HOST Act of 2018

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop guidance on pain management and the prevention of opioid use disorder for hospitals receiving payment under part A of the Medicare program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Hospital Opioid Solutions Toolkit Act of 2018 HOST Act of 2018 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 42 U.S.C. 1395c (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.

Summary: Hospital Opioid Solutions Toolkit Act of 2018 or the HOST Act of 2018 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & 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.