I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4888 
To provide for the identification and dissemination of best practices for 
medical professionals and other health care providers relative to neonatal 
abstinence syndrome, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 18, 2014 
Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts (for herself and Mr. STIVERS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To provide for the identification and dissemination of best 
practices for medical professionals and other health care 
providers relative to neonatal abstinence syndrome, 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 ‘‘Coordinated Recovery 
Initiative for Babies Act of 2014’’ or the ‘‘CRIB Act of 
2014’’. 
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SEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION, TREATMENT, AND SURVEILLANCE 
OF NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 
conduct a study to identify— 
(1) the most effective and beneficial methods 
that are currently available to identify the need for 
treating and best treatment methods for, infants di-
agnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome; 
(2) barriers, including associated costs and limi-
tations or disparities in the availability or scope of 
health insurance coverage, that may hinder the clin-
ical use of best practices by medical professionals 
and other health care providers for the identification 
and treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome; 
(3) circumstances, such as populations with 
unique needs and health care settings with limited 
resources, that may require particularized best prac-
tices for medical professionals and other health care 
providers for the identification and treatment of neo-
natal abstinence syndrome; 
(4) existing surveillance measures within the 
Department of Health and Human Services (in this 
Act referred to as the ‘‘Department’’) and in State 
health agencies relating to neonatal abstinence syn-
drome; and 
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(5) areas in which information on neonatal ab-
stinence 
syndrome 
and 
its 
surrounding 
cir-
cumstances is insufficient, incomplete, or requires 
further study or analysis. 
(b) ADVISORY PANEL.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall con-
vene an advisory panel (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘Panel’’) to identify and compile the best prac-
tices under subsection (c). The Secretary shall re-
convene the Panel for such purpose whenever the 
Secretary, with the advice of the Panel, determines 
updates are needed to the list of best practices under 
subsection (e), but no less than every 2 years. 
(2) MEMBERS.—The Panel shall be composed 
of 19 members, all of whom shall be medical profes-
sionals or health care providers with expertise in 
neonatal abstinence syndrome. Members shall rep-
resent the broad range of such professionals and 
providers necessary to identify and compile the best 
practices for identification and treatment of neonatal 
abstinence syndrome, including representatives of— 
(A) The American Academy of Family 
Physicians. 
(B) The American Academy of Pediatrics. 
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(C) The American Academy of Physician 
Assistants. 
(D) The American College of Nurse-Mid-
wives. 
(E) The American College of Obstetricians 
and Gynecologists. 
(F) The American Hospital Association. 
(G) The American Medical Association. 
(H) The American Nurses Association. 
(I) The American Pharmacists Association. 
(J) The American Public Health Associa-
tion. 
(K) The American Society for Addiction 
Medicine. 
(L) The American Society of Anesthesiol-
ogists. 
(M) The Association of State and Terri-
torial Health Professionals. 
(N) The Association of Women’s Health, 
Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses. 
(O) The Children’s Hospital Association. 
(P) The National Association of Medicaid 
Directors. 
(Q) The National Association of Nurse 
Practitioners in Women’s Health. 
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(R) The National Association of Pediatric 
Nurse Practitioners. 
(S) The National Association of Social 
Workers. 
(3) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Secretary 
shall provide appropriate administrative support, in-
cluding technical assistance, to the Panel. 
(c) BEST PRACTICES; PLAN; REPORT.—Not later 
than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary shall— 
(1)(A) identify and compile the best practices 
for medical professionals and other health care pro-
viders for identifying and treating neonatal absti-
nence syndrome; and 
(B) identify any gaps in best practices for med-
ical professionals and other health care providers 
that may require additional research or analysis; 
(2) develop and implement a plan for the co-
ordination and, if necessary, expansion and enhance-
ment of public health surveillance of neonatal absti-
nence syndrome that— 
(A) identifies the data necessary for a pub-
lic health response to neonatal abstinence syn-
drome; 
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(B) identifies any gaps in current surveil-
lance or coordination that results in the lack of 
collection of such data, including a lack of time-
liness or standardization of data reporting; 
(C) makes recommendations and provides 
assistance to the States to implement effective 
measures to collect such necessary data by 
State health agencies; and 
(D) designates an appropriate agency in 
the Department to coordinate such data; and 
(3) not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, submit to the Congress a re-
port containing the Secretary’s findings and identi-
fying issues that— 
(A) relate to neonatal abstinence syn-
drome, including its causes, identification, 
treatment, prevalence, and effects; and 
(B) public health issues related to neonatal 
abstinence syndrome that would benefit from 
further study. 
(d) DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES.—The Sec-
retary— 
(1) shall disseminate the best practices identi-
fied and compiled under subsection (c), including 
any updates under subsection (e), directly or 
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through arrangements with nonprofit organizations, 
government agencies, or the media; 
(2) shall post such best practices on the public 
Internet site of the Department; and 
(3) may include in such dissemination any sup-
plemental information which the Secretary deter-
mines to be relevant and appropriate, in consultation 
with the Panel. 
(e) UPDATES TO BEST PRACTICES.—The Secretary 
shall periodically, but no less often than every 2 years, 
review the best practices identified under subsection (c) 
to ensure that such best practices are up-to-date and re-
flect the views of the medical community, including organi-
zations listed in subsection (b)(2). 
(f) APPROPRIATE AGENCY.—In designating an ap-
propriate agency within the Department under subsection 
(c), the Secretary shall consider, among other factors, 
agency resources, purpose, expertise, and capability to 
conduct public health programs and research. 
Æ 
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