I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 289
To provide for a demonstration project relating to treatment for drug abuse
and alcohol abuse under the health benefits program for Federal employees.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 5, 1993
Mrs. MORELLA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Post Office and Civil Service
A BILL
To provide for a demonstration project relating to treatment
for drug abuse and alcohol abuse under the health bene-
fits program for Federal employees.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this Act—
(1) ‘‘enrollee’’ means an individual enrolled in a
health benefits plan; and
(2) ‘‘health benefits plan’’, ‘‘employee’’, ‘‘annu-
itant’’, ‘‘carrier’’, and ‘‘family member’’ each has the
meaning given that term under chapter 89 of title
5, United States Code.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE OF THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
The Office of Personnel Management shall, during
calendar years 1994 and 1995, conduct a demonstration
project to provide a basis for determining the feasibility
and desirability of including certain benefits relating to
the treatment of drug abuse and alcohol abuse among the
types of benefits generally provided for under chapter 89
of title 5, United States Code (relating to health insurance
for Federal employees).
SEC. 3. SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.
(a) PLANS
AND ENROLLEES.—The demonstration
project—
(1) shall involve—
(A) the service benefit plan under section
8903(1) of title 5, United States Code;
(B) the indemnity benefit plan under sec-
tion 8903(2) of title 5, United States Code (if
any);
(C) the 2 employee organization plans
under section 8903(3) of title 5, United States
Code, with the largest number of enrollments,
as determined by the Office of Personnel Man-
agement; and
(D) 1 or more of the comprehensive medi-
cal plans operated by the carrier operating the
2 comprehensive medical plans under section
8903(4) of title 5, United States Code, with the
largest number of enrollments, as determined
by the Office; and
(2) shall cover a sufficient number of enrollees
and family members to provide an adequate basis on
which to make any determination referred to in sec-
tion 2.
(b) AREAS
TO
BE COVERED.—The demonstration
project shall—
(1) to the extent that it involves the plans
under subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection
(a)(1), be conducted within at least 1, and not more
than 4, standard metropolitan statistical areas, as
determined by the Office; and
(2) to the extent that it involves the carrier re-
ferred to in subparagraph (D) of subsection (a)(1),
be conducted within the standard metropolitan sta-
tistical area that includes Portland, Oregon.
A standard metropolitan statistical area may not be se-
lected for inclusion under paragraph (1) unless such area
is one within which not less than 10,000, and not more
than 25,000, employees and annuitants reside.
SEC. 4. BENEFITS.
Under the demonstration project, any contract under
chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, between the Of-
fice of Personnel Management and the carrier offering a
plan described in section 3(a)(1)—
(1) shall, to the extent that such contract re-
lates to individuals covered by the demonstration
project, include benefits relating to—
(A) inpatient detoxification;
(B) patient assessment;
(C) outpatient therapy, including, wherever
appropriate, worksite-based evening and week-
end treatment programs, individual therapy,
and group therapy;
(D) inpatient therapy;
(E) follow-up patient counselling; and
(F) counselling for family members of the
individual having the abuse problem; and
(2) may, to the extent that such contract re-
lates to individuals covered by the demonstration
project, include benefits for related support services,
including child care or other dependent care.
SEC. 5. CONSULTATION.
The Office of Personnel Management shall consult
with appropriate representatives of carriers, labor organi-
zations representing Government employees, and agency
heads with regard to—
(1) the determinations required under section
3(b)(1);
(2) any maximums, limitations, exclusions, or
other terms or conditions relating to the benefits de-
scribed in section 4; and
(3) any other matter relating to the design,
conduct, or evaluation of the demonstration project
which the Office considers appropriate.
SEC. 6. COORDINATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT PRO-
GRAMS.
The Office of Personnel Management shall coordinate
the demonstration project with any activities carried out
under—
(1) section 7904 of title 5, United States Code,
relating to employee assistance programs offered by
Executive agencies with respect to drug abuse and
alcohol abuse;
(2) subchapter VI of chapter 73 of title 5, Unit-
ed States Code, relating to programs and services
for drug abuse and alcohol abuse;
(3) section 6003 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of
1986 (5 U.S.C. 7361 note), relating to an edu-
cational program for Federal employees with respect
to drug abuse and alcohol abuse; and
(4) other related programs.
SEC. 7. EVALUATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) PERIODIC EVALUATIONS.—The Office of Person-
nel Management shall by contract provide for the periodic
evaluation of the demonstration project with respect to—
(1) cost and efficacy;
(2) effects on employee productivity; and
(3) the feasibility and desirability of offering
the benefits provided under the demonstration
project on a general basis under chapter 89 of title
5, United States Code.
The authority to enter into a contract under this sub-
section may be exercised only to such extent or in such
amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts.
(b) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—(1) The Office
shall—
(A) not later than March 15, 1996, submit an
interim report to the Committee on Post Office and
Civil Service of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Sen-
ate on the demonstration project; and
(B) not later than April 1, 1997, submit to
each of the committees referred to in subparagraph
(A) a final report on the project.
(2) Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall
include a copy of the most recent evaluation received by
the Office under subsection (a).
SEC. 8. FUNDING.
(a) INDIVIDUAL
AND
GOVERNMENT
CONTRIBU-
TIONS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, indi-
vidual contributions and Government contributions under
section 8906 of title 5, United States Code, shall be deter-
mined as if the preceding provisions of this Act had not
been enacted.
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary to carry out this Act (including any additional ad-
ministrative costs).
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