supplemental health care benefits relating to such 
coverage. 
SEC. 
6. 
CLINICAL 
PSYCHOLOGIST 
SERVICES 
MODELS 
UNDER THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND 
MEDICAID INNOVATION; GAO STUDY AND RE-
PORT. 
(a) CMI MODELS.—Section 1115A(b)(2)(B) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315a(b)(2)(B)) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new clauses: 
‘‘(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)).’’. 
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(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. 
(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. 7. 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 and submit to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Finance of the Senate a report containing 
recommendations on whether and how payment to pro-
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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 
should be revised. The Secretary shall make such report 
available on the public website of the Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services. 
(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; 
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(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 
(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) The recommendations described in sub-
section (d). 
(2) The impact analysis described in subsection 
(e). 
(3) An assessment of pain management guid-
ance published by the Federal Government that may 
be relevant to coverage determinations or other cov-
erage requirements under title XVIII of the Social 
Security Act. Such assessment shall consider incor-
porating into such guidance relevant elements of the 
‘‘Va/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Opioid 
Therapy for Chronic Pain’’ published in February 
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2017 by the Department of Veterans Affairs and 
Department of Defense, including adoption of ele-
ments of the Department of Defense and Veterans 
Administration pain rating scale. 
(4) 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 (6). 
(B) Potential legislative and administrative 
changes under such title to improve individuals’ 
access to items and services currently covered 
under such title and used for the treatment of 
pain, such as cognitive behavioral interventions, 
physical therapy, occupational therapy, physical 
medicine, biofeedback therapy, and chiropractic 
therapy, and other pain treatments services fur-
nished in a hospital or post-acute care setting. 
(C) 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-
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