Title: COMBAT Act of 2018
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Comprehensive Opioid Management and Bundled Addiction Treatment Act of 2018 or the COMBAT Act of 2018
This bill requires certified opioid treatment program services, including counseling, toxicology testing, and medication-assisted treatment, to be covered under Medicare. Opioid treatment programs must receive payment for such services in accordance with a specified methodology.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2875 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2875

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare 
 coverage of certain services furnished by opioid treatment programs, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2018

 Mr. Cassidy (for himself, Mr. Nelson, and Mr. Cardin) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                                Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare 
 coverage of certain services furnished by opioid treatment programs, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Opioid Management and 
Bundled Addiction Treatment Act of 2018'' or the ``COMBAT Act of 
2018''.

SEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF CERTAIN SERVICES FURNISHED BY OPIOID 
              TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Coverage.--Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (FF), by striking at the end ``and'';
            (2) in subparagraph (GG), by inserting at the end ``; 
        and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(HH) opioid use disorder treatment services (as 
                defined in subsection (jjj)).''.
    (b) Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Services and Opioid Treatment 
Program Defined.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(jjj) Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Services; Opioid Treatment 
Program.--
            ``(1) Opioid use disorder treatment services.--The term 
        `opioid use disorder treatment services' means items and 
        services that are furnished by an opioid treatment program for 
        the treatment of opioid abuse disorder, including--
                    ``(A) opioid agonist treatment medications 
                (including oral versions) that are approved by the Food 
                and Drug Administration under section 505 of the 
                Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for use in the 
                treatment of opioid use disorder;
                    ``(B) dispensing and administration of such 
                medications, if applicable;
                    ``(C) substance abuse counseling by a professional 
                to the extent authorized under State law to furnish 
                such services;
                    ``(D) behavioral individual and group therapy with 
                physicians or psychologists (or other mental health 
                professionals to the extent authorized under State 
                law);
                    ``(E) toxicology testing, and
                    ``(F) other items and services that the Secretary 
                determines are appropriate.
            ``(2) Opioid treatment program.--The term `opioid treatment 
        program' means an opioid treatment program (as defined in 
        section 8.2 of title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or 
        any successor regulation) that--
                    ``(A) is enrolled under section 1866(j);
                    ``(B) has in effect a certification by the 
                Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
                Administration for such a program;
                    ``(C) is accredited by an accrediting body approved 
                by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
                Administration; and
                    ``(D) meets such additional conditions as the 
                Secretary may find necessary to ensure--
                            ``(i) the health and safety of individuals 
                        being furnished services under such program; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the effective and efficient 
                        furnishing of such services.''.
    (c) Payment.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and (BB)'' and inserting 
                ``(BB)''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the semicolon at the end 
                the following ``, and (CC) with respect to opioid use 
                disorder treatment services furnished during an episode 
                of care, the amount paid shall be equal to the amount 
                payable in accordance with section 1834(w) less any 
                copayment required as specified by the Secretary''.
            (2) Payment determination.--Section 1834 of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end 
        the following new subsection:
    ``(w) Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Services.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall pay to an opioid 
        treatment program (as defined in paragraph (2) of section 
        1861(jjj)) an amount that is equal to 100 percent of a bundled 
        payment under this part for opioid use disorder treatment 
        services (as defined in paragraph (1) of such section) that are 
        furnished by such program to an individual during an episode of 
        care (as defined by the Secretary) beginning on or after 
        January 1, 2020. The Secretary shall ensure that no duplicative 
        payments are made under this part or part D to a physician, 
        practitioner, or pharmacy for items and services furnished by 
        an opioid treatment program.
            ``(2) Considerations.--The Secretary may implement this 
        subsection through one or more bundles based on the type of 
        medication provided (such as buprenorphine, methadone, 
        naltrexone, or a new innovative drug), the frequency of 
        services, the scope of services furnished, characteristics of 
        the individuals furnished such services, or other factors as 
        the Secretary determines appropriate. In developing such 
        bundles, the Secretary may consider payment rates paid to 
        opioid treatment programs for comparable services under State 
        plans under title XIX, under the TRICARE program under chapter 
        55 of title 10 of the United States Code, or by other health 
        care payers.
            ``(3) Annual updates.--The Secretary shall provide an 
        update each year to the bundled payment amounts under this 
        subsection.''.
    (d) Including Opioid Treatment Programs as Medicare Providers.--
Section 1866(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(e)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking at the end ``and'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) opioid treatment programs (as defined in paragraph 
        (2) of section 1861(jjj)), but only with respect to the 
        furnishing of opioid treatment program services (as defined in 
        paragraph (1) of such section).''.
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