[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5064-H5066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MEDICARE OPIOID SAFETY EDUCATION ACT OF 2018
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5685) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to
provide educational resources regarding opioid use and pain management
as part of the Medicare & You handbook.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5685
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 ``Medicare Opioid Safety
Education Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. PROVISION OF INFORMATION REGARDING OPIOID USE AND
PAIN MANAGEMENT AS PART OF MEDICARE & YOU
HANDBOOK.
(a) In General.--Section 1804 of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395b-2) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(d) The notice provided under subsection (a) shall
include--
``(1) educational resources, compiled by the Secretary,
regarding opioid use and pain management; and
``(2) a description of alternative, non-opioid pain
management treatments covered under this title.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
shall apply to notices distributed prior to each Medicare
open enrollment period beginning after January 1, 2019.
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 commend Representatives Faso, Welch, and Renacci. They
all worked hard to develop this bipartisan bill, and I thank them for
their work.
The Medicare Opioid Safety Education Act directs the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services to include information about the risk of
opioid use, potential nonopioid pain management treatments, and other
relevant information in the Medicare & You handbook that is published
annually.
The Medicare programs provide healthcare coverage to over 58 million
users. We want to empower every person on Medicare to be able to have a
thoughtful conversation with his or her provider about their
prescriptions and the possible alternatives. Education is a big part of
what we are doing here.
The Medicare & You handbook is provided to every beneficiary and
represents an education point for those on opioids and those who may,
in the future, need to have a discussion about pain treatment options
with their physician.
We are rightfully seizing upon this opportunity to inform as many
people as possible and educate them about the long-term opioid use and
misuse. It is always a good thing to do. It is another tool in the
toolbox when it comes to beneficiary outreach and education.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5685.
[[Page H5065]]
House of Representatives,
Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Washington, DC, June 7, 2018.
Hon. Kevin Brady,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Brady: On May 9 and 17, 2018, the Committee
on Energy and Commerce ordered favorably reported over 50
bills to address the opioid epidemic facing communities
across our nation. Several of the bills were also referred to
the Committee on Ways and Means.
I ask that the Committee on Ways and Means not insist on
its referral of the following bills so that they may be
scheduled for consideration by the Majority Leader:
H.R. 1925, At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2017;
H.R. 3331, To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to
promote testing of incentive payments for behavioral health
providers for adoption and use of certified electronic health
record technology;
H.R. 3528, Every Prescription Conveyed Securely Act;
H.R. 4841, Standardizing Electronic Prior Authorization for
Safe Prescribing Act of 2018;
H.R. 5582, Abuse Deterrent Access Act of 2018;
H.R. 5590, Opioid Addiction Action Plan Act;
H.R. 5603, Access to Telehealth Services for Opioid Use
Disorder;
H.R. 5605, Advancing High Quality Treatment for Opioid Use
Disorders in Medicare Act;
H.R. 5675, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act
to require prescription drug plan sponsors under the Medicare
program to establish drug management programs for at-risk
beneficiaries;
H.R. 5684, Protecting Seniors from Opioid Abuse Act;
H.R. 5685, Medicare Opioid Safety Education Act;
H.R. 5686, Medicare Clear Health Options in Care for
Enrollees (CHOICE) Act;
H.R. 5715, Strengthening Partnerships to Prevent Opioid
Abuse Act;
H.R. 5716, Commit to Opioid Medical Prescriber
Accountability and Safety for Seniors (COMPASS) Act;
H.R. 5796, Responsible Education Achieves Care and Healthy
Outcomes for Users' Treatment (REACH OUT) Act of 2018;
H.R. 5798, Opioid Screening and Chronic Pain Management
Alternatives for Seniors Act;
H.R. 5804, Post-Surgical Injections as an Opioid
Alternative Act; and
H.R. 5809, Postoperative Opioid Prevention Act of 2018.
This concession in no way affects your jurisdiction over
the subject matter of these bills, and it will not serve as
precedent for future referrals. In addition, should a
conference on the bills be necessary, I would support your
request to have the Committee on Ways and Means on the
conference committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include
this letter and your response in the bill reports and the
Congressional Record.
Thank you for your consideration of my request and for the
extraordinary cooperation shown by you and your staff over
matters of shared jurisdiction. I look forward to further
opportunities to work with you this Congress.
Sincerely,
Greg Walden,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC, June 8, 2018.
Hon. Greg Walden,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Walden: Thank you for your letter concerning
several bills favorably reported out of the Committee on
Energy and Commerce to address the opioid epidemic and which
the Committee on Ways and Means was granted an additional
referral.
As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions
within these bills that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction
of the Committee on Ways and Means, I agree to waive formal
consideration of the following bills so that they may move
expeditiously to the floor:
H.R. 1925, At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2017;
H.R. 3331, To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to
promote testing of incentive payments for behavioral health
providers for adoption and use of certified electronic health
record technology;
H.R. 3528, Every Prescription Conveyed Securely Act;
H.R. 4841, Standardizing Electronic Prior Authorization for
Safe Prescribing Act of 2018;
H.R. 5582, Abuse Deterrent Access Act of 2018;
H.R. 5590, Opioid Addiction Action Plan Act;
H.R. 5603, Access to Telehealth Services for Opioid Use
Disorder;
H.R. 5605, Advancing High Quality Treatment for Opioid Use
Disorders in Medicare Act;
H.R. 5675, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act
to require prescription drug plan sponsors under the Medicare
program to establish drug management programs for at-risk
beneficiaries;
H.R. 5684, Protecting Seniors from Opioid Abuse Act;
H.R. 5685, Medicare Opioid Safety Education Act;
H.R. 5686, Medicare Clear Health Options in Care for
Enrollees (CHOICE) Act;
H.R. 5715, Strengthening Partnerships to Prevent Opioid
Abuse Act;
H.R. 5716, Commit to Opioid Medical Prescriber
Accountability and Safety for Seniors (COMPASS) Act;
H.R. 5796, Responsible Education Achieves Care and Healthy
Outcomes for Users' Treatment (REACH OUT) Act of 2018;
H.R. 5798, Opioid Screening and Chronic Pain Management
Alternatives for Seniors Act;
H.R. 5804, Post-Surgical Injections as an Opioid
Alternative Act; and
H.R. 5809, Postoperative Opioid Prevention Act of 2018.
The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the
mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction
over the subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately
consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation
moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues
that fall within our jurisdiction. The Committee also
reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate
number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving
this or similar legislation and requests your support for
such a request.
Finally, I would appreciate your commitment to include this
exchange of letters in the bill reports and the Congressional
Record.
Sincerely,
Kevin Brady,
Chairman.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Faso), a very capable and able
legislator. This is his legislation, in part, and he has been a real
leader in this overall effort, and certainly on this piece of
legislation.
Mr. FASO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walden for all of his
leadership and Ranking Member Pallone for the leadership, on a
bipartisan basis, for bringing all these bills to the floor today.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 5685,
the Medicare Opioid Safety Education Act. When enacted, this bill will
help to combat the opioid crisis by improving efforts to educate
seniors on alternatives to traditional opioid pain medication as they
use it through the Medicare part D program.
Nearly one-third of seniors on Medicare part D were prescribed an
opioid in 2016--nearly one-third of seniors prescribed an opioid on
Medicare part D in 2016. That statistic underlines just how pervasive
opioid painkillers are among seniors who are often dealing with issues
stemming from chronic pain.
Seniors are given an informational booklet entitled ``Medicare &
You'' prior to becoming Medicare eligible that details the services
available to them upon enrollment. Currently, the word ``opioid''
actually only appears once in this booklet, and, given the national
crisis that we are facing of opioid addiction among all segments of our
society, that is really not enough. My bill would substantially improve
Medicare opioid education by adding available opioid alternatives and
additional education information to this handbook for every senior to
see.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Walden for all of his hard work on this
important issue and for working with us on bringing this legislation to
the floor today. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important
legislation.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5685, sponsored by
Representatives John Faso and Peter Welch. I commend my colleagues for
their work on this important bill.
We know that opioid abuse and misuse is a significant and growing
problem in the Medicare population. We know that we need to do more,
not only to bring down opioid prescribing, but to make seniors aware of
the dangers of opioid addiction and the existence of alternatives.
{time} 1730
H.R. 5685 would add educational resources regarding opioid use and
nonopioid pain management alternatives to the ``Medicare & You''
handbook, which is mailed to all Medicare households each fall.
While this is an important bill, I want to underscore that it is
incremental and it is limited. I want to reiterate my continuing
concern that
[[Page H5066]]
while Democrats support working on a legislative package to address the
opioid crisis, we must first assure that we do no harm.
The Trump administration and Congressional Republicans' efforts to
dismantle the Affordable Care Act would do serious harm to our
healthcare system, and to individuals suffering from opioid use
disorders specifically.
For instance, the Trump administration continues to undermine the
individual market by promoting junk insurance plans, such as short-term
limited duration health plans. These plans, which would be medically
underwritten and would exclude individuals with preexisting conditions,
would make coverage in the Affordable Care Act compliant market much
more expensive. This would make coverage for individuals who need
comprehensive coverage, such as individuals with opioid use disorders,
less affordable and accessible.
The opioids package cannot be considered in a vacuum. Make no
mistake, ongoing Republican efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act
could not only reverse any gains we may make from these efforts today,
but will inflict broad, lasting harm to our healthcare system and to
our ability to fight the opioid crisis.
Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I ask my colleagues to
support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this very
important and bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Carter of Georgia). 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. 5685.
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.
____________________