Opioid Workforce Act of 2019

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 2019 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 paragraphs (7) and (8) paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) (2) in paragraph (4)(H)(i), by striking paragraphs (7) and (8) paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) (3) in paragraph (7)(E), by inserting paragraph (9), paragraph (8), (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (9) Distribution of additional residency positions to help combat opioid crisis (A) Additional residency positions During the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 (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 distribute additional full-time-equivalent residency positions to 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 beginning July 1 of the fiscal year of the increase. The aggregate number of additional full-time-equivalent residency positions available for distribution under this paragraph shall be equal to 500 in fiscal year 2022 and 500 over the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2026, distributed in accordance with the succeeding subparagraphs of this paragraph. (B) Distribution for fiscal year 2022 (i) In general For fiscal year 2022, the positions available for distribution for such fiscal year (as 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 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 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. (v) Positions not distributed during fiscal year 2022 If the number of full-time-equivalent residency positions distributed under this subparagraph is less than the aggregate number of positions available for distribution for fiscal year 2022 (as described in subparagraph (A)), the difference between such number distributed and such number available for distribution shall be added to the aggregate number of positions available for distribution under subparagraph (C). (C) Distribution for fiscal years 2023 through 2026 (i) In general For the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2026, the positions available for distribution for such period (as described in subparagraph (A)), and any positions made available pursuant to subparagraph (B)(v), 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 2022 through 2026 is less than 1000, 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 1000. (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 beginning 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)(8) (h)(8), and (h)(9) (2) Conforming provision Section 1886(d)(5)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(B) (A) by redesignating clause (x), as added by section 5505(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( Public Law 111–148 (B) by adding after clause (xi), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), the following new clause: (xii) For discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2022, insofar as an additional payment amount under this subparagraph is attributable to residency positions distributed to a hospital under subsection (h)(9), the indirect teaching adjustment factor shall be computed in the same manner as provided under clause (ii) with respect to such residency positions. . December 24, 2020 Reported from the Committee on Ways and Means December 24, 2020 Committee on Energy and Commerce

Summary: Opioid Workforce Act of 2019 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.