Opioid Workforce Act of 2021

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the distribution of additional residency positions to help combat the opioid crisis. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Opioid Workforce Act of 2021 2. Distribution of additional residency positions to help combat opioid crisis (a) In general Section 1886(h) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h) (1) in paragraph (4)(F)(i), by striking and (9) (9), and (10) (2) in paragraph (4)(H)(i), by striking and (9) (9), and (10) (3) in paragraph (7)(E), by inserting paragraph (10), paragraph (9), (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (10) Distribution of additional residency positions to help combat opioid crisis (A) Additional residency positions For each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 (and succeeding fiscal years if the Secretary determines that there are additional full-time equivalent residency positions available to distribute under subparagraph (D)), the Secretary shall increase the otherwise applicable resident limit for each qualifying hospital that submits a timely application under this paragraph by such number as the Secretary may approve, effective for portions of cost reporting periods occurring on or after July 1 of the fiscal year of the increase. The aggregate number of additional full-time equivalent resident positions available for distribution under this paragraph shall be equal to 1,000, distributed in accordance with the succeeding subparagraphs of this paragraph. (B) Distribution for fiscal year 2024 (i) In general For fiscal year 2024, 500 of the positions described in subparagraph (A) may only be distributed to hospitals that have established (as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph) approved programs in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine, as determined by the Secretary. (ii) Considerations in distribution The Secretary shall distribute additional residency positions under this subparagraph based on the demonstrated likelihood (as determined by the Secretary) of the hospital filling such positions. (iii) Requirements A hospital that receives an increase in the otherwise applicable resident limit under this subparagraph shall ensure, during the 5-year period beginning after the date of such increase, that the hospital uses the positions made available under this subparagraph for a program described in clause (i) or a program that is a prerequisite (as determined by the Secretary) for such a program so described, such as internal medicine. The Secretary may determine whether a hospital has met the requirements under this clause during such 5-year period in such manner and at such time as the Secretary determines appropriate, including at the end of such 5-year period. (iv) Redistribution of positions if hospital no longer meets certain requirements In the case in which the Secretary determines that a hospital described in clause (iii) does not meet the requirements of such clause, the Secretary shall— (I) reduce the otherwise applicable resident limit of the hospital by the amount by which such limit was increased under this subparagraph; and (II) provide for the distribution of positions attributable to such reduction in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph. (C) Distribution for fiscal years 2025 through 2028 (i) In general For the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2028, 500 of the positions available for distribution under subparagraph (A) shall be distributed to hospitals which demonstrate to the Secretary that the hospital has established or will establish an approved residency training program in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine. (ii) Considerations in distribution The Secretary shall distribute additional residency positions under this subparagraph based on the demonstrated likelihood, as determined by the Secretary, of the hospital filling such positions within the first 4 training years (as specified by the Secretary) after the increase would be effective. (iii) Requirements A hospital that receives an increase in the otherwise applicable resident limit under this subparagraph shall ensure, during the 5-year period beginning after the date of such increase, that the hospital uses the positions made available under this subparagraph for a program described in clause (i) or a program that is a prerequisite (as determined by the Secretary) for such a program so described, such as internal medicine. The Secretary may determine whether a hospital has met the requirements under this clause during such 5-year period in such manner and at such time as the Secretary determines appropriate, including at the end of such 5-year period. (iv) Redistribution of positions if hospital no longer meets certain requirements In the case where the Secretary determines that a hospital described in clause (iii) does not meet the requirements of such clause, the Secretary shall— (I) reduce the otherwise applicable resident limit of the hospital by the amount by which such limit was increased under this subparagraph; and (II) provide for the distribution of positions attributable to such reduction in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph. (D) Distribution of remaining positions If the aggregate number of positions distributed under subparagraphs (B) and (C) during the period of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 is less than 500, the Secretary shall distribute the remaining residency positions in succeeding fiscal years according to criteria consistent with this paragraph until such time as the aggregate amount of positions distributed under this paragraph is equal to 500. (E) Limitation An individual hospital may not receive more than 25 full-time equivalent residency positions under this paragraph. (F) Notification The Secretary shall notify hospitals of the number of positions distributed to the hospital under this paragraph as a result of an increase in the otherwise applicable resident limit by January 1 of the fiscal year of the increase. Such increase shall be effective for portions of cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1 of that fiscal year. (G) Application of per resident amounts for primary care and nonprimary care With respect to additional residency positions in a hospital attributable to the increase provided under this paragraph, the approved FTE per resident amounts are deemed to be equal to the hospital per resident amounts for primary care and nonprimary care computed under paragraph (2)(D) for that hospital. (H) Permitting facilities to apply aggregation rules The Secretary shall permit hospitals receiving additional residency positions attributable to the increase provided under this paragraph to, beginning in the fifth year after the effective date of such increase, apply such positions to the limitation amount under paragraph (4)(F) that may be aggregated pursuant to paragraph (4)(H) among members of the same affiliated group. (I) Clarification Chapter 35 (J) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Otherwise applicable resident limit The term otherwise applicable resident limit (ii) Resident level The term resident level . (b) IME (1) In general Section 1886(d)(5)(B)(v) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(B)(v) and (h)(9) (h)(9), and (h)(10) (2) Conforming provision Section 1886(d)(5)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(B) (xiii) For discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2024, insofar as an additional payment amount under this subparagraph is attributable to resident positions distributed to a hospital under subsection (h)(10), the indirect teaching adjustment factor shall be computed in the same manner as provided under clause (ii) with respect to such resident positions. .

Summary: Opioid Workforce Act of 2021 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for hospitals that have addiction or pain medicine programs, with an aggregate increase of 1,000 positions over a five-year period.