[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 799 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 799
To combat the rise of prenatal opioid abuse and neonatal abstinence
syndrome.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 19, 2015
Mr. McConnell (for himself and Mr. Casey) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To combat the rise of prenatal opioid abuse and neonatal abstinence
syndrome.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Our Infants Act of
2015''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds as follows:
(1) Opioid prescription rates have risen dramatically over
the past several years. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, in some States, there are as many as 96
to 143 prescriptions for opioids per 100 adults per year.
(2) In recent years, there has been a steady rise in the
number of overdose deaths involving heroin. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the death rate for
heroin overdose doubled from 2010 to 2012.
(3) At the same time, there has been an increase in cases
of neonatal abstinence syndrome (referred to in this section as
``NAS''). In the United States, the incidence of NAS has risen
from 1.20 per 1,000 hospital births in 2000 to 3.39 per 1,000
hospital births in 2009.
(4) NAS refers to medical issues associated with drug
withdrawal in newborns due to exposure to opioids or other
drugs in utero.
(5) The average cost of treatment in a hospital for NAS
increased from $39,400 in 2000 to $53,400 in 2009. Most of
these costs are born by the Medicaid program.
(6) Preventing opioid abuse among pregnant women and women
of childbearing age is crucial.
(7) Medically-appropriate opioid use in pregnancy is not
uncommon, and opioids are often the safest and most appropriate
treatment for moderate to severe pain for pregnant women.
(8) Addressing NAS effectively requires a focus on women of
childbearing age, pregnant women, and infants from
preconception through early childhood.
(9) NAS can result from the use of prescription drugs as
prescribed for medical reasons, from the abuse of prescription
drugs, or from the use of illegal opioids like heroin.
(10) For pregnant women who are abusing opioids, it is most
appropriate to treat and manage maternal substance use in a
non-punitive manner.
(11) According to a report of the Government Accountability
Office (referred to in this section as the ``GAO report''),
more research is needed to optimize the identification and
treatment of babies with NAS and to better understand long-term
impacts on children.
(12) According to the GAO report, the Department of Health
and Human Services does not have a focal point to lead planning
and coordinating efforts to address prenatal opioid use and NAS
across the department.
(13) According to the GAO report, ``given the increasing
use of heroin and abuse of opioids prescribed for pain
management, as well as the increased rate of NAS in the United
States, it is important to improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of planning and coordination of Federal efforts
on prenatal opioid use and NAS''.
SEC. 3. DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTING AND TREATING PRENATAL
OPIOID ABUSE AND NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary''), acting through the
Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (referred to
in this section as the ``Director''), shall conduct a study and develop
recommendations for preventing and treating prenatal opioid abuse and
neonatal abstinence syndrome, soliciting input from nongovernmental
entities, including organizations representing patients, health care
providers, hospitals, other treatment facilities, and other entities,
as appropriate.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Director shall publish on the Internet Web site of the
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality a report on the study and
recommendations under subsection (a). Such report shall address each of
the issues described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (c).
(c) Contents.--The study described in subsection (a) and the report
under subsection (b) shall include--
(1) a comprehensive assessment of existing research with
respect to the prevention, identification, treatment, and long-
term outcomes of neonatal abstinence syndrome, including the
identification and treatment of pregnant women or women who may
become pregnant who use opioids or other drugs;
(2) an evaluation of--
(A) the causes of and risk factors for opioid use
disorders among women of reproductive age, including
pregnant women;
(B) the barriers to identifying and treating opioid
use disorders among women of reproductive age,
including pregnant and postpartum women and women with
young children;
(C) current practices in the health care system to
respond to and treat pregnant women with opioid use
disorders and infants born with neonatal abstinence
syndrome;
(D) medically indicated use of opioids during
pregnancy;
(E) access to treatment for opioid use disorders in
pregnant and postpartum women; and
(F) access to treatment for infants with neonatal
abstinence syndrome; and
(3) recommendations on--
(A) preventing, identifying, and treating neonatal
abstinence syndrome in infants;
(B) treating pregnant women who are dependent on
opioids; and
(C) preventing opioid dependence among women of
reproductive age, including pregnant women, who may be
at risk of developing opioid dependence.
SEC. 4. IMPROVING PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR PRENATAL OPIOID ABUSE
AND NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME.
(a) Review of Programs.--The Secretary shall lead a review of
planning and coordination within the Department of Health and Human
Services related to prenatal opioid use and neonatal abstinence
syndrome.
(b) Strategy to Close Gaps in Research and Programming.--In
carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop a strategy to
address research and program gaps, including such gaps identified in
findings made by reports of the Government Accountability Office. Such
strategy shall address--
(1) gaps in research, including with respect to--
(A) the most appropriate treatment of pregnant
women with opioid use disorders;
(B) the most appropriate treatment and management
of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome; and
(C) the long-term effects of prenatal opioid
exposure on children; and
(2) gaps in programs, including--
(A) the availability of treatment programs for
pregnant and postpartum women and for newborns with
neonatal abstinence syndrome; and
(B) guidance and coordination in Federal efforts to
address prenatal opioid use or neonatal abstinence
syndrome.
(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the
findings of the review described in subsection (a) and the strategy
developed under subsection (b).
SEC. 5. IMPROVING DATA ON AND PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO NEONATAL
ABSTINENCE SYNDROME.
(a) Data and Surveillance.--The Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention shall, as appropriate--
(1) provide technical assistance to States to improve the
availability and quality of data collection and surveillance
activities regarding neonatal abstinence syndrome, including--
(A) the incidence and prevalence of neonatal
abstinence syndrome;
(B) the identification of causes for neonatal
abstinence syndrome, including new and emerging trends;
and
(C) the demographics and other relevant information
associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome;
(2) collect available surveillance data described in
paragraph (1) from States, as applicable; and
(3) make surveillance data collected pursuant to paragraph
(2) publically available on an appropriate Internet Web site.
(b) Public Health Response.--The Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention shall encourage increased utilization of
effective public health measures to reduce neonatal abstinence
syndrome.
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