YOUTH Act

To amend the Public Health Service Act to better address substance use and substance use disorders among young people. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help Act of 2017 YOUTH Act 2. Reauthorization of substance abuse treatment services for children, adolescents, and young adults Section 514 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 290bb–7 (1) in the section heading, by striking children and adolescents children, adolescents, and young adults (2) in subsection (a)(2), by striking children, including children, adolescents, and young adults, including (3) by striking children and adolescents children, adolescents, and young adults 3. Access to medication-assisted treatment for adolescents and young adults demonstration program (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (in this section referred to as the Director (1) expand access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders among adolescents and young adults; (2) identify and test solutions for overcoming barriers to implementation of medication-assisted treatment for adolescents and young adults; or (3) create and distribute resources on medication-assisted treatment training and implementation for providers of health care to children, adolescents, and young adults. (b) Eligible entities To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), an entity shall— (1) be a State, political subdivision of a State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization, professional family medicine provider organization, professional pediatric provider organization or other organization representing providers of health care to children, adolescents, and young adults, professional addiction medicine provider organization, hospital, an institution of higher education, or other appropriate public or nonprofit institution; and (2) certify that it is in compliance with all applicable registration and licensing requirements. (c) Application To seek a grant under this section, an entity shall submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. (d) Duration An eligible entity may receive funds under this section to carry out a demonstration program described in this section for a period of not greater than 3 years. After the first year for which funding is provided to an eligible entity for a demonstration program, funding may be provided under this section for a subsequent year for such program only upon review of such program by the Director and approval by the Director of such subsequent year of funding. (e) Reports (1) By grant recipients Each eligible entity awarded a grant under this section for a demonstration program shall submit to the Director progress reports on such demonstration program at such times, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. (2) By Director Not later than one year after the date on which all demonstration programs funded under this section have been completed, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that— (A) describes the availability of medication-assisted treatment for adolescents and young adults with opioid use disorders in the United States, including barriers to such treatment; (B) describes the specific demonstration programs carried out pursuant to this section; (C) evaluates the effectiveness of such programs; (D) evaluates any unintended consequences of such programs; and (E) provides recommendations for ensuring that medication-assisted treatment is accessible to adolescents and young adults with opioid use disorders. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The phrase adolescents and young adults (2) The term medication-assisted treatment (3) The term opioid use disorder (4) The term pediatric health care provider (5) The term professional family medicine provider organization (6) The term professional pediatric provider organization (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this section.

Summary: Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help Act of 2017 or the YOUTH Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the grant program for substance abuse treatment services for children and adolescents to cover young adults. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) must award grants for demonstration programs to: (1) expand access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders among adolescents and young adults, or (2) create and distribute resources on medication-assisted treatment training and implementation for health care providers of children, adolescents, and young adults. AHRQ must report on the demonstration programs and the availability of medication-assisted treatment for adolescents and young adults. The report must include recommendations for ensuring such treatment is accessible.