Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Act of 2018

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to health centers to expand access to evidence-based substance abuse treatment services. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Act of 2018 2. Expanded access to substance abuse treatment services Title V of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 514 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 290bb–7 514A. Expanded access to substance abuse treatment services (a) In general The Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment shall make grants to Federally qualified health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, rehabilitation treatment centers, or residential treatment centers to expand access to substance abuse treatment services for adults, adolescents, and children by— (1) increasing education, screening, care coordination, risk reduction interventions, or counseling regarding the availability of testing, treatment, and clinical management for patients with or at risk of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and other diseases associated with opioid use disorders; (2) enhancing clinical workflow to improve substance abuse treatment services; (3) enhancing the use of health information technologies to improve the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment services and increase patient engagement; (4) educating patients and community members on opioid use disorders, including the use of opioid antagonists in preventing opioid overdose; (5) expanding treatment capacity in rural and underserved communities through the use of telemedicine; (6) providing treatment transition and coverage for patients reentering communities from criminal justice settings or other rehabilitative settings; (7) training and certifying opioid use disorder treatment providers, including physicians, nurses, counselors, social workers, care coordinators, and case managers; (8) supporting innovative delivery of medication-assisted treatment; and (9) enhancing prevention using evidence-based methods proven to reduce the number of persons with opioid use disorders. (b) Priority In awarding grants under this subsection, the Director shall prioritize grants to Federally qualified health centers, substance abuse treatment centers and programs, rehabilitation treatment centers and programs, and residential treatment centers— (1) serving communities with a greater incidence of substance abuse; or (2) providing, or proposing to incorporate, medication-assisted treatment. (c) Requirements (1) Evidence-based, cost-effective Services funded through a grant under this subsection shall be— (A) evidence-based; and (B) cost-effective. (2) Manner of providing services Services funded through a grant under this section— (A) may be provided by the grantee directly or through referrals to other providers with which the grantee has a formal relationship; and (B) shall be provided in a manner reflecting person-centered care. (d) Providers Providers treating patients for substance use disorders pursuant to a grant under this subsection shall be licensed or credentialed, as applicable, in the States involved to treat such patients for such disorders. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) The term Federally qualified health center (2) The term substance abuse treatment services (A) Screening, assessment, and diagnosis, including risk assessment. (B) Patient-centered treatment planning or similar processes, including risk assessment and crisis planning. (C) Outpatient substance use services, including medication-assisted treatment, recovery support services, and related behavioral health services. (D) Targeted case management. (E) Peer support, counselor services, recovery coaching, and family supports. (F) Harm reduction and syringe services programs. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2024. .

Summary: Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to award grants to federally qualified health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, rehabilitation treatment centers, and residential treatment centers to expand access to evidence-based and cost-effective substance abuse treatment services.Priority for grants must be given to centers and programs: (1) serving communities with a greater incidence of substance abuse; or (2) providing, or proposing to incorporate, medication-assisted treatment. Services must be delivered in a manner reflecting person-centered care.