Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act

Bill: 115-hr-4275
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]
Introduced: 2017-11-07
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government information and archives

Health personnel

Health promotion and preventive care

Prescription drugs
Latest action: action_date: 2018-06-13
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-11-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to develop and disseminate training programs and materials on: (1) the circumstances under which a pharmacist may refuse to fill a controlled substance prescription suspected to be fraudulent, forged, or indicative of abuse or diversion; and (2) federal requirements related to such refusal. </p> <p>The DEA must seek input from relevant stakeholders.</p>

action_date: 2018-06-12
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><b>Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and disseminate training programs and materials on: (1) the circumstances under which a pharmacist may refuse to fill a controlled substance prescription suspected to be fraudulent, forged, or indicative of abuse or diversion; and (2) federal requirements related to such refusal.</p> <p>HHS must seek input from relevant stakeholders.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4275 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 7, 2017 Mr. DeSaulnier (for himself and Mr. Carter of Georgia ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide for the development and dissemination of programs and materials for training pharmacists, health care providers, and patients on indicators that a prescription is fraudulent, forged, or otherwise indicative of abuse or diversion, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act . 2. Programs and materials for training on certain circumstances under which a pharmacist may decline to fill a prescription (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall develop and disseminate programs and materials for training pharmacists, health care providers, and patients on— (1) circumstances under which a pharmacist may, consistent with section 201 of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 811 ) and regulations thereunder, including section 1306.04 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, decline to fill a prescription for a controlled substance because the pharmacist suspects the prescription is fraudulent, forged, or otherwise indicative of abuse or diversion; and (2) any Federal requirements pertaining to declining to fill a prescription under such cir­cum­stances. (b) Materials included In developing materials under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration shall include information educating— (1) pharmacists on how to decline to fill a prescription and actions to take after declining to fill a prescription; and (2) other health care practitioners and the public on a pharmacist’s responsibility to decline to fill prescriptions in certain circumstances. (c) Stakeholder input In developing the programs and materials required under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration shall seek input from relevant national, State, and local associations, boards of pharmacy, medical societies, licensing boards, health care practitioners, and patients.

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4275 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To provide for the development and dissemination of programs and materials for training pharmacists, health care providers, and patients on indicators that a prescription is fraudulent, forged, or otherwise indicative of abuse or diversion, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act . 2. Programs and materials for training on certain circumstances under which a pharmacist may decline to fill a prescription (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall develop and disseminate programs and materials for training pharmacists, health care providers, and patients on— (1) circumstances under which a pharmacist may, consistent with section 201 of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 811 ) and regulations thereunder, including section 1306.04 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, decline to fill a prescription for a controlled substance because the pharmacist suspects the prescription is fraudulent, forged, or otherwise indicative of abuse or diversion; and (2) any Federal requirements pertaining to declining to fill a prescription under such cir­cum­stances. (b) Materials included In developing materials under subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall include information educating— (1) pharmacists on how to decline to fill a prescription and actions to take after declining to fill a prescription; and (2) other health care practitioners and the public on a pharmacist’s responsibility to decline to fill prescriptions in certain circumstances. (c) Stakeholder input In developing the programs and materials required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall seek input from relevant national, State, and local associations, boards of pharmacy, medical societies, licensing boards, health care practitioners, and patients.

Passed the House of Representatives June 12, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4275 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 13, 2018 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions AN ACT To provide for the development and dissemination of programs and materials for training pharmacists, health care providers, and patients on indicators that a prescription is fraudulent, forged, or otherwise indicative of abuse or diversion, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Empowering Pharmacists in the Fight Against Opioid Abuse Act . 2. Programs and materials for training on certain circumstances under which a pharmacist may decline to fill a prescription (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall develop and disseminate programs and materials for training pharmacists, health care providers, and patients on— (1) circumstances under which a pharmacist may, consistent with section 201 of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 811 ) and regulations thereunder, including section 1306.04 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, decline to fill a prescription for a controlled substance because the pharmacist suspects the prescription is fraudulent, forged, or otherwise indicative of abuse or diversion; and (2) any Federal requirements pertaining to declining to fill a prescription under such cir­cum­stances. (b) Materials included In developing materials under subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall include information educating— (1) pharmacists on how to decline to fill a prescription and actions to take after declining to fill a prescription; and (2) other health care practitioners and the public on a pharmacist’s responsibility to decline to fill prescriptions in certain circumstances. (c) Stakeholder input In developing the programs and materials required under subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall seek input from relevant national, State, and local associations, boards of pharmacy, medical societies, licensing boards, health care practitioners, and patients.

Passed the House of Representatives June 12, 2018. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.