA AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE.
    The Secretary may continue activities, as appropriate, related to--
        (1) providing technical assistance to support States and 
    Federally recognized Indian Tribes in collecting information on 
    neonatal abstinence syndrome through the utilization of existing 
    surveillance systems and collaborating with States and Federally 
    recognized Indian Tribes to improve the quality, consistency, and 
    collection of such data; and
        (2) providing technical assistance to support States in 
    implementing effective public health measures, such as 
    disseminating information to educate the public, health care 
    providers, and other stakeholders on prenatal opioid use and 
    neonatal abstinence syndrome.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.