HR-4396 : Still Just a Bill


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.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2016-03-23CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.House committee actions
2016-03-23CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.House committee actions
2016-03-23CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.House committee actions
2016-02-04CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Health.House committee actions
2016-02-03CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.House committee actions
2016-01-29CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Health.House committee actions
2016-01-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2016-01-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2016-01-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2016-01-28IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2016-01-28IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Policy Area :

Health
Related Subjects
  • Accounting and auditing
  • Administrative remedies
  • Child health
  • Disability and health-based discrimination
  • Drug therapy
  • Drug trafficking and controlled substances
  • Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
  • Education programs funding
  • Elementary and secondary education
  • Employee benefits and pensions
  • Family services
  • Government information and archives
  • Government studies and investigations
  • Health care costs and insurance
  • Health care coverage and access
  • Health information and medical records
  • Health personnel
  • Health programs administration and funding
  • Health promotion and preventive care
  • Health technology, devices, supplies
  • Higher education
  • Home and outpatient care
  • Hospital care
  • Licensing and registrations
  • Medical education
  • Mental health
  • Prescription drugs
  • State and local government operations
  • Student aid and college costs
  • Women's health
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