S-2256 : Still Just a Bill


Co-Prescribing Saves Lives Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Department of Defense (DOD) to: (1) establish training guidelines for federal health care facilities and federally qualified health centers; and (2) train certain health care providers at federal health care facilities on best practices for prescribing pain medications, principles of pain management, the misuse potential of controlled substances, identification of potential substance use disorders and referral to further evaluation and treatment, and disposal of controlled substances.

HHS, the VA, and DOD must establish, for certain health care facilities, guidelines for the prescription of naloxone to individuals at an elevated risk of overdose. (Naloxone is a prescription drug used to rapidly reverse an overdose of opioids, which are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin and certain pain medications.)

HHS must award grants to state departments of health for the development and application of guidelines for the prescription of opioid overdose reversal drugs and to increase access to naloxone. Grants may be used to:

  • establish a program for purchasing, prescribing, and distributing opioid overdose reversal drugs;
  • expand innovative models of naloxone distribution;
  • train and provide resources to health care providers and pharmacists on prescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs;
  • offset individuals' cost-sharing for opioid overdose reversal drugs;
  • conduct community outreach to raise awareness of the availability of opioid overdose reversal drugs; and
  • establish protocols to connect patients who have experienced a drug overdose with treatment.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2016-04-27CalendarsPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 442.Senate
2016-04-27CommitteeCommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.Senate
2016-03-16CommitteeCommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.Senate
2015-11-05IntroReferralRead twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7819-7820)Senate
2015-11-05IntroReferralIntroduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Policy Area :

Health
Related Subjects
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
  • Drug therapy
  • Drug trafficking and controlled substances
  • Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
  • Health facilities and institutions
  • Health personnel
  • Health programs administration and funding
  • Medical education
  • Military medicine
  • Prescription drugs
  • State and local government operations
  • Veterans' medical care
Related Geographic Entities
Related Organizations
  • Department of Defense
  • Department of Health and Human Services
  • Department of Veterans Affairs

Related Bills

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