I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1955 

To require the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 

to conduct a study on antipsychotic prescribing practices in nonnursing 

home settings under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 28, 2019 

Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire (for herself, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, and 

Ms. WATERS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To require the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare 

& Medicaid Services to conduct a study on antipsychotic 

prescribing practices in nonnursing home settings under 

the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Understanding Appro5 priate Alzheimer’s Care Act of 2019’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR OF CENTERS 

2 FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES TO 

3 CONDUCT STUDY ON ANTIPSYCHOTIC PRE4 SCRIBING PRACTICES IN NONNURSING HOME 

5 SETTINGS UNDER MEDICARE PROGRAM. 

6 Not later than the date that is 18 months after the 

7 date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 

8 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall, in co9 ordination with the heads of other entities within the De10 partment of Health and Human Services (as determined 

11 appropriate by the Secretary of Health and Human Serv12 ices) and the Comptroller General of the United States— 

13 (1) conduct a study on antipsychotic prescribing 

14 practices in nonnursing home settings under the 

15 Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social 

16 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) that as17 sesses— 

18 (A) whether antipsychotic prescribing prac19 tices in such nonnursing home settings are ap20 propriate or inappropriate; 

21 (B) whether individuals who have been 

22 prescribed antipsychotic medications in such 

23 nonnursing home settings have had improved 

24 health outcomes, taking into account the dura25 tion of any such prescription; 

26 (C) whether physicians— 


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1 (i) are aware of the health risks of 

2 antipsychotic medications for individuals 

3 with Alzheimer’s disease; and 

4 (ii) attempt to use nonpharma5 cological interventions before prescribing 

6 such medications for such individuals; and 

7 (D) whether individuals who have been 

8 prescribed antipsychotic medications in such 

9 nonnursing home settings, and the families of 

10 such individuals, are aware of the health risks 

11 of such medications; and 

12 (2) submit to Congress and the Secretary of 

13 Health and Human Services, and make publicly 

14 available, a report on the findings of such study, in15 cluding recommendations for how inappropriate 

16 antipsychotic prescribing practices in such non17 nursing home settings may be reduced. 

Æ 


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