[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2931 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2931
To develop national milestones to measure success in curtailing the
opioid epidemic.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 23, 2018
Mr. Markey (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, and Ms. Hassan) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To develop national milestones to measure success in curtailing the
opioid epidemic.
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 ``National Milestones to Measure
Progress in Ending the Opioid Epidemic Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL MILESTONES TO MEASURE SUCCESS IN CURTAILING THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with
the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the
Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, shall develop
national indicators to measure success in curtailing the opioid
epidemic, with the goal of significantly reversing the toll of opioid
misuse and opioid-related morbidity and mortality in the United States
within 5 years of such date of enactment (referred to in this section
as the ``national milestones'').
(b) National Milestones To End the Opioid Epidemic.--The national
milestones under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) The establishment of not fewer than 10 indicators or
metrics to accurately and expediently measure progress in
meeting the goal described in subsection (a)(1), which shall
include--
(A) a reduction in fatal and non-fatal opioid
overdoses;
(B) a reduction in emergency room visits related to
opioid misuse and abuse;
(C) an increase in public and provider education,
including a focus on reducing stigma associated with
opioid use disorder;
(D) an increase in the number of individuals in
sustained recovery from opioid use disorder;
(E) a reduction in the number of co-infections
associated with injection drug use, such as HIV, viral
hepatitis, and endocarditis, and an expanded capacity
to reduce initial infections and enhance access to
treatment;
(F) an increase in the number of providers
prescribing medically assisted treatment for opioid use
disorder in different settings, including primary care,
community health centers, jails, and prisons;
(G) an increase in the number of harm reduction
organizations, including syringe services programs and
naloxone distribution programs;
(H) an increase in the number of individuals
admitted to opioid use disorder treatment; and
(I) additional indicators or metrics, such as
metrics pertaining to specific populations, including
women and children, American Indians and Alaskan
Natives, individuals living in rural and non-urban
areas, and justice-involved populations, that would
further clarify the progress made in addressing the
opioid misuse and abuse epidemic, as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
(2) A reasonable goal, such as a percentage decrease or
other specified metric, that signifies progress in meeting the
goal described in subsection (a), and annual targets to help
achieve that goal.
(c) Extension of Period.--If the Secretary determines that the goal
described in subsection (a) will not be achieved with respect to any
indicator or metric established under subsection (b)(2) within 5 years
of the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary may extend the
timeline for meeting such goal with respect to that indicator or
metric. The Secretary shall include with any such extension a rationale
for why additional time is needed and a description of changes the
Secretary will make in order to achieve such goal with respect to the
indicator or metric.
(d) Reports.--During the 5-year period described in subsection (a)
or such extended period as the Secretary may determine under subsection
(c), the Secretary shall--
(1) submit to Congress annual reports on the national
milestones; and
(2) make each such report publicly available.
(e) Annual Status Update.--Beginning one year after submission of
the report under subsection (d) and for each year thereafter that a
report is required under such subsection, the Secretary shall provide
an update to Congress on the progress of Federal agencies in achieving
the goals detailed in the national milestones. Each such update shall
include--
(1) the total Federal investment in programs addressing the
opioid epidemic and the amount invested in each program, both
by fiscal year and, for programs created after fiscal year
2015, the total spent since the program's creation;
(2) an evaluation of the most and least effective Federal
programs intended to respond to the opioid crisis;
(3) the progress made in the first year or since the
previous report, as applicable, in meeting each indicator or
metric in the national milestones; and
(4) the Secretary's proposal for meeting each specified
indicator or metric in the proceeding year.
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