Protecting Newborns from Opioids Act

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for systematic data collection, analysis, and epidemiological research regarding neonatal abstinence syndrome. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Newborns from Opioids Act 2. Neonatal abstinence syndrome research and surveillance Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 317L–1 ( 42 U.S.C. 247b–13a 317L–2. Neonatal abstinence syndrome research and surveillance (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (referred to in this section as the Director (1) award grants to States to create or improve surveillance systems for neonatal abstinence syndrome, and analyze the data collected through such State systems; and (2) conduct research on the prevention, factors surrounding, and health outcomes of neonatal abstinence syndrome. (b) NAS surveillance (1) State grant program To provide support to States receiving grants under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall (directly or through grants or cooperative agreements to public and nonprofit private entities)— (A) cooperate with and assist States in implementing a State-wide surveillance system to rapidly determine the incidence and prevalence of neonatal abstinence syndrome; (B) include demographics and other information, such as race, ethnicity, geographic location, and family history; (C) provide technical assistance to States to improve identification of neonatal abstinence syndrome; (D) ensure a pathway for data sharing between States and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and (E) ensure that data collection is consistent with applicable State and Federal privacy laws. (2) CDC research The Director shall— (A) collect data on neonatal abstinence syndrome that States gather using grant funds under subsection (a)(1); (B) conduct analysis of such data to identify national trends; and (C) issue public reports on such analysis. (c) NAS research In carrying out subsection (a)(2), the Secretary shall conduct new studies, or capitalize on existing studies, to research— (1) long-term physical, educational, and neu­ro­de­vel­op­ment­al outcomes of children affected by neonatal abstinence syndrome; (2) the prevalence of, and reasons for, opioid use among women who are pregnant or may become pregnant; and (3) the comparative effectiveness of available treatment protocols for infants affected by neonatal abstinence syndrome. (d) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. .

Summary: Protecting Newborns from Opioids Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to: (1) award grants to states to create or improve surveillance systems for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and analyze the data collected through the systems; and (2) conduct research on prevention, factors surrounding, and health outcomes of NAS. (NAS is a group of conditions caused when a baby withdraws from certain drugs the baby is exposed to in the womb before birth.)