Hospital Opioid Solutions Toolkit Act of 2018

Summary: Hospital Opioid Solutions Toolkit Act of 2018 or the HOST Act of 2018 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to publish guidance for hospitals on pain management and opioid-use disorder prevention strategies for Medicare beneficiaries, including best practices for opioid-use disorder screening, education, and monitoring. 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hospital Opioid Solutions Toolkit 
Act of 2018'' or the ``HOST Act of 2018''.

SEC. 2. DEVELOPING GUIDANCE ON PAIN MANAGEMENT AND OPIOID USE DISORDER 
              PREVENTION FOR HOSPITALS RECEIVING PAYMENT UNDER PART A 
              OF THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than January 1, 2019, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the 
``Secretary'') shall develop and publish on the public website of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidance for hospitals 
receiving payment under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c et seq.) on pain management strategies and opioid 
use disorder prevention strategies with respect to individuals entitled 
to benefits under such part.
    (b) Consultation.--In developing the guidance described in 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with relevant stakeholders, 
including--
            (1) medical professional organizations;
            (2) providers and suppliers of services (as such terms are 
        defined in section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1395x));
            (3) patient advocacy organizations and organizations 
        representing Medicare beneficiaries; and
            (4) other entities determined appropriate by the Secretary.
    (c) Contents.--The guidance described in subsection (a) shall 
include, with respect to hospitals and individuals described in such 
subsection, the following:
            (1) Best practices regarding evidence-based screening and 
        practitioner education initiatives relating to screening and 
        treatment protocols for opioid use disorder, including--
                    (A) methods to identify such individuals at-risk of 
                opioid use disorder, including risk stratification;
                    (B) ways to prevent, recognize, and treat opioid 
                overdoses; and
                    (C) resources available to such individuals, such 
                as opioid treatment programs, peer support groups, and 
                other recovery programs.
            (2) Best practices for such hospitals to educate 
        practitioners furnishing items and services at such hospital 
        with respect to pain management and substance use disorders, 
        including education on--
                    (A) the adverse effects of prolonged opioid use;
                    (B) alternative, evidence-based, non-
                pharmacological pain management treatments;
                    (C) monitoring programs for individuals who have 
                been prescribed opioids; and
                    (D) the prescribing of naloxone along with an 
                initial opioid prescription.
            (3) Best practices for such hospitals to make such 
        individuals aware of the risks associated with opioid use 
        (which may include use of the notification template described 
        in paragraph (4)).
            (4) A notification template developed by the Secretary for 
        such individuals who are prescribed an opioid that--
                    (A) explains the risks and side effects associated 
                with opioid use (including the risks of addiction and 
                overdose) and the importance of adhering to the 
                prescribed treatment regimen, avoiding medications that 
                may have an adverse interaction with such opioid, and 
                storing such opioid safely and securely;
                    (B) highlights multimodal and evidence-based non-
                opioid alternatives for pain management;
                    (C) encourages such individuals to talk to their 
                health care providers about such alternatives;
                    (D) provides for a method (through signature or 
                otherwise) for such an individual, or person acting on 
                such individual's behalf, to acknowledge receipt of 
                such notification template;
                    (E) is worded in an easily understandable manner 
                and made available in multiple languages determined 
                appropriate by the Secretary; and
                    (F) includes any other information determined 
                appropriate by the Secretary.
            (5) Best practices for such hospital to track opioid 
        prescribing trends by practitioners furnishing items and 
        services at such hospital, including--
                    (A) ways for such hospital to establish target 
                levels with respect to opioids prescribed by such 
                practitioners;
                    (B) guidance on checking the medical records of 
                such individuals against information included in 
                prescription drug monitoring programs;
                    (C) strategies to reduce long-term opioid 
                prescriptions; and
                    (D) methods to identify such practitioners who may 
                be over-prescribing opioids.
            (6) Other information the Secretary determines appropriate, 
        including any such information from the Opioid Safety 
        Initiative established by the Department of Veterans Affairs or 
        the Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit published by the 
        Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.