zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Co-Prescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill permits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a grant program to support prescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs, such as naloxone, for patients at an elevated risk of overdose, including patients prescribed an opioid. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin and certain pain medications.)

Grant recipients may use the funds to purchase opioid overdose reversal drugs, establish a program for prescribing such drugs, train health care providers and pharmacists, track patients and outcomes, offset patient cost sharing, conduct community outreach, and connect patients to treatment.

(Sec. 3) HHS may provide information to prescribers in federally qualified health centers and Indian Health Service facilities on best practices for prescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs for patients at an elevated risk of overdose.

(Sec. 4) This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reduce, as an offset, the authorization of appropriations for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention facilities for FY2018.

Date: 2015-10-01
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Safer Prescribing of Controlled Substances Act

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to direct the Drug Enforcement Administration, as a condition of granting or renewing the registration of a covered practitioner to dispense, or conduct research with, controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V, to require such practitioner to complete training that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) determines meets the requirements of this bill. It defines a "covered practitioner" as a practitioner that is not a hospital, pharmacy, or veterinarian.

It requires such training to expose covered practitioners to:

 best practices for pain management, including alternatives to prescribing controlled substances; responsible prescribing of pain medications; methods for diagnosing, treating, and managing a substance use disorder, including evidence-based nonpharmacological therapies; ways of linking patients to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders; and tools to manage adherence and diversion of controlled substances. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration must establish or support the establishment of at least one free, online training module that meets such requirements to be provided to any covered practitioner registered or applying for registration.

The bill requires HHS: (1) to establish, maintain, and periodically update a publicly available database providing information on such training modules; and (2) within five years after enactment of this bill, to evaluate and make publicly available a report describing how exposure to training required by this bill has changed prescribing patterns of controlled substances.

Date: 2015-11-03
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
The Reforming and Expanding Access to Treatment Act or the TREAT Act

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow federal payment for qualified substance use disorder services furnished to inmates in public institutions under state Medicaid programs. "Qualified substance use disorder services" include medication or behavioral treatment administered to eliminate, mitigate, treat, or cure an individual's substance abuse disorder or use or abuse of drugs.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shall not establish, maintain, or implement any policy that restricts its statutorily authorized provision or support of substance abuse treatment for incarcerated individuals.

Date: 2015-11-18
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Protecting Our Youth from Dangerous Synthetic Drugs Act of 2015

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to include in the definition of a "controlled substance analogue" a substance designated as such by the Controlled Substance Analogue Committee (established by this bill).

It directs the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to establish such Committee as an interagency committee headed by the DEA and comprised of scientific experts in the fields of chemistry and pharmacology from the DEA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and any other federal agency determined by the DEA to be appropriate.

 The Committee may designate, and shall establish and maintain a list of, controlled substance analogues determined to be similar to a schedule I or II controlled substance in either chemical structure or predictive effect on the body in such a manner as to make it likely that the substance will, or can be reasonably expected to, have a potential for abuse. The DEA must publish a description of each designation made by the Committee.

The bill amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to prohibit the importation of any controlled substance analogue except pursuant to such notification or declaration as the DEA may prescribe.

It directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and, if appropriate, amend the federal sentencing guidelines and policy statements to ensure that they provide adequate penalties for any offense involving the unlawful manufacturing, importing, exporting, or trafficking of controlled substance analogues and similar offenses.

Date: 2015-12-10
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (which currently is simply authorized) to disclose information about a veteran or dependent to a state controlled substance monitoring program to the extent necessary to prevent misuse and diversion of prescription medicines.

Date: 2015-12-16
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Act of 2016

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to make grants to: (1) increase the availability of treatment for abuse of opioids (drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin), cocaine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), and phencyclidine (PCP); (2) provide vouchers to individuals in underserved populations for services related to such treatment; and (3) establish programs to provide for and coordinate the provision of services, including medical services, job training services, and housing assistance, to individuals reentering the community after successfully receiving treatment for abuse of such substances.

The grant program to provide residential substance abuse treatment to pregnant and postpartum women is revised to: (1) make caregiver parents eligible for treatment, (2) make Indian tribes and tribal organizations eligible for grants, and (3) set forth the priority for allocation of grants.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse must conduct research on the effectiveness of drugs to reduce the problems associated with stimulant abuse.

The Department of Health and Human Services must seek to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Medicine (formerly known as the Institute of Medicine) to complete a literature review on the effectiveness of drugs for the treatment of stimulant abuse.

The Government Accountability Office must study: (1) the impact of the programs authorized by this Act, (2) how the level of federal funding available for such treatment compares to the amount necessary to provide adequate treatment, and (3) the cost savings of effective treatment due to the reduced need for criminal justice and other services.

Date: 2016-01-13
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Reduction Act

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to revise requirements for and limitations on practitioners who dispense narcotic drugs for maintenance or detoxification treatment.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish grant programs to: (1) encourage prescribing and purchase of opioid overdose reversal drugs (e.g., naloxone), and (2) develop prescribing guidelines for such drugs. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin or certain pain medications.)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must provide support to improve drug overdose surveillance and reporting capabilities.

HHS may support syringe exchange programs.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration must provide support to: (1) reduce drug overdose deaths; and (2) develop, expand, and enhance substance use recovery support services.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to extend residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women.

The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment must: (1) carry out a pilot program to support services for pregnant and postpartum women with a substance use disorder; (2) award grants to expand treatment activities in areas with a high rate of, or a rapid increase in, the use of opioids; and (3) support increasing the capacity of substance use disorder services for adolescents.

This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and Internal Revenue Code to direct HHS and the Departments of Labor and the Treasury to require disclosures, issue guidance, conduct audits, and publish information regarding the requirement for group health plans and health insurance coverage to have parity between mental health and substance use disorder benefits and medical and surgical benefits. HHS must establish a consumer parity portal website.

HHS must establish a loan repayment program for substance use disorder health professionals.

Date: 2016-01-28
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Servicemembers and Veterans Prescription Drug Safety Act of 2016

 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to carry out a joint program under which an eligible person who has lawfully obtained a covered controlled substance may deliver it for disposal at a facility to be specified by DOD and DOJ.

An eligible person for this purpose shall be:

 a member of the Armed Forces, an individual receiving or entitled to military retired or retainer pay, a member's dependent-beneficiary who is receiving certain health care services, or any person lawfully entitled to dispose of the property of any of such individuals who dies in lawful possession of a controlled substance for personal use. DOD and DOJ shall develop guidelines and procedures to prevent the diversion, misuse, theft, or loss of such substances delivered under the program.

DOJ and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall carry out a similar joint program covering any veteran, veteran's spouse or dependent, a person in receipt of medical services at a VA facility, or any person lawfully entitled to dispose of the property of any of such individuals who dies in lawful possession of a controlled substance for personal use.

DOJ and the VA shall also develop guidelines and procedures to prevent the diversion, misuse, theft, or loss of such substances delivered under the program.

Date: 2016-02-26
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Prevent Drug Addiction Act of 2016

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to award grants for consumer education about opioid addiction. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin or certain prescription painkillers.)

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to require medical practitioners to be trained in the treatment of opioid-dependent patients, pain management, and early detection of opioid addiction before they can be registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration to dispense opioids.

Opioid treatment programs that close on any day must make arrangements for each patient to receive treatment during the closure, as necessary.

A report must be submitted to SAMHSA for each individual who dies while receiving treatment in an opioid treatment program. In states receiving funding for controlled substance monitoring programs, deaths where an opioid drug is detected in the body must be reported to SAMHSA.

The National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must establish a National Opioid Death Registry to track opioid-related deaths.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality must develop and apply prescription drug addiction prevention and treatment quality measures.

This bill amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors to limit the access of certain beneficiaries to addictive drugs. PDP sponsors must have a utilization management tool to prevent drug addiction.

Medicare Drug Integrity Contractors may accept prescription and medical records to determine whether a beneficiary is at risk for prescription drug addiction.

Date: 2016-03-03
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Medicare Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2016

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) authorize a Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsor to establish a drug management program under which the PDP sponsor may limit an at-risk beneficiary's access to coverage for frequently abused drugs to include only those drugs that are prescribed by selected prescribers and dispensed by selected pharmacies; and (2) require a PDP sponsor to have in place a utilization management tool to prevent drug abuse.

With respect to a drug management program, a PDP sponsor must: (1) provide specified notice to a beneficiary who has been identified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) as "at-risk" and consequently enrolled in the program; and (2) in selecting prescribers and dispensers, ensure that the beneficiary continues to have reasonable access to drugs. These determinations shall be subject to expedited reconsideration and appeal. A PDP sponsor must review and consider an at-risk beneficiary's preferences regarding prescriber and pharmacy selection.

Certain individuals, including those receiving hospice care or residing in a long-term care facility, are exempted from enrollment in a drug management program.

CMS must, for purposes of quality or performance assessments, review and consider complaints received from at-risk beneficiaries regarding lack of access due to their enrollment in a drug management program. In addition, CMS must establish rules and procedures requiring a PDP sponsor to provide specified program data.

Date: 2016-03-23
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 10, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

John Thomas Decker Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to report on the availability of information regarding prescription of opioids after youth sports injury, including information on opioid use and misuse, injury treatments that do not involve opioids, and treatment for opioid addiction. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin and certain pain medications.) The report must determine the extent this information is available to teenagers and adolescents who play youth sports, their families, youth sports groups, and health care providers.

Taking into consideration the findings of the report, HHS must develop and disseminate such information.

Date: 2016-04-15
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Synthetic Drug Awareness Act of 2016

This bill requires the Surgeon General to report to Congress on the public health effects of the increased use since January 2010 by individuals who are 12 to 18 years old of drugs developed and manufactured to avoid control under the Controlled Substances Act (e.g., synthetic marijuana, also known as "spice," and synthetic amphetamines, also known as "bath salts").

Date: 2016-04-21
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Opioid Program Evaluation Act or the OPEN Act

(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to identify outcomes and develop metrics to evaluate: (1) the incidence of opioid abuse and illegal opioid distribution, and (2) the effectiveness of a DOJ grant program to provide opioid abuse services.

DOJ must publish outcomes and metrics and require grant recipients to collect and report data. The NAS must publish the evaluations.

(Sec. 3) Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into an arrangement with the NAS to identify outcomes and develop metrics to evaluate: (1) the incidence of opioid abuse and illegal opioid distribution, and (2) the effectiveness of HHS grant programs to address opioid abuse.

HHS must publish outcomes and metrics and require grant recipients to collect and report data. The NAS must publish the evaluations.

(Sec. 6) It amends the Justice Assistance Act of 1984 to reduce for FY2022 the authorization of appropriation for financial assistance under the Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance program.

Date: 2016-04-26
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Prescriber Support Act of 2016

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states for systems that help prescribers: (1) treat and manage patient pain; and (2) prevent, identify, and respond to patient substance misuse and substance abuse disorders. In awarding grants, HHS must give priority to states with the greatest need.

Date: 2016-04-28
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Opioid and Heroin Abuse Crisis Investment Act of 2016

This bill appropriates funding for the activities in the bill.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into cooperative agreements with states to expand opioid treatment capacity, make services more affordable to those who cannot afford them, and help individuals seek treatment, successfully complete treatment, and sustain recovery. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin and certain pain medications.) Funding must be allocated to states based on the severity of the opioid epidemic in the state and the strength of the state's strategy to respond.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology must expand efforts to support prescription drug monitoring programs and health information technology interoperability.

The Bureau of Prisons must support drug treatment programs.

The bill amends the Second Chance Act to require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help justice-involved individuals successfully reintegrate into the community.

The bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to permit DOJ to support the development of residential and aftercare services for substance-involved inmates.

DOJ must establish new heroin enforcement groups within the Drug Enforcement Administration to target, disrupt, and dismantle heroin trafficking organizations.

Date: 2016-05-12
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion Act

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow states to provide medical assistance to adults for residential addiction treatment facility services under the Medicaid program. "Residential addiction treatment facility services" are medically necessary inpatient services provided in an accredited, size-limited facility for the purpose of treating a substance use disorder within a specified time period.

The provision of medical assistance for such services to an individual shall not prohibit federal financial participation for medical assistance with respect to other services provided to the individual within the same time period.

Subject to specified conditions, a woman who is eligible for medical assistance on the basis of being pregnant may remain eligible for residential addiction treatment facility services for specified time periods without regard to eligibility limits that would otherwise apply as a result of her pregnancy ending.

In addition, the bill establishes a grant program for states to expand infrastructure and treatment capabilities of existing youth addiction treatment facilities that: (1) provide addiction treatment services to youths under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and (2) are located in communities with high numbers of medically underserved populations of at-risk youths. At least 15% of grant funds awarded to a state must be used for making payments to rural facilities.

Date: 2016-05-19
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Stem the Tide of Overdose Prevalence from Opiate Drugs Act of 2016 or as the STOP OD Act of 2016

This bill permits the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to award grants: (1) to expand educational efforts to prevent abuse of opioids, which are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin; (2) to promote treatment of persons who abuse opioids; and (3) to promote understanding of addiction.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants to: (1) support first responders carrying and administering naloxone, which is a prescription drug used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose; (2) establish processes for referral to treatment for opioid abuse; and (3) reimburse for testing for fentanyl in opioid overdoses and reporting the results to the CDC.

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to impose a fee on persons convicted of drug offenses. Collected amounts are made available for the HHS grants in this bill.

Specified agencies must submit to the Office of E-Government and Information Technology of the Office of Management and Budget an inventory of agency data centers and a strategy to consolidate and optimize the data centers.

The bill revises reporting requirements for the Department of Defense (DOD) regarding data centers. DOD and the Director of National Intelligence may waive this bill's data center requirements for any national security system.

The bill sets forth requirements for the Office of E-Government and Information Technology, including that the office must publish a goal for cost savings and optimization.

The bill's provisions regarding data centers are repealed at the start of FY2021.

Date: 2016-06-09
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Addiction Prevention and Responsible Opioid Practices Act

This bill addresses prescription opioid misuse.

 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must: (1) seek recommendations concerning opioid drugs from an FDA advisory committee relating to the approval of a new drug that is an opioid, and the labeling of opioid drugs for pediatric prescriptions; (2) develop recommendations for education programs for prescribers of opioids; and (3) issue guidance for labeling that deters opioid abuse.

The bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by requiring manufacturers of opioid drugs to ensure that certain information about the risk factors associated with opioid drugs are included on the drug labels.

The bill amends the Controlled Substances Act by: (1) addressing annual narcotic manufacturing quotas with respect to fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, and hydromorphone; and (2) directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to require medical practitioners to complete a training program on prescribing opioids for chronic pain before they are certified to prescribe controlled substances in schedule II, III, or IV.

The bill establishes requirements for prescription drug monitoring systems to prevent over-prescribing controlled substances.

The Department of Health and Human Services must: (1) submit a plan of action for addressing outliers in opioid prescribing practices and ensuring an adequate response to protect the public health, and (2) study the expansion of Medicare coverage for alternatives to opioid treatments.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on manufacturers or producers of opioid pain relievers. A portion of the amount generated from the tax must be used for substance abuse treatment programs.

DOJ must establish a take-back program for the safe and environmentally responsible disposal of controlled substances.

Date: 2016-07-07
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Helping Our Veterans with Chronic Pain and Opioid Addiction Act of 2016

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a three-year pilot program to provide health and social services and coordination of care and case management to covered veterans in need of treatment for opioid addiction and chronic pain through VA facilities and through qualified non-VA health care providers.

A "covered veteran" is a veteran who is enrolled in the veterans' health care system and eligible for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care under such system.

The pilot program shall be carried out in at least five different states with VA medical facilities that demonstrate: (1) the need for additional resources to provide health care services to veterans for opioid abuse, (2) the highest rates per capita of opioid addiction in the United States, and (3) a lack of sufficient VA capacity to meet the demand for such treatment.

Under such program, the VA: (1) may enter into contracts with non-VA providers to provide health care services to veterans,  and (2) shall provide for the exchange of medical information between the VA and any such provider.

The VA shall conduct concurrent assessments of its capabilities and the capabilities of community providers to provide health care services for the treatment of veterans with opioid dependency abuse or chronic pain.

The VA shall: (1) require all appropriate VA health care facilities and all VA facilities providing mental health and social services to veterans to have a supply of naloxone or other medication for reversing opioid overdose, and (2) ensure that all appropriate employees at such facilities receive training on the administration of such medication.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help Act of 2016 or the YOUTH Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and reauthorize through FY2022 grants for substance abuse treatment services for children and adolescents. The grant program is expanded to cover young adults.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) must award grants for demonstration programs to: (1) expand access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders among adolescents and young adults, or (2) create and distribute for pediatric health care providers resources on medication-assisted treatment training and implementation.

AHRQ must report on the demonstration programs and the availability of medication-assisted treatment for adolescents and young adults. The report must include recommendations for ensuring such treatment is accessible.

The Government Accountability Office must study how federal agencies are addressing substance use and substance use disorders among adolescents and young adults.

Date: 2016-09-08
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Comprehensive Fentanyl Control Act

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to modify the definition of "controlled substance analogue" to mean a substance that has a similar (previously, substantially similar) chemical structure and pharmacological effect to a schedule I controlled substance.

 Additionally, it modifies the treatment of controlled substance analogues. Under current law, a controlled substance analogue that is intended for human consumption is treated as a schedule I controlled substance. This bill replaces the "intended for human consumption" qualifier with a "not a chemical substance subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act" qualifier. Specifically, a controlled substance analogue that is not a chemical substance under the Toxic Substances Control Act is treated as a schedule I controlled substance.

 The bill modifies the drug quantity thresholds that trigger a mandatory minimum prison term for a defendant who manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute fentanyl.

It also establishes a consecutive mandatory prison term for a defendant who commits a drug offense involving a detectable amount of heroin or fentanyl.

The bill allows the Drug Enforcement Administration to temporarily place a substance into schedule I if it reasonably believes that the substance: (1) is a synthetic opioid analgesic; (2) is the object of clandestine importation, manufacture, or distribution; and (3) poses an imminent hazard to public health and safety. Finally, the bill makes it a crime to knowingly mail to an unauthorized person equipment that may be used to manufacture counterfeit controlled substances.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Addiction Recovery through Family Health Accounts Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit taxpayers to use tax-favored health reimbursement arrangements, health flexible spending arrangements, health savings accounts, and Archer medical savings accounts to pay for alcohol and drug addiction treatments for specified family members as if the expenses were incurred for a dependent.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Taxation
Addiction Recovery through Family Deductions Act 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand certain deductions and exclusions to include expenses related to alcohol and drug addiction treatments for specified family members who are not dependents.

The bill allows the expenses to be treated as: (1) medical care for the purpose of the deduction for medical care, and (2) qualified Indian health care benefits for the purpose of the exclusion from gross income of the value of any qualified Indian health care benefit.

The bill also allows insurance covering alcohol and drug addiction treatment for the non-dependent family members to be treated as insurance that constitutes medical care for the purpose of the deduction for health-insurance costs of self-employed individuals.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Taxation
National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Reauthorization Act of 2016

 (Sec. 3) This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend through FY2021 the controlled substance monitoring program, including to:

 allow grants to be used to maintain existing state controlled substance monitoring programs; require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to redistribute any funds that are returned among the remaining grantees; require states to report on the interoperability of their programs with federal programs and health information technology systems and whether their programs provide automatic, up-to-date, or daily information about a patient upon request; require states to provide HHS with aggregate data and other information to enable HHS to evaluate the success of state programs; and expand the program to include any commonwealth or territory of the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration, HHS, a state Medicaid program, a state health department, or a state substance abuse agency receiving nonidentifiable information from a controlled substance monitoring database for research purposes may make that information available to other entities for research purposes.

HHS is no longer required to give preference for grants related to drug abuse to states with controlled substance monitoring programs.

 A state receiving a grant for a controlled substance monitoring program must: (1) facilitate prescriber and dispenser use of the controlled substance monitoring system, and (2) educate prescribers and dispensers on the benefits of the system.

Date: 2015-02-12
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Increasing the Safety of Prescription Drug Use Act of 2015

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise, update, and expand state controlled substance monitoring programs, which ensure that prescription history information is accessible for investigations into drug diversion and errant prescribing and dispensing practices.

A state's controlled substance monitoring program database must be interoperable with other states' databases and electronic health records, and must provide up-to-date patient information to practitioners. Practitioners and dispensers are required to use the database.

Database information cannot be used to conduct a criminal investigation against a patient. Certain entities are allowed to make nonidentifiable information from a database available for research.

Federal health care workers must screen patients for abuse of controlled substances, conduct brief interventions, and provide referrals for known or suspected abuse of controlled substances.

Grants are established for: (1) a pilot project to develop a peer review process to evaluate prescribing and pharmacy dispensing patterns, (2) training health care providers to prevent controlled substance abuse, (3) evaluating the prospect of health professions boards reviewing the prescribing authorities of providers, and (4) developing criteria and processes that allow health professions boards or state agencies to certify education and training for informed and safe prescribing of certain controlled substances.

Practitioners who register or renew a registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration to dispense or conduct research with controlled substances must have completed specified continuing medical education. A registered practitioner must screen patients for drug abuse before prescribing certain controlled substances.

The Food and Drug Administration must consider whether naloxone (a drug used to rapidly reverse overdoses of heroin and other opiods) should be a behind-the-counter drug instead of a prescription drug.

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to increase the number of patients a practitioner is allowed to treat by dispensing narcotic drugs for maintenance or detoxification.

Date: 2015-03-03
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Opioid Overdose Reduction Act of 2015

This bill exempts individuals from liability for harm caused by the emergency administration of an opioid overdose drug under certain circumstances. (An opioid is a drug with effects similar to opium, such as heroin.) The individuals exempted from liability are:

 a health care professional who prescribes or provides an opioid overdose drug to an individual at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose or to another individual in a position to assist an at-risk individual, if the individual prescribed or provided the drug has been educated about opioid overdose prevention and treatment by the health care professional or as part of a government opioid overdose program; an individual who provides an opioid overdose drug for emergency administration to another individual authorized to receive it as part of an opioid overdose program; and an individual who administers an opioid overdose drug to another individual who appears to have suffered an opioid overdose if the administering individual obtained the drug from a health care professional or as part of an opioid overdose program and was educated by the professional or program in the proper administration of the drug. These exemptions are inapplicable if the harm was caused by gross negligence or reckless misconduct.

States can preempt these exemptions by providing additional protections from liability for individuals that administer opioid overdose drugs, or by enacting legislation making this Act not applicable to state civil action involving only citizens from that state.

Date: 2015-03-11
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Reauthorization Act or the STOP Act

Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the program to reduce underage drinking for FY2016-FY2019.

Revises reporting requirements for state programs on underage drinking.

 Specifies additional requirements for the development of the national media campaign to prevent underage drinking.

Directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to make grants to professional pediatric provider organizations to increase effective practices, including the screening of children and adolescents for alcohol use, to reduce the prevalence of alcohol use among individuals under the age of 21, including college students.

Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to collect data and conduct or support new research on underage drinking that carries out and improves public health surveillance of alcohol use and alcohol-related conditions in states among individuals between age 18 and 20 by increasing the use of surveys, such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, to monitor binge and excessive drinking and related harms.

Amends the Federal Alcohol Administration Act to prohibit the manufacture, sale, distribution, or possession of powdered alcohol.

Date: 2015-03-12
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse Prevention, Education, and Enforcement Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in cooperation with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to convene a Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force to develop and study best practices for pain management and prescription of pain medication.

The Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program is extended through FY2020. The Government Accountability Office must evaluate the effectiveness of this program in reducing prescription drug abuse and any corresponding increase or decrease in the use of heroin.

This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program through FY2020.

HHS must advance education and awareness of the risk of abuse of prescription opioids (drugs with effects similar to opium).

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), in coordination with HHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ), must establish a national drug awareness campaign that emphasizes the similarities between heroin and prescription opioids and increases awareness of the dangerous effects of mixing fentanyl (a prescription opioid painkiller) with heroin.

DOJ, in coordination with HHS and ONDCP, may make grants to state, local, or tribal governments to create demonstration programs to allow first responders to prevent opioid overdose death by administering an opioid overdose reversal drug (e.g., naloxone). Priority must be given to entities in states that provide civil liability protection for first responders administering a drug to counteract opioid overdoses.

Date: 2015-04-29
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Treatment and Recovery Investment Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to award grants to state agencies responsible for administering funds received under the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant program, to local governments that have a high rate of, or have had a rapid increase in, the use of, or death related to the use of, heroin or other opioids (including prescription opioids), and to Indian tribes or tribal organizations in order to permit such entities to expand evidence-based treatment activities and related recovery services.

The Center shall award: (1) five-year grants to state substance abuse agencies, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and public nonprofit entities to enhance access to primary care and related services for pregnant and parenting women diagnosed with opioid dependence; and (2) grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements of up to five years duration to eligible state substance abuse agencies and other appropriate entities to increase the capacity of substance use disorder treatment and recovery services for adolescents.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shall award grants to state substance abuse agencies and non-profit organizations to develop, expand, and enhance recovery support services for individuals with substance use disorders.

The amount authorized under the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant program is increased: (1) to a specified amount for FY2016, and (2) by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for each subsequent year.

The Comptroller General shall evaluate and report on the in-patient and outpatient treatment capacity, availability, and needs of the United States.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2015

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to award grants for consumer education about opioid abuse. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin or certain prescription painkillers.)

This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to require medical practitioners to be trained in the treatment of opioid-dependent patients, pain management, and early detection of opioid addiction before they can be registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration to dispense opioids.

Opioid treatment programs that close on any day must make arrangements for each patient to receive treatment during the closure, as necessary.

A report must be submitted to SAMHSA for each individual who dies while receiving treatment in an opioid treatment program. In states receiving funding for controlled substance monitoring programs, deaths where an opioid drug is detected in the body must be reported to SAMHSA.

The National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must establish a National Opioid Death Registry to track opioid-related deaths.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality must develop and apply prescription drug abuse prevention and treatment quality measures.

This bill amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors to limit the access of certain beneficiaries to frequently abused drugs. PDP sponsors must have a utilization management tool to prevent drug abuse.

Medicare Drug Integrity Contractors may accept prescription and medical records to determine whether a beneficiary is at risk for prescription drug abuse.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Overdose Prevention Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to enter into cooperative agreements to reduce deaths from drug overdoses by: (1) purchasing and distributing naloxone (a medication that rapidly reverses overdose from heroin or other drugs with effects similar to opium) or a similar drug; and (2) educating or training the public, first responders, or health professionals on drug overdose prevention or response.

SAMHSA must establish a coordinating center and develop a plan to reduce drug overdose deaths by educating the public about overdose prevention and recommending improvements to overdose prevention programs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must improve drug overdose surveillance by entering into cooperative agreements to: (1) provide training to improve identification of drug overdose as the cause of death, and (2) establish a national program for reporting drug overdoses.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) must prioritize, conduct, and support research on circumstances that contribute to drug overdose, drugs associated with fatal overdose, and overdose prevention methods. NIDA must support research on drug overdose treatments that can be administered by lay persons or first responders.

Date: 2015-06-23
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Stopping Medication Abuse and Protecting Seniors Act of 2015

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) authorize a Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsor to establish a drug management program under which the PDP sponsor may limit an at-risk beneficiary’s access to coverage for frequently abused drugs to include only those drugs that are prescribed by selected prescribers and dispensed by selected pharmacies; and (2) require a PDP sponsor to have in place a utilization management tool to prevent drug abuse.

With respect to a drug management program, a PDP sponsor must: (1) provide specified notice to a beneficiary who has been identified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) as “at-risk” and consequently enrolled in the program; and (2) in selecting prescribers and dispensers, ensure that the beneficiary continues to have reasonable access to drugs. These determinations shall be subject to expedited reconsideration and appeal. A PDP sponsor must review and consider an at-risk beneficiary’s preferences regarding prescriber and pharmacy selection.

Certain individuals, including those receiving hospice care or residing in a long-term care facility, are exempted from enrollment in a drug management program.

CMS must, for purposes of quality or performance assessments, review and consider complaints received from at-risk beneficiaries regarding lack of access due to their enrollment in a drug management program. In addition, CMS must establish rules and procedures requiring a PDP sponsor to provide specified program data.

Date: 2015-07-30
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health
Combat Heroin Epidemic and Backlog Act of 2015

This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance to award grants to state and tribal governments to address the distribution, sale, and use of heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs.

 Grants may be used to:

 reimburse forensic science laboratories for efforts to address and prevent testing backlogs; reimburse law enforcement agencies for equipment to identify or detect heroin, fentanyl, and associated synthetic drugs; investigate, arrest, and prosecute distributors or sellers; and support health department services for users.

Date: 2015-11-04
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
This bill provides FY2016 supplemental appropriations for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address heroin and opioid drug abuse. The funds are designated as an emergency requirement, which exempts the funds from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules.

For DOJ, the bill provides funds for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs.

For HHS, the bill provides funds for:

 the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund.

Date: 2015-12-18
Topic: Health (Drug and Alcohol Abuse)
Subject: Health