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‘‘(xxv) Supporting ways to familiarize 
individuals with the availability of coverage 
under part B of title XVIII for qualified 
psychologist services (as defined in section 
1861(ii)). 
‘‘(xxvi) Exploring ways to avoid un-
necessary hospitalizations or emergency de-
partment visits for mental and behavioral 
health services (such as for treating de-
pression) through use of a 24-hour, 7-day 
a week help line that may inform individ-
uals about the availability of treatment op-
tions, including the availability of qualified 
psychologist services (as defined in section 
1861(ii)).’’. 
(b) GAO STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct 
a study, and submit to Congress a report, on mental and 
behavioral health services under the Medicare program 
under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, including an 
examination of the following: 
(1) Information about services furnished by 
psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and other profes-
sionals. 
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(2) Information about ways that Medicare bene-
ficiaries familiarize themselves about the availability 
of Medicare payment for qualified psychologist serv-
ices (as defined in section 1861(ii) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ii)) and ways that the 
provision of such information could be improved. 
SEC. 6. PAIN MANAGEMENT STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall conduct a study analyzing best practices as 
well as payment and coverage for pain management serv-
ices under title XVIII of the Social Security Act and sub-
mit to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate 
a report containing options for revising payment to pro-
viders and suppliers of services and coverage related to 
the use of multi-disciplinary, evidence-based, non-opioid 
treatments for acute and chronic pain management for in-
dividuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled 
under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act. 
The Secretary shall make such report available on the 
public website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services. 
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(b) CONSULTATION.—In developing the report de-
scribed in subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult 
with— 
(1) relevant agencies within the Department of 
Health and Human Services; 
(2) licensed and practicing osteopathic and 
allopathic physicians, behavioral health practitioners, 
physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists, 
pharmacists, and other providers of health services; 
(3) providers and suppliers of services (as such 
terms are defined in section 1861 of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x)); 
(4) substance abuse and mental health profes-
sional organizations; 
(5) pain management professional organizations 
and advocacy entities, including individuals who per-
sonally suffer chronic pain; 
(6) medical professional organizations and med-
ical specialty organizations; 
(7) licensed health care providers who furnish 
alternative pain management services; 
(8) organizations with expertise in the develop-
ment of innovative medical technologies for pain 
management; 
(9) beneficiary advocacy organizations; and 
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(10) other organizations with expertise in the 
assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management 
of pain, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The report described in subsection 
(a) shall include the following: 
(1) An analysis of payment and coverage under 
title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect 
to the following: 
(A) Evidence-based treatments and tech-
nologies for chronic or acute pain, including 
such treatments that are covered, not covered, 
or have limited coverage under such title. 
(B) Evidence-based treatments and tech-
nologies that monitor substance use withdrawal 
and prevent overdoses of opioids. 
(C) Evidence-based treatments and tech-
nologies that treat substance use disorders. 
(D) Items and services furnished by practi-
tioners through a multi-disciplinary treatment 
model for pain management, including the pa-
tient-centered medical home. 
(E) Medical devices, non-opioid based 
drugs, and other therapies (including inter-
ventional and integrative pain therapies) ap-
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proved or cleared by the Food and Drug Ad-
ministration for the treatment of pain. 
(F) Items and services furnished to bene-
ficiaries with psychiatric disorders, substance 
use disorders, or who are at risk of suicide, or 
have comorbidities and require consultation or 
management of pain with one or more special-
ists in pain management, mental health, or ad-
diction treatment. 
(2) An evaluation of the following: 
(A) Barriers inhibiting individuals entitled 
to benefits under part A or enrolled under part 
B of such title from accessing treatments and 
technologies described in subparagraphs (A) 
through (F) of paragraph (1). 
(B) Costs and benefits associated with po-
tential expansion of coverage under such title to 
include items and services not covered under 
such title that may be used for the treatment 
of pain, such as acupuncture, therapeutic mas-
sage, and items and services furnished by inte-
grated pain management programs. 
(C) Pain management guidance published 
by the Federal Government that may be rel-
evant to coverage determinations or other cov-
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