[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5063-H5064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MANDATORY REPORTING WITH RESPECT TO ADULT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MEASURES

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5583) to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to 
require States to annually report on certain adult health quality 
measures, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5583

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. MANDATORY REPORTING WITH RESPECT TO ADULT 
                   BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MEASURES.

       Section 1139B of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-
     9b) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by striking ``Not later than January 1, 2013'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(A) Voluntary reporting.--Not later than January 1, 
     2013''; and
       (ii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Mandatory reporting with respect to behavioral health 
     measures.--Beginning with the State report required under 
     subsection (d)(1) for 2024, the Secretary shall require 
     States to use all behavioral health measures included in the 
     core set of adult health quality measures and any updates or 
     changes to such measures to report information, using the 
     standardized format for reporting information and procedures 
     developed under subparagraph (A), regarding the quality of 
     behavioral health care for Medicaid eligible adults.''; and
       (B) in paragraph (5), by adding at the end the following 
     new subparagraph:
       ``(C) Behavioral health measures.--Beginning with respect 
     to State reports required under subsection (d)(1) for 2024, 
     the core set of adult health quality measures maintained 
     under this paragraph (and any updates or changes to such 
     measures) shall include behavioral health measures.''; and
       (2) in subsection (d)(1)(A)--
       (A) by striking ``the such plan'' and inserting ``such 
     plan''; and
       (B) by striking ``subsection (a)(5)'' and inserting 
     ``subsection (b)(5) and, beginning with the report for 2024, 
     all behavioral health measures included in the core set of 
     adult health quality measures maintained under such 
     subsection (b)(5) and any updates or changes to such measures 
     (as required under subsection (b)(3))''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Walden) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert 
extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would point out to my colleagues, this is the 20th 
bill in a row we have brought to the floor so far, with a few more to 
go today. This bill is sponsored by Representatives Clarke, Blackburn, 
and myself, and it requires States to report on the behavioral health 
quality measures in CMS' core set of adult health measures.
  Now, these measures were created as part of the CHIPRA legislation 
back in 2009. States have had almost a decade to understand the 
measures and to report them. So now it is time to make sure that 
information gets reported so Congress can have a complete view on 
behavioral healthcare in Medicaid.
  You see, these behavioral health measures focus on important issues, 
such as initiation and adherence to medication and treatment, smoking 
cessation, screening, and follow-up after hospitalizations.
  This legislation is certainly in alignment with our recent efforts to 
expand mandatory reporting of quality measures. As a reminder, in the 
recent Children's Health Insurance Program 10-year--record 10-year--
extension, States are now required to report on the pediatric core 
measures. Now, this legislation before us will provide some parity in 
requiring the reporting of important behavioral health measures as 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5583, which would require all 
Medicaid programs to report on behavioral health quality measures in 
Medicaid, and I thank the sponsor, Ms. Clarke.
  The Medicaid behavioral health core set of measures contains 16 key 
measures used by CMS to measure and evaluate the quality of behavioral 
healthcare that is being provided by State Medicaid and CHIP agencies. 
Recently, CMS added two additional measures related to opioids.
  The core set is designed to help ensure that those with behavioral 
healthcare needs are receiving appropriate screening management and 
follow-up for their mental health conditions, such as substance abuse 
disorder, including opioid use disorders, ADHD, depression, or 
schizophrenia.
  Currently, the behavioral health core set is a quality measure. 
However, given the expanse of the opioid epidemic and need to improve 
mental healthcare quality and coordination for those with substance 
abuse disorders and all patients, mandatory reporting will ensure we 
have a standard nationwide dataset on the quality of behavioral health 
treatment that our beneficiaries receive under Medicaid.
  Quality treatment is vital to assist in bolstering our Nation's 
mental health and substance abuse care and in improving our healthcare 
system's ability to fight the opioid epidemic. I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).
  Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5583, which I introduced 
together with the Representative from Oregon,  Greg Walden, chairman of 
our committee, and the Representative from Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn.
  As you have heard throughout today's floor debate, more than 115 
people die every day from an opioid overdose, and in my hometown of New 
York City, someone dies every 7 hours from an opioid overdose.
  The African American community, in particular, is dying at an 
alarming rate from opioid abuse. The overdose death rate among African 
Americans in urban counties rose by 41 percent in 2016.
  Mr. Speaker, this is more than an epidemic. This is a full-blown 
crisis,

[[Page H5064]]

and Congress must act to protect our most vulnerable communities.
  To address this epidemic, I have introduced a bill that would support 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' efforts to monitor and 
track quality care, especially in behavioral health related to the use 
of opioids.
  Currently, State reporting on these measures is strictly voluntary. 
H.R. 5583 would make such reporting mandatory. Doing so allows us to 
better collect data for research purposes.
  H.R. 5583 is one of 57 bills that the House Energy and Commerce 
Committee has brought forward to combat the opioid crisis. Now is the 
time for House leadership to bring the issue to a vote.
  We need data that will help us understand opioid prevalence and 
incidence trends amongst our most vulnerable populations. We know that 
the vast majority of people seeking addiction treatment rely on 
Medicaid. We require quality reporting in our other Federal health 
programs. Medicaid beneficiaries deserve the same consideration.
  This bill is a bipartisan effort with Representatives Walden and 
Blackburn, and this crisis goes beyond a rural or urban issue. From 
coast to coast, the opioid epidemic has raged in our communities. 
Regardless of where we are from--urban, suburban, or rural 
communities--we must come together to find a solution to opioid abuse.
  H.R. 5583 enables Congress and our Nation's public health agencies to 
examine and better understand how to support States in treating 
substance abuse and opioid use disorders.
  Mr. Speaker, instead of undermining and sabotaging the ACA and 
gutting Medicaid, let's think of the American people first. 115 people 
die every day from opioid-based overdoses. How many hundreds more 
before Congress takes action?
  This is straightforward policy that will give us insight on how to be 
most effective in helping our most at-risk communities.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York, my 
friend, for her leadership. She is a tireless worker on our committee--
on this issue, especially.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage passage of the legislation, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5583, 
a bill to Amend Title XI of the Social Security Act to Require States 
to Annually Report on Certain Adult Health Quality Measures.
  The United States must affirm its role as a leader in domestic care 
by guaranteeing access to plentiful and accurate information regarding 
the health of its most vulnerable citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, over 67.4 million individuals are enrolled in Medicaid 
as of March of 2018.
  In Texas, Medicaid covers 1 in 14 adults under the age of 65, 1 in 3 
low-income individuals, 2 in 5 children, 3 in 5 nursing home residents, 
and 1 in 3 people with disabilities.
  There are currently over 717 thousand open Medicaid cases in Harris 
County alone.
  In addition, to doctor and hospital visits, Medicaid covers long-term 
services like nursing homes and community-based services that allow 
people with chronic conditions and disabilities to live independently.
  Medicaid covers more than half of all nursing home residents.
  H.R. 5583 requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to 
expand its core set of adult health quality measures for Medicaid-
eligible adults to include measures specific to behavioral health.
  A state Medicaid program must report annually on such measures.
  This bill requires States to use all behavioral health measures 
included in the core set of adult health quality metrics, and any 
changes to such measures, to be reported regarding the quality of 
healthcare for Medicaid-eligible adults.
  By passing this bill and instituting these reporting requirements, we 
can ensure equitable attention to healthcare for Medicaid-eligible men 
and women.
  All Americans, no matter their financial circumstances, deserve 
access to healthcare, and this bill will ensure that discrepancies in 
care among low-income Americans can be identified and addressed.
  Safeguarding the health and healthcare of our citizens is the best 
way to concretely demonstrate our dedication to their safety and well-
being.
  It is not only the right thing to do for our citizens; it is the 
smart thing to do for our nation.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 5583, a bill that 
will ensure the healthcare of all Americans can be addressed and 
improved by requiring annual reports on the health quality of Medicaid-
eligible Americans.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 5583.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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