United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2019
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 This bill addresses certain health benefit and home loan programs for veterans. Specifically, the bill extends the presumption of service-connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide (e.g., Agent Orange) exposure to veterans who served (1) offshore of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, or (2) in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific disabilities or diseases diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. The bill extends eligibility for health care, vocational training and rehabilitation, and monetary allowance to children with spina bifida who have at least one veteran parent who may have been exposed to an herbicide agent while serving in Thailand between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975. Additionally, the bill revises the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan guaranty program to adjust loan fee rates and eliminate the limit on the amount of a loan for which the VA may provide a guaranty of 25%. Under current law, these loan guarantees are subject to a limit on loan size determined by Freddie Mac. The bill also waives loan fees for active duty Purple Heart recipients. The VA shall permit a VA-approved appraiser to make a housing loan appraisal based solely on information gathered by a person with whom the appraiser has entered into an agreement for such services.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2019
Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to grant "Recognizing Inspiring School Employees" awards to classified school employees, within certain occupational specialties, who provide exemplary service to students in prekindergarten through high school. ED must annually select an awardee, out of nominations received from states, from any of the following occupational specialties: (1) paraprofessional services, (2) clerical and administrative services, (3) transportation services, (4) food and nutrition services, (5) custodial and maintenance services, (6) security services, (7) health and student services, (8) technical services, and (9) skilled trades. The award and recognition provided shall have no monetary value. ED shall develop uniform national guidelines for evaluating nominations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2019
Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 This bill authorizes assistance and weapons transfers to Israel, and extends defense cooperation with Jordan. It establishes additional sanctions related to the conflict in Syria, and allows states to divest from entities boycotting Israel. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2019 The bill reauthorizes through FY2028 Foreign Military Financing to Israel. It extends loan guarantees to Israel through FY2023, and authorizes the President to transfer precision-guided munitions to the country. The bill directs the President to report on steps taken to help Israel secure a strategic trade authorization exception. United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation Extension Act The bill extends through 2022 arrangements that allow certain defense articles to be transferred to Jordan on an expedited basis. The bill also directs the President to submit a report to Congress assessing the costs and benefits of establishing a fund to support private investment in Jordan. Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 The bill directs the Department of the Treasury to determine whether the Central Bank of Syria is a primary money-laundering concern and, if so, impose special measures on transactions involving the bank. The bill also imposes sanctions on individuals providing support for the Syrian government. Combating BDS Act of 2019 The bill allows a state or local government to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities using boycotts, divestments, or sanctions to influence Israel's policies. Such measures shall meet various requirements, including those related to written notice and comment.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2019
Retired Pay Restoration Act This bill allows the receipt of both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability. Under current law, only individuals with service-connected disabilities rated at 50% or more receive both without offset. Individuals who were retired or separated after at least 20 years of military service due to a service-connected disability shall be eligible for the full concurrent receipt of both veterans' disability compensation and either military retired pay or combat-related special pay.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2019
Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 This bill (1) reauthorizes, revises, and establishes several programs and entities relating to public-health emergency preparedness and response; and (2) addresses the approval process for over-the counter (OTC) drugs. Among other programs, the bill reauthorizes through FY2023 and revises the Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative-agreement program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Hospital Preparedness Program, the CDC situational-awareness and biosurveillance program, the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals, the National Disaster Medical System, the Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps, the National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters, the Strategic National Stockpile, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. In addition, the bill provides statutory authority for existing programs, including the CDC's Children's Preparedness Unit and the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise. The bill also establishes new programs and entities, including a trauma-center grant program to support military trauma teams. The bill further modifies the approval process for OTC drugs by providing statutory authority for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to (1) regulate certain OTC drugs that are marketed without an approved new-drug application, and (2) issue administrative orders specifying the conditions under which an OTC drug may be deemed safe and effective and not subject to approval as a new drug. The FDA must assess and collect user fees for OTC drugs, including OTC-drug facility and OTC-drug order-request fees.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2019
Medicaid Provisions and TANF Extenders Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes and revises several Medicaid programs and funding mechanisms, as well as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Specifically, the bill makes appropriations for FY2019 for, and otherwise revises, the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program; temporarily extends the applicability of Medicaid eligibility criteria that protect against spousal impoverishment for recipients of home and community-based services; reduces the federal medical assistance percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for states that have not implemented asset-verification programs for determining Medicaid eligibility; reduces funding available to the Medicaid Improvement Fund beginning in FY2021; reauthorizes through FY2020 several grant programs under TANF, such as family assistance grants; and revises state reporting requirements under TANF to include specified employment data, such as employment outcomes for former TANF recipients.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2019
Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019 This bill alters several Medicaid programs and funding mechanisms. Specifically, the bill makes appropriations for FY2019 for, and otherwise revises, the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program; temporarily extends the applicability of Medicaid eligibility criteria that protect against spousal impoverishment for recipients of home and community-based services; reduces the federal medical assistance percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for states that have not implemented asset-verification programs for determining Medicaid eligibility; and reduces funding available to the Medicaid Improvement Fund beginning in FY2021.
United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2019
Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act This bill extends by two years the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Homeless Veteran Families Act This bill updates the Department of Veterans Affairs per diem payment calculation for entities furnishing services to homeless veterans to include funding for a minor dependent. The rate for per diem payments is the daily cost of care as estimated by the grant recipient or eligible entity. This bill would expand the per diem payment amount for a homeless veteran who has care of a minor dependent to the daily cost of care plus, for each minor dependent, an amount that equals 50% of such daily cost of care.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Social Security Fairness Act of 2019 This bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government job. The bill eliminates the government pension offset , which in various instances reduces Social Security survivors' benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receives government pensions of their own. The bill also eliminates the windfall elimination provision , which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2019 This bill allows a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows individuals to carry concealed firearms. A qualified individual must (1) be eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; (2) carry a valid photo identification document; and (3) carry a valid concealed carry permit issued by any state or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in his or her state of residence. Additionally, the bill specifies that a qualified individual who lawfully carries or possesses a concealed handgun in another state (1) is not subject to the federal prohibition on possessing a firearm in a school zone, and (2) may carry or possess the concealed handgun in federally owned lands that are open to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2019
Constitutional Amendment This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress authorizes the excess by a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber. The prohibition excludes outlays for repayment of debt principal and receipts derived from borrowing. The amendment prohibits total outlays for any fiscal year from exceeding one-fifth of the economic output of the United States, unless two-thirds of each house of Congress provides for a specific increase above this amount. The amendment requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber of Congress to increase the public debt limit or to increase revenue. It also requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Congress is authorized to waive these requirements when a declaration of war is in effect or if the United States is engaged in a military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2018
Crooked River Ranch Fire Protection Act This bill: (1) modifies the boundary of the Deschutes Canyon-Steelhead Falls Wilderness Study Area in Oregon to exclude approximately 688 acres of public land; and (2) directs the Department of the Interior to manage such land to improve fire resiliency and forest health, including the conduct of wildfire prevention and response activities.
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2018
Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act This bill amends the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014 to extend by two years the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 2018
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 6 (Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act or the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act).
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2018
Strengthening the Health Care Fraud Prevention Task Force Act of 2018 This bill establishes statutory authority for a partnership between health insurance plans, government agencies, law enforcement, and health care organizations in order to detect and prevent health care waste, fraud, and abuse. Among other requirements, the partnership must: (1) promote data sharing between partners, (2) analyze data to identify fraudulent practices, (3) refer potential criminal cases to law enforcement, and (4) conduct education and outreach.
United States · United States Congress · 7 September 2018
Know the Cost Act of 2018 This bill prohibits a health insurance plan or pharmacy benefits manager from restricting a pharmacy from informing an enrollee of any difference between the cost of a drug under the plan and the cost of the drug without health insurance coverage. (Such restrictions are commonly referred to as gag clauses.)
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2018
This bill designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Bend, Oregon, as the "Robert Maxwell VA Clinic."
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2018
Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act This bill establishes the National Park Service and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund and requires 50% of all energy development revenues for FY2019-FY2023 to be deposited into such fund. Amounts deposited in the fund must not exceed $1.3 billion for any fiscal year and must be used for meeting high-priority deferred maintenance needs of the National Park Service.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2018
AG and Legal Workforce Act This bill establishes a new H-2C nonimmigrant visa for aliens coming temporarily to the United States to perform agricultural labor or services. In addition, the bill (1) directs the Department of Homeland Security to create an electronic employment-eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system, and (2) mandates the use of such a system by employers.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2018
Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to establish several programs and entities relating to public health emergency preparedness and response, including: an interagency advisory panel on health security, a dedicated unit within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address the needs of children during public health emergencies, a grant program to support the provision of services by military trauma teams at high-acuity trauma centers, and programs to address pandemic influenza and emerging infectious diseases. The bill also reauthorizes for FY2019-FY2023 and revises several other programs and entities relating to public health emergencies, including the National Disaster Medical System, the Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. The bill also expands the responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the scope of the National Health Security Strategy. ASPR must also develop a strategy to reunify children and parents who were separated at the U.S.-Mexico border under a specified immigration enforcement policy (i.e., the "zero-tolerance" policy) and submit weekly reports on the status and welfare of children awaiting reunification.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Permit Reassurances Enabling Direct Improvements for Conservation, Tenants, and Species Act of 2018 or the PREDICTS Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide statutory authority for requirements regarding habitat conservation plans, candidate conservation agreements, and safe harbor agreements. Those plans and agreements give nonfederal property owners incentives, such as assurances regarding resource use restrictions, if the owner contributes towards the recovery or conservation of an endangered species, a threatened species, or a species that is a candidate for listing as an endangered or threatened species. Under current regulations, a habitat conservation plan is required for entities to hold an incidental take permit for a project that may result in the incidental taking of an endangered or threatened species. Under candidate conservation agreements and safe harbor agreements, property owners enter into agreements with the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, to address the needs of endangered, threatened, or candidate species in exchange for assurances regarding resource use restrictions that might be imposed if circumstances change. Each incidental take permit, candidate conservation agreement, and safe harbor agreement must contain certain assurances governing permit revocation, changed circumstances, and unforeseen circumstances as prescribed by the bill. The departments may provide grants to individual private landowners to assist the landowners in carrying out candidate conservation agreements or safe harbor agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2018
Land Ownership Collaboration Accelerates Life Act of 2018 or the LOCAL Act of 2018 This bill amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide statutory authority for programs that provide incentives for property owners of natural resources to agree to contribute towards the recovery or conservation of endangered or threatened species. Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce, as appropriate, to enter into: (1) species recovery agreements with property owners who agree to contribute towards the recovery of an endangered or threatened species; and (2) species conservation contract agreements with property owners who agree to contribute towards the conservation of an endangered species, a threatened species, a candidate species, or a species with a comparable designation under state law. The departments must establish a program under which the departments may enter into habitat reserve agreements with property owners to protect or manage habitat for endangered or threatened species. The departments: (1) may provide conservation grants to promote the voluntary conservation of endangered species and threatened species by property owners, (2) must provide financial aid to alleviate the costs of complying with the Act, and (3) may provide technical assistance when requested to enhance the conservation effects of the grants or aid. The bill establishes a Habitat Conservation Planning Loan Program under which the departments may make no-interest loans to assist states and local governments in the development of habitat conservation plans.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2018
This bill requires hospitals with emergency departments that participate in the 340B drug pricing program to receive, as a condition of continued participation, a specified certification relating to the availability of sexual assault forensic examiners at the hospital.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2018
Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to align federal privacy standards for substance use disorder (SUD) patient records more closely with standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Specifically, the bill authorizes the disclosure of SUD patient records without a patient's written consent to: (1) a covered entity for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations, as long as the disclosure is made in accordance with HIPAA; and (2) a public health authority, as long as the content of the disclosure meets HIPAA standards regarding de-identified information. Current law authorizes disclosure of SUD patient records without a patient's written consent only to medical personnel in a medical emergency, to specified personnel for research or program evaluations, or pursuant to a court order. The bill also repeals and replaces criminal penalties for certain violations involving SUD patient records with the HIPAA civil penalty structure. It also applies HIPAA criminal penalties to wrongful disclosures of SUD patient records. In addition, the bill expands the current prohibition against using SUD patient records in criminal proceedings to include any use in specified federal, state, and local criminal and civil actions. The bill prohibits certain discrimination based on the release of SUD information under this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2018
Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act or the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act This bill makes several changes to state Medicaid programs to address opioid and substance use disorders. Specifically, the bill: modifies provisions related to coverage for juvenile inmates and former foster care youth, establishes a demonstration project to increase provider treatment capacity for substance use disorders, requires the establishment of drug management programs for at-risk beneficiaries, establishes drug review and utilization requirements, extends the enhanced federal matching rate for expenditures regarding substance use disorder health home services, and temporarily requires coverage of medication-assisted treatment. The bill also alters Medicare requirements to address opioid use. Specifically, the bill: exempts substance use disorder telehealth services from specified requirements, requires the initial examination for new enrollees to include an opioid use disorder screening, modifies provisions regarding electronic prescriptions and post-surgical pain management, requires prescription drug plan sponsors to establish drug management programs for at-risk beneficiaries, and requires coverage for services provided by certified opioid treatment programs. The bill also addresses other opioid-related issues. Specifically, the bill: establishes and expands programs to support increased detection and monitoring of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, and increases the maximum number of patients that health care practitioners may initially treat with medication-assisted treatment (i.e., under a buprenorphine waiver). Additionally, the bill temporarily eliminates the enhanced federal matching rate for Medicaid expenditures regarding specified medical services provided by certain managed care organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2018
Defending Essential Flights and Ensuring National Security Efforts Act of 2018 or the DEFENSE Act of 2018 This bill allows an exemption from certain eligibility requirements under the essential air service program for locations at which not less than 10% of aircraft takeoffs and landings in 2017 were by aircraft of the Armed Forces.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2018
This bill delays by one year (to January 1, 2020) the Medicaid federal matching rate reduction that is scheduled to take effect for states that fail to require an electronic visit verification system for personal care services. The bill also excludes specified services from such verification system requirements, including inpatient hospital services and 24-hour residential group home services.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Substance Use Disorder Coordination, Access, Recovery Enhancement Act of 2018 or the SUD CARE Act This bill increases the maximum number of patients that health care practitioners may initially treat with medication-assisted treatment (i.e., under a buprenorphine waiver), and also aligns federal privacy standards for substance use disorder patient records more closely with standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Individuals in Medicaid Deserve Care that is Appropriate and Responsible in its Delivery Act or the IMD CARE Act This bill temporarily allows states to apply to receive federal Medicaid payment for services provided in institutions for mental diseases (IMDs) for enrollees (aged 21 to 64) with opioid use disorders. In general, with respect to an eligible enrollee, services may be covered for a total of up to 30 days in a 12-month period. States must include specified information in their applications, including plans to improve access to outpatient care. Current law generally prohibits federal payment under Medicaid for services provided in IMDs for individuals under the age of 65 (although states may receive payment through certain mechanisms, such as through a Medicaid demonstration waiver).
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Long-Term Opioid Efficacy Act of 2018 This bill expands the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require post-approval studies or clinical trials with respect to controlled substances (e.g., opioids).
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Medicaid Providers Are Required To Note Experiences in Record Systems to Help In-need Patients Act or the Medicaid PARTNERSHIP Act This bill requires each state to: (1) establish a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP), and (2) require health care providers to check the PDMP for a Medicaid enrollee's prescription drug history before prescribing controlled substances to the enrollee. In addition to meeting other specified requirements, each PDMP must allow health care providers to access the number and type of controlled substances prescribed to a Medicaid enrollee during the most recent 12-month period. The bill also temporarily increases the federal matching rate with respect to Medicaid expenditures related to PDMP implementation for states that have agreements to promote PDMP interoperability with their neighboring states. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must publish guidance and best practices for states regarding PDMP utilization. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on PDMP administration.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Responsible Education Achieves Care and Healthy Outcomes for Users’ Treatment Act of 2018 or the REACH OUT Act of 2018 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to qualifying organizations in order to support efforts to curb outlier prescribers of opioids under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Creating Opportunities that Necessitate New and Enhanced Connections That Improve Opioid Navigation Strategies Act of 2018 or the CONNECTIONS Act This bill authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide technical assistance and award grants in order to: (1) improve the efficiency and use of state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), achieve community or health system interventions relating to controlled substances (e.g., prescription guidelines), and promote new approaches to responding to emerging public health crises; and (2) improve the timeliness, comprehensiveness, and usefulness of reported overdose data. The bill also amends the Public Health Service Act to alter requirements relating to PDMPs. Among other changes, the bill: (1) repeals requirements regarding grant formulas, database standards, and authorized data disclosures; and (2) authorizes federal support for specific improvements regarding use, data reporting, and intrastate and interstate interoperability. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the progress of states in implementing PDMPs that are consistent with such improvements.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Postoperative Opioid Prevention Act of 2018 This bill temporarily increases payment under Medicare for certain non-opioid analgesics that are used for pain management in hospital outpatient department services.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Post-Surgical Injections as an Opioid Alternative Act This bill temporarily freezes Medicare payment at 2016 levels for specified spinal surgery outpatient procedures that are conducted in ambulatory surgical centers.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Medicaid Institutes for Mental Disease Are Decisive in Delivering Inpatient Treatment for Individuals but Opportunities for Needed Access are Limited without Information Needed about Facility Obligations Act or the Medicaid IMD ADDITIONAL INFO Act This bill requires the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission to report on information relating to services for Medicaid enrollees who are patients in institutions for mental diseases (IMDs), including: (1) the number and type of IMDs in each sampled state and associated coverage limitations, (2) services and processes provided at such IMDs, (3) applicable federal waivers and other Medicaid funding sources for such IMDs, (4) state requirements for such IMDs to receive funding, and (5) recommendations to improve standards and data collection for IMDs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Medicaid Health Homes for Opioid-Use-Disorder Medicaid Enrollees Encouraged Act or the Medicaid Health HOME Act This bill extends the enhanced federal matching rate for expenditures regarding substance-use disorder health-home services under Medicaid.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Medicaid Pharmaceutical Home Act of 2018 This bill requires state Medicaid programs to establish drug-management programs for at-risk beneficiaries (those identified as at risk of abusing or misusing controlled substances).
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Medicaid Drug Review, Utilization, Good Governance Improvement Act or the Medicaid DRUG Improvement Act This bill requires state Medicaid programs to establish drug-review and utilization requirements for enrollees, particularly with respect to opioid prescriptions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Opioid Screening and Chronic Pain Management Alternatives for Seniors Act This bill requires the initial examination for new Medicare enrollees to include a review of current opioid prescriptions and an opioid use disorder screening.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act This bill aligns federal privacy standards for substance use disorder patient records more closely with standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, including authorized disclosures and penalty structures for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
This bill allows states to receive federal payment under Medicaid for outside services that are provided to pregnant and postpartum women who are substance use disorder patients at institutions for mental diseases. State Medicaid programs may also cover residential pediatric recovery center services for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2018
21st Century Tools for Pain and Addiction Treatment Act This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise how it will address the challenges and barriers of developing non-addictive medical products to treat pain or addiction.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2018
Stop Illicit Drug Importation Act of 2018 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to expand the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to prohibit the importation of certain drugs or destroy illegally imported or hazardous drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2018
Commit to Opioid Medical Prescriber Accountability and Safety for Seniors Act or the COMPASS Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify outlier prescribers of opioids under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans. Specifically, the CMS must: (1) establish an opioid-prescription threshold for determining whether a prescriber is an outlier compared to other prescribers, based on specialty and geographic area; (2) use National Provider Identifiers (unique provider identification numbers currently included on claims for covered drugs) to identify outlier prescribers; and (3) annually notify identified outlier prescribers of their status and provide them with resources on proper prescribing methods. The CMS may also identify and notify outlier prescribers based on co-prescriptions of covered drugs that have adverse effects when used in combination with opioids.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2018
Strengthening Partnerships to Prevent Opioid Abuse Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a secure online portal to allow: (1) data sharing among the CMS, Medicare prescription drug benefit plans, and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans; and (2) referrals by such plans of substantiated fraud, waste, or abuse in order to initiate or assist investigations by contracted entities under the Medicare Integrity Program. The CMS must disseminate and report certain collected information to such plans, including information regarding providers that were referred through the portal and trends in identifying suspicious activity. Additionally, for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, MA organizations must submit information to the CMS regarding investigations or other actions taken by MA plans against providers that prescribe high volumes of opioids (as determined by the CMS).
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2018
Securing Opioids and Unused Narcotics with Deliberate Disposal and Packaging Act of 2018 or the SOUND Disposal and Packaging Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize the Food and Drug Administration to require certain packaging and disposal technologies, controls, or measures to mitigate the risk of abuse or misuse of a drug or a class of drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2018
Medicare Opioid Safety Education Act of 2018 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide Medicare beneficiaries with educational resources regarding opioid use and pain management, as well as descriptions of covered alternative (non-opioid) pain-management treatments.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 2018
Medicare Clear Health Options in Care for Enrollees Act of 2018 or the Medicare CHOICE Act of 2018 This bill requires Medicare and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors to annually disclose information to enrollees about: (1) the adverse effects of prolonged opioid use; and (2) the plan's coverage of nonpharmacological therapies, devices, and non-opioid medications. PDP sponsors may limit disclosure to a subset of enrollees (such as those who were prescribed an opioid in the previous two-year period).
![Official portrait of Rep. Walden, Greg [R-OR-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/w000791_200.jpg)