[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H5258-H5261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PREVENTING ADDICTION FOR SUSCEPTIBLE SENIORS ACT OF 2018

  Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5773) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
require Medicare prescription drug plans to establish drug management 
programs for at-risk beneficiaries, require electronic prior 
authorization for covered part D drugs, and to provide for other 
program integrity measures under parts C and D of the Medicare program, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5773

       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 ``Preventing Addiction for 
     Susceptible Seniors Act of 2018'' or the ``PASS Act of 
     2018''.

     SEC. 2. ELECTRONIC PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR COVERED PART D 
                   DRUGS.

       (a) Inclusion in Electronic Prescription Program.--Section 
     1860D-4(e)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-
     104(e)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(E) Electronic prior authorization.--
       ``(i) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2021, the 
     program shall provide for the secure electronic transmission 
     of--

       ``(I) a prior authorization request from the prescribing 
     health care professional for coverage of a covered part D 
     drug for a part D eligible individual enrolled in a part D 
     plan (as defined in section 1860D-23(a)(5)) to the PDP 
     sponsor or Medicare Advantage organization offering such 
     plan; and
       ``(II) a response, in accordance with this subparagraph, 
     from such PDP sponsor or Medicare Advantage organization, 
     respectively, to such professional.

       ``(ii) Electronic transmission.--

       ``(I) Exclusions.--For purposes of this subparagraph, a 
     facsimile, a proprietary payer portal that does not meet 
     standards specified by the Secretary, or an electronic form 
     shall not be treated as an electronic transmission described 
     in clause (i).
       ``(II) Standards.--In order to be treated, for purposes of 
     this subparagraph, as an electronic transmission described in 
     clause (i), such transmission shall comply with technical 
     standards adopted by the Secretary in consultation with the 
     National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, other 
     standard setting organizations determined appropriate by the 
     Secretary, and stakeholders including PDP sponsors, Medicare 
     Advantage organizations, health care professionals, and 
     health information technology software vendors.
       ``(III) Application.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, for purposes of this subparagraph, the Secretary may 
     require the use of such standards adopted under subclause 
     (II) in lieu of any other applicable standards for an 
     electronic transmission described in clause (i) for a covered 
     part D drug for a part D eligible individual.''.

       (b) Sense of Congress Regarding Electronic Prior 
     Authorization.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) there should be increased use of electronic prior 
     authorizations for coverage of covered part D drugs for part 
     D eligible individuals enrolled in prescription drug plans 
     under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act and 
     MA-PD plans under part C of such title to reduce access 
     delays by resolving coverage issues before prescriptions for 
     such drugs are transmitted; and
       (2) greater priority should be placed on increasing the 
     adoption of use of such electronic prior authorizations among 
     prescribers of such drugs, pharmacies, PDP sponsors, and 
     Medicare Advantage organizations.

[[Page H5259]]

  


     SEC. 3. PROGRAM INTEGRITY TRANSPARENCY MEASURES UNDER 
                   MEDICARE PARTS C AND D.

       (a) In General.--Section 1859 of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1395w-28) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(i) Program Integrity Transparency Measures.--
       ``(1) Program integrity portal.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than two years after the date 
     of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall, 
     after consultation with stakeholders, establish a secure 
     Internet website portal (or other successor technology) that 
     would allow a secure path for communication between the 
     Secretary, MA plans under this part, prescription drug plans 
     under part D, and an eligible entity with a contract under 
     section 1893 (such as a Medicare drug integrity contractor or 
     an entity responsible for carrying out program integrity 
     activities under this part and part D) for the purpose of 
     enabling through such portal (or other successor 
     technology)--
       ``(i) the referral by such plans of substantiated fraud, 
     waste, and abuse for initiating or assisting investigations 
     conducted by the eligible entity; and
       ``(ii) data sharing among such MA plans, prescription drug 
     plans, and the Secretary.
       ``(B) Required uses of portal.--The Secretary shall 
     disseminate the following information to MA plans under this 
     part and prescription drug plans under part D through the 
     secure Internet website portal (or other successor 
     technology) established under subparagraph (A):
       ``(i) Providers of services and suppliers that have been 
     referred pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i) during the previous 
     12-month period.
       ``(ii) Providers of services and suppliers who are the 
     subject of an active exclusion under section 1128 or who are 
     subject to a suspension of payment under this title pursuant 
     to section 1862(o) or otherwise.
       ``(iii) Providers of services and suppliers who are the 
     subject of an active revocation of participation under this 
     title, including for not satisfying conditions of 
     participation.
       ``(iv) In the case of such a plan that makes a referral 
     under subparagraph (A)(i) through the portal (or other 
     successor technology) with respect to activities of 
     substantiated fraud, waste, or abuse of a provider of 
     services or supplier, if such provider or supplier has been 
     the subject of an administrative action under this title or 
     title XI with respect to similar activities, a notification 
     to such plan of such action so taken.
       ``(C) Rulemaking.--For purposes of this paragraph, the 
     Secretary shall, through rulemaking, specify what constitutes 
     substantiated fraud, waste, and abuse, using guidance such as 
     what is provided in the Medicare Program Integrity Manual 
     4.7.1. In carrying out this subsection, a fraud hotline tip 
     (as defined by the Secretary) without further evidence shall 
     not be treated as sufficient evidence for substantiated 
     fraud, waste, or abuse
       ``(D) HIPAA compliant information only.--For purposes of 
     this subsection, communications may only occur if the 
     communications are permitted under the Federal regulations 
     (concerning the privacy of individually identifiable health 
     information) promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health 
     Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
       ``(2) Quarterly reports.--Beginning two years after the 
     date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall 
     make available to MA plans under this part and prescription 
     drug plans under part D in a timely manner (but no less 
     frequently than quarterly) and using information submitted to 
     an entity described in paragraph (1) through the portal (or 
     other successor technology) described in such paragraph or 
     pursuant to section 1893, information on fraud, waste, and 
     abuse schemes and trends in identifying suspicious activity. 
     Information included in each such report shall--
       ``(A) include administrative actions, pertinent information 
     related to opioid overprescribing, and other data determined 
     appropriate by the Secretary in consultation with 
     stakeholders; and
       ``(B) be anonymized information submitted by plans without 
     identifying the source of such information.
       ``(3) Clarification.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed as precluding or otherwise affecting referrals 
     described in subparagraph (A) that may otherwise be made to 
     law enforcement entities or to the Secretary.''.
       (b) Contract Requirement to Communicate Plan Corrective 
     Actions Against Opioid Over-prescribers.--Section 1857(e) of 
     the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-27(e)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) Communicating plan corrective actions against opioids 
     over-prescribers.--
       ``(A) In general.--Beginning with plan years beginning on 
     or after January 1, 2021, a contract under this section with 
     an MA organization shall require the organization to submit 
     to the Secretary, through the process established under 
     subparagraph (B), information on the investigations and other 
     actions taken by such plans related to providers of services 
     who prescribe a high volume of opioids.
       ``(B) Process.--Not later than January 1, 2021, the 
     Secretary shall, in consultation with stakeholders, establish 
     a process under which MA plans and prescription drug plans 
     shall submit to the Secretary information described in 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(C) Regulations.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
     including as applied under section 1860D-12(b)(3)(D), the 
     Secretary shall, pursuant to rulemaking--
       ``(i) specify a definition for the term `high volume of 
     opioids' and a method for determining if a provider of 
     services prescribes such a high volume; and
       ``(ii) establish the process described in subparagraph (B) 
     and the types of information that shall be submitted through 
     such process.''.
       (c) Reference Under Part D to Program Integrity 
     Transparency Measures.--Section 1860D-4 of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-104) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new subsection:
       ``(m) Program Integrity Transparency Measures.--For program 
     integrity transparency measures applied with respect to 
     prescription drug plan and MA plans, see section 1859(i).''.

     SEC. 4. EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICATION THERAPY 
                   MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS UNDER PART D.

       Section 1860D-4(c)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1395w-104(c)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subclauses (I) through (III) as items 
     (aa) through (cc), respectively, and adjusting the margins 
     accordingly;
       (2) by striking ``are part D eligible individuals who--'' 
     and inserting ``are the following:

       ``(I) Part D eligible individuals who--''; and

       (3) by adding at the end the following new subclause:

       ``(II) Beginning January 1, 2021, at-risk beneficiaries for 
     prescription drug abuse (as defined in paragraph (5)(C)).''.

     SEC. 5. MEDICARE NOTIFICATIONS TO OUTLIER PRESCRIBERS OF 
                   OPIOIDS.

       Section 1860D-4(c)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1395w-104(c)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraph:
       ``(D) Outlier prescriber notification.--
       ``(i) Notification.--Beginning not later than two years 
     after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the 
     Secretary shall, in the case of a prescriber identified by 
     the Secretary under clause (ii) to be an outlier prescriber 
     of opioids, provide, subject to clause (iv), an annual 
     notification to such prescriber that such prescriber has been 
     so identified and that includes resources on proper 
     prescribing methods and other information specified in 
     accordance with clause (iii).
       ``(ii) Identification of outlier prescribers of opioids.--

       ``(I) In general.--The Secretary shall, subject to 
     subclause (III), using the valid prescriber National Provider 
     Identifiers included pursuant to subparagraph (A) on claims 
     for covered part D drugs for part D eligible individuals 
     enrolled in prescription drug plans under this part or MA-PD 
     plans under part C and based on the threshold established 
     under subclause (II), conduct an analysis to identify 
     prescribers that are outlier opioid prescribers for a period 
     specified by the Secretary.
       ``(II) Establishment of threshold.--For purposes of 
     subclause (I) and subject to subclause (III), the Secretary 
     shall, after consultation with stakeholders, establish a 
     threshold, based on prescriber specialty and geographic area, 
     for identifying whether a prescriber in a specialty and 
     geographic area is an outlier prescriber of opioids as 
     compared to other prescribers of opioids within such 
     specialty and area.
       ``(III) Exclusions.--The Secretary may exclude the 
     following individuals and prescribers from the analysis under 
     this clause:

       ``(aa) Individuals receiving hospice services.
       ``(bb) Individuals with a cancer diagnosis.
       ``(cc) Prescribers who are the subject of an investigation 
     by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or the Office 
     of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human 
     Services.
       ``(iii) Contents of notification.--The Secretary shall, 
     based on input from stakeholders, specify the resources and 
     other information to be included in notifications provided 
     under clause (i).
       ``(iv) Modifications and expansions.--

       ``(I) Frequency.--Beginning 5 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary may change the 
     frequency of the notifications described in clause (i) based 
     on stakeholder input.
       ``(II) Expansion to other prescriptions.--The Secretary may 
     expand notifications under this subparagraph to include 
     identifications and notifications with respect to concurrent 
     prescriptions of covered Part D drugs used in combination 
     with opioids that are considered to have adverse side effects 
     when so used in such combination, as determined by the 
     Secretary.

       ``(v) Opioids defined.--For purposes of this subparagraph, 
     the term `opioids' has such meaning as specified by the 
     Secretary through program instruction or otherwise.''.

     SEC. 6. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

       No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out the requirements of this Act and the amendments 
     made by this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out 
     using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Roskam) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Judy 
Chu) each will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H5260]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5773, currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R. 5773, a bipartisan 
bill centered on curbing opioid overuse by increasing program integrity 
efforts and increasing resources for beneficiaries to help ensure that 
they are properly adhering to their prescribed pain medications.
  My home State of Illinois is experiencing a notable increase in 
opioid-related overdose deaths. According to the Illinois Department of 
Public Health, there has been a 44.3 percent increase in drug overdoses 
from 2013 to 2016. This staggering statistic is not limited to my 
district alone. This crisis has affected all of our districts, and for 
some, the four walls of our own homes.
  For this reason, Congress is taking action today to continue our work 
to deliver solutions to the opioid epidemic that is plaguing far too 
many American families.
  H.R. 5773, which I have introduced with my colleagues Representatives 
Knight, Sewell, and Sinema, packages several previously introduced 
bills.
  Specifically, H.R. 5773 includes policies under my bill H.R. 5716, 
the Commit to Opioid Medical Prescriber Accountability and Safety for 
Seniors Act, otherwise known as the COMPASS Act, introduced with 
Representative Larson, that ensures prescribers are notified of their 
opioid prescribing patterns to help educate them on proper prescribing.
  Second, the bill includes H.R. 4841, the Standardizing Electronic 
Prior Authorization for Safe Prescribing Act, led by Representatives 
Schweikert and Mike Thompson, to standardize electronic prior 
authorization to reduce physician burden and ensure medically necessary 
access to drugs, like opioids, that have dangerous side effects and 
high risk of abuse.
  And third, this bill contains policies from H.R. 5715, the 
Strengthening Partnerships to Prevent Opioid Abuse Act, led by 
Representatives Renacci and Sewell that will establish a portal to 
better facilitate communication between plan sponsors and the Medicare 
program to prevent opioid overuse and overprescribing.
  And finally, the bill contains policies from H.R. 5684, the 
Protecting Seniors from Opioid Abuse Act, championed by my colleagues 
Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania and Mr. Thompson of California, which expands 
Medication Therapy Management services to those who are at risk of 
opioid overuse.
  Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
advance policies like all the bills we have today that will further 
prevent opioid overuse and overprescribing, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.

                                         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: I write to you regarding several 
     opioid bills the Committee on Ways and Means ordered 
     favorably reported to address the opioid epidemic. The 
     following bills were also referred to the Committee on Energy 
     and Commerce.
       I ask that the Committee on Energy and Commerce waive 
     formal consideration of the following bills so that they may 
     proceed expeditiously to the House Floor:
       H.R. 5774, Combatting Opioid Abuse for Care in Hospitals 
     (COACH) Act;
       H.R. 5775, Providing Reliable Options for Patients and 
     Educations Resources (PROPER) Act;
       H.R. 5776, Medicare and Opioid Safe Treatment (MOST) Act;
       H.R. 5773, Preventing Addiction for Susceptible Seniors 
     (PASS) Act;
       H.R. 5676, Stop Excessive Narcotics in our Retirement 
     (SENIOR) Communities Protection Act; and
       H.R. 5723, Expanding Oversight of Opioid Prescribing and 
     Payment Act.
       I acknowledge that by waiving formal consideration of the 
     bills, the Committee on Energy and Commerce is in no way 
     waiving its jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in 
     those provisions of the bills that fall within your Rule X 
     jurisdiction. I would support your effort to seek appointment 
     of an appropriate number of conferees on any House-Senate 
     conference involving this legislation.
       I will include a copy of our letters in the Congressional 
     Record during consideration of this legislation on the House 
     floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Kevin Brady,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Energy and Commerce,

                                     Washington, DC, June 8, 2018.
     Hon. Kevin Brady,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Brady: Thank you for your letter regarding 
     the following bills, which were also referred to the 
     Committee on Energy and Commerce:
       H.R. 5774, Combatting Opioid Abuse for Care in Hospitals 
     (COACH) Act;
       H.R. 5775, Providing Reliable Options for Patients and 
     Educations Resources (PROPER) Act;
       H.R. 5776, Medicare and Opioid Safe Treatment (MOST) Act;
       H.R. 5773, Preventing Addiction for Susceptible Seniors 
     (PASS) Act;
       H.R. 5676, Stop Excessive Narcotics in our Retirement 
     (SENIOR) Communities Protection Act; and
       H.R. 5723, Expanding Oversight of Opioid Prescribing and 
     Payment Act.
       I wanted to notify you that the Committee will forgo action 
     on these bills so that they may proceed expeditiously to the 
     House floor.
       I appreciate your acknowledgment that by forgoing formal 
     consideration of these bills, the Committee on Energy and 
     Commerce is in no way waiving its jurisdiction over the 
     subject matter contained in those provisions of the bills 
     that fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. I also appreciate 
     your offer to support the Committee's request for the 
     appointment of conferees in the event of a House-Senate 
     conference involving this legislation.
       Thank you for your assistance on this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Greg Walden,
                                                         Chairman.

  Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 5773, the PASS Act, 
introduced by Congress Members Sewell and Roskam.
  This bill focuses on policies to help Medicare plans prevent opioid 
use in the Medicare program without limiting access to needed 
medications for our seniors.
  First, H.R. 5773 requires that Medicare prescription drug plans 
establish mandatory lock-in programs for seniors who are at risk of 
opioid overuse.

                              {time}  1615

  These programs curb fraud, abuse, and misuse of prescribed 
medications, while at the same time ensuring that seniors who have 
legitimate need of these medications can access them.
  For example, these controls prevent doctor and pharmacy shopping and 
will prevent duplicative and medically inappropriate drug therapies 
that can lead to prescription drug abuse. This bill would also require 
that any beneficiaries who are at risk for opioid overuse be eligible 
for the benefits provided under the Medication Therapy Management 
Program.
  This program helps patients understand all of their medications and 
how they are working together. It allows a pharmacist or other health 
professional to give beneficiaries a comprehensive review of all of 
their medications and talk to them about any interactions, risks, or 
side effects.
  This bill would also include a provision introduced by 
Representatives Mike Thompson and David Schweikert that would 
streamline the electronic prior authorization system, which is meant to 
ensure that certain drugs are covered by an insurer before the drug is 
dispensed.
  The PASS Act also includes a provision introduced by Representatives 
Sewell and Renacci which streamlines communications between the Center 
for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Medicare part C and D plans 
regarding program integrity.
  Finally, H.R. 5773 would direct the Secretary of the Department of 
Health and Human Services to annually notify Medicare part D 
prescribers who are identified as outlier prescribers compared to their 
colleagues in their specialty and region. This has certain exclusions, 
for example, patients receiving hospice care, but will be used to help 
prescribers, who may not realize

[[Page H5261]]

that they are an outlier, to reevaluate their practices and make 
adjustments before any harm is done.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).
  Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Roskam so much 
for his time.
  Madam Speaker, this opioid epidemic is killing 116 people of all ages 
every day, and it is horribly impacting western Pennsylvania's families 
and communities. There isn't a silver bullet to end the suffering. It 
is going to take communities working together to treat addiction and 
find lasting methods of prevention.
  I am proud of the work that we have done in the people's House to put 
forward quality, bipartisan solutions to provide better alternatives 
and treatment for all Americans.
  I want to thank Chairman Roskam for including my legislation, H.R. 
5684, the Protecting Seniors from Opioid Abuse Act, into this package.
  This bipartisan bill with my colleagues, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. McMorris 
Rodgers, and Mr. Doyle, will help at-risk seniors manage their 
medications and avoid prescription drug abuse. This bill gives seniors 
who are at risk for prescription abuse access to the Medication Therapy 
Management Program. This successful program allows seniors to sit down 
with a pharmacist or other health professional and receive expert 
advice on how to best manage their prescriptions.
  I think for most of us, when you go to pick up your prescriptions, 
oftentimes you are asked: Do you want us to sit down and go over this 
with you? Oftentimes, there is a line behind you. Or they say: You can 
just check the box here and go ahead and pick up your prescription. 
That is not the answer to what we are trying to do.
  With the Medication Therapy Management Program, we actually sit down 
with the seniors and explain the interaction between some of the drugs 
that they are taking and some of the drugs that have been prescribed 
for them. So it is critical that they have access to this information.
  The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has already confirmed 
that this approach works. To reduce opioid overuse and to avoid 
dangerous drug interactions, expanding access to medication therapy 
management for at-risk beneficiaries will ensure that these serious 
drugs are used properly before it is too late.
  This epidemic is devastating our Nation's communities and our 
families. I hope that we continue to work together as a unified 
Congress to fight this deadly crisis. I appreciate the chairman's time, 
and I urge support of this bill.
  Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance 
of my time.
  Our country is truly facing a crisis when it comes to opioids, and 
the Medicare population isn't immune from this. We must be careful in 
our approach and ensure that the policies we enact in Congress don't 
leave out those who have a legitimate medical need for these 
medications, like those with cancer, those in hospice, or those with 
genetic conditions like sickle cell disease.
  H.R. 5773 is a modest step in the right direction, and I look forward 
to continuing to work with my colleagues on ways to address the opioid 
crisis within the Medicare program.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, I have spent a lot of time, as I know we all have, 
listening to my own constituency, the west and northwest suburbs of 
Chicago. I have listened to physicians, police chiefs, educators, 
caregivers, and others, and I have heard a common theme, and the common 
theme is: We need legislation that encourages the use of alternative 
treatments, that increases provider education and assists with 
detection of those who are at risk. The Preventing Addiction for 
Susceptible Seniors, PASS Act, will help do this.
  I would like to thank my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee 
for working together in a bipartisan effort by recognizing this crisis 
and coming together in offering this solution. I would also like to 
thank our colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their 
commitment to working on this, particularly my counterpart who chairs 
the Health Subcommittee, Dr. Burgess, and Chairman Walden as well.
  This bill was brought through the committee process in a bipartisan 
fashion, and now, on the floor, I strongly urge my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to vote in favor of H.R. 5773, the PASS Act, to 
prevent overuse and overprescribing in the Medicare program.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5773, which 
includes a bill I introduced called the Strengthening Partnerships to 
Prevent Opioid Abuse Act.
  My home state of Ohio has been at the center of the opioid epidemic 
for years. Too many Ohio families have had their lives shattered by 
this crisis. The most recent statistics show that nearly 5,200 people 
died from an opioid overdose in 2017. In my district, multiple counties 
have seen sharp increases in overdoses and their largest number of 
annual deaths ever. While Ohio is only the 7th largest state by 
population, it ranks second in opioid deaths per-capita.
  Unlike other drug epidemics, the opioid epidemic is well-known for 
its prevalence among older populations. This should be no surprise. In 
fact, one out of every three Medicare beneficiaries is prescribed 
opioids each year, and 500,000 beneficiaries were prescribed amounts 
that are considered dangerous according to the CDC. I find it deeply 
troubling that a program meant to help seniors with their medications 
may be an avenue to addiction for some.
  My bipartisan bill would create an online information-sharing system 
through which the Medicare program can partner with Medicare Advantage 
and Part D drug plans to identify cases in which seniors are being 
overprescribed and providers are engaging in fraud, waste, and abuse. 
Currently, neither of these parties knows exactly what the others are 
doing, which hampers each's ability to adequately address the opioid 
epidemic and issues related to overprescribing and drug diversion.
  By strengthening the partnerships between these actors and requiring 
information from plan sponsors on the actions they take against 
providers who are overprescribing or engaging in fraud and abuse, we 
will be better poised to prevent addiction among America's seniors.
  On behalf of the more than 7,000 Ohioans who have died of 
prescription opioid overdoses since 2006, and the hundreds of thousands 
of Medicare beneficiaries being overprescribed today, I encourage my 
colleagues to support H.R. 5773 and help us combat this devastating 
epidemic.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Francis Rooney of Florida). The question 
is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam) 
that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5773, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend 
title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require electronic prior 
authorization for covered part D drugs and to provide for other program 
integrity measures under parts C and D of the Medicare program.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________