I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1955 
To require the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
to conduct a study on antipsychotic prescribing practices in nonnursing 
home settings under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 28, 2019 
Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire (for herself, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, and 
Ms. WATERS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare 
& Medicaid Services to conduct a study on antipsychotic 
prescribing practices in nonnursing home settings under 
the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Understanding Appro-
priate Alzheimer’s Care Act of 2019’’. 
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SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR OF CENTERS 
FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES TO 
CONDUCT STUDY ON ANTIPSYCHOTIC PRE-
SCRIBING PRACTICES IN NONNURSING HOME 
SETTINGS UNDER MEDICARE PROGRAM. 
Not later than the date that is 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall, in co-
ordination with the heads of other entities within the De-
partment of Health and Human Services (as determined 
appropriate by the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices) and the Comptroller General of the United States— 
(1) conduct a study on antipsychotic prescribing 
practices in nonnursing home settings under the 
Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) that as-
sesses— 
(A) whether antipsychotic prescribing prac-
tices in such nonnursing home settings are ap-
propriate or inappropriate; 
(B) whether individuals who have been 
prescribed antipsychotic medications in such 
nonnursing home settings have had improved 
health outcomes, taking into account the dura-
tion of any such prescription; 
(C) whether physicians— 
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(i) are aware of the health risks of 
antipsychotic medications for individuals 
with Alzheimer’s disease; and 
(ii) 
attempt 
to 
use 
nonpharma-
cological interventions before prescribing 
such medications for such individuals; and 
(D) whether individuals who have been 
prescribed antipsychotic medications in such 
nonnursing home settings, and the families of 
such individuals, are aware of the health risks 
of such medications; and 
(2) submit to Congress and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, and make publicly 
available, a report on the findings of such study, in-
cluding recommendations for how inappropriate 
antipsychotic prescribing practices in such non-
nursing home settings may be reduced. 
Æ 
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