[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1237-S1238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3412. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 3378 proposed by Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Leahy, 
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Portman, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
Coons, Mr. Cornyn, and Mr. Durbin) to the bill S. 524, to authorize the 
Attorney General to award grants to address the national epidemics of 
prescription opioid abuse and heroin use; which was ordered to lie on 
the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. IMPROVING MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR BENEFICIARIES WITH 
                   DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTIONS.

       (a) Ensuring Coverage of Opioid Detoxification Under 
     Medicare Part A.--
       (1) In general.--Section 1812 of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1395d) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(h) Coverage for opioid detoxification (as defined by the 
     Secretary) shall be available under this part in a similar 
     manner as the coverage for alcohol detoxification is 
     available under this part.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall apply to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 
     2016.
       (b) Inclusion of Methadone as a Covered Part D Drug.--
       (1) In general.--Section 1860D-2(e)(1) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-102(e)(1)) is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the comma at the end 
     and inserting ``; or''; and
       (C) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(C) methadone for the treatment of opioid dependence,''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall apply to plan year 2017 and subsequent plan years.
       (c) Permitting Substance Abuse Counselors to Furnish 
     Alcohol and Drug Abuse Therapy Services Under Medicare Part 
     B.--
       (1) In general.--Section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C)) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following new clause:
       ``(vii) A substance abuse counselor (as defined by the 
     Secretary) with respect to the furnishing of alcohol and drug 
     abuse therapy services (as defined by the Secretary) that

[[Page S1238]]

     such counselor is authorized to furnish under State law.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall apply to items and services furnished on or after 
     January 1, 2017.
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