Ensuring Patient Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatments Act of 2018

To amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide for the delivery of a controlled substance by a pharmacy to an administering practitioner. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Patient Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatments Act of 2018 2. Delivery of a controlled substance by a pharmacy to be administered by injection, implantation, or intrathecal pump (a) In general The Controlled Substances Act is amended by inserting after section 309 ( 21 U.S.C. 829 309A. Delivery of a controlled substance by a pharmacy to an administering practitioner (a) In general Notwithstanding section 102(10), a pharmacy may deliver (pursuant to a registration under subsection (f) or (g) of section 303, as applicable) a controlled substance to a practitioner in accordance with a prescription that meets the requirements of this title and the regulations issued by the Attorney General under this title, for the purpose of administering of the controlled substance by the practitioner if— (1) the controlled substance is delivered by the pharmacy to the prescribing practitioner or the practitioner administering the controlled substance, as applicable, at the location listed on the practitioner’s certificate of registration issued under this title; (2) (A) in the case of administering of the controlled substance for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment under section 303(g)(2)— (i) the practitioner who issued the prescription is a qualifying practitioner authorized under, and acting within the scope of, that section; and (ii) the controlled substance is to be administered by injection or implantation; or (B) in the case of administering of the controlled substance for a purpose other than maintenance or detoxification treatment, the controlled substance is to be administered by a practitioner through use of an intrathecal pump; (3) the pharmacy and the practitioner are authorized to conduct the activities specified in this section under the law of the State in which such activities take place; (4) the prescription is not issued to supply any practitioner with a stock of controlled substances for the purpose of general dispensing to patients; (5) except as provided in subsection (b), the controlled substance is to be administered only to the patient named on the prescription not later than 14 days after the date of receipt of the controlled substance by the practitioner; and (6) notwithstanding any exceptions under section 307, the prescribing practitioner, and the practitioner administering the controlled substance, as applicable, maintain complete and accurate records of all controlled substances delivered, received, administered, or otherwise disposed of under this section, including the persons to whom controlled substances were delivered and such other information as may be required by regulations of the Attorney General. (b) Modification of number of days before which controlled substance shall be administered (1) Initial 2-year period During the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this section, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary, may reduce the number of days described in subsection (a)(5) if the Attorney General determines that such reduction will— (A) reduce the risk of diversion; or (B) protect the public health. (2) Modifications after submission of report After the date on which the report described in subsection (c) is submitted, the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary, may modify the number of days described in subsection (a)(5). (3) Minimum number of days A modification under this subsection may not modify the number of days specified in subsection (a)(5) to fewer than 7. . (b) Study and report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on access to and potential diversion of controlled substances administered by injection, implantation, or through the use of an intrathecal pump. (c) Technical and conforming amendment The table of contents for the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 309 the following: Sec. 309A. Delivery of a controlled substance by a pharmacy to an administering practitioner. .

Summary: Ensuring Patient Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatments Act of 2018 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow a pharmacy to deliver a controlled substance to a practitioner, in accordance with a prescription, to be administered to a specific patient for maintenance or detoxification treatment or through an intrathecal pump. The bill directs the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on access to and the potential diversion of controlled substances administered by injection, implantation, or through the use of an intrathecal pump.