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Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act

USA118th CongressS-644| Senate 
| Updated: 2/1/2024
Edward J. Markey

Edward J. Markey

Democratic Senator

Massachusetts

Cosponsors (12)
Mike Braun (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Mike Lee (Republican)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Rand Paul (Republican)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act This bill expands access to methadone for an individual's unsupervised use to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). (Typically, methadone must be dispensed to individuals in person through opioid treatment programs.) The bill (1) waives provisions of the Controlled Substances Act that require qualified practitioners to obtain a separate registration from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe and dispense methadone to treat OUD, and (2) requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the DEA to jointly report on the waiver. Additionally, the bill directs the DEA to register certain practitioners to prescribe methadone that is dispensed through a pharmacy for an individual's unsupervised use. Qualified practitioners must be licensed or authorized to prescribe controlled substances, and they must either work for an opioid treatment program or be a physician or psychiatrist with a specialty certification in addiction medicine. A state may request that the DEA stop registering such practitioners in its jurisdiction. Individuals who receive methadone for unsupervised use must continue to have access to other care through an opioid treatment program. For purposes of the waiver, the bill also requires the exclusive use of electronic prescribing, establishes prescription limits, and sets out requirements for informed consent. Further, the bill permits the use of telehealth to provide methadone treatment and related services if the state and the Department of Health and Human Services jointly determine the use is feasible and appropriate.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline
Mar 2, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Mar 2, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mar 10, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-1359
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Dec 12, 2023
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Feb 1, 2024
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Feb 1, 2024
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 318.
  • March 2, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 2, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • March 10, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-1359
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • December 12, 2023
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • February 1, 2024
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • February 1, 2024
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 318.

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 118-1359: Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act
Congressional oversightDrug, alcohol, tobacco useDrug therapyPrescription drugs

Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act

USA118th CongressS-644| Senate 
| Updated: 2/1/2024
Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act This bill expands access to methadone for an individual's unsupervised use to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). (Typically, methadone must be dispensed to individuals in person through opioid treatment programs.) The bill (1) waives provisions of the Controlled Substances Act that require qualified practitioners to obtain a separate registration from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe and dispense methadone to treat OUD, and (2) requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the DEA to jointly report on the waiver. Additionally, the bill directs the DEA to register certain practitioners to prescribe methadone that is dispensed through a pharmacy for an individual's unsupervised use. Qualified practitioners must be licensed or authorized to prescribe controlled substances, and they must either work for an opioid treatment program or be a physician or psychiatrist with a specialty certification in addiction medicine. A state may request that the DEA stop registering such practitioners in its jurisdiction. Individuals who receive methadone for unsupervised use must continue to have access to other care through an opioid treatment program. For purposes of the waiver, the bill also requires the exclusive use of electronic prescribing, establishes prescription limits, and sets out requirements for informed consent. Further, the bill permits the use of telehealth to provide methadone treatment and related services if the state and the Department of Health and Human Services jointly determine the use is feasible and appropriate.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 2, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Mar 2, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mar 10, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-1359
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Dec 12, 2023
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Feb 1, 2024
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Feb 1, 2024
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 318.
  • March 2, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 2, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • March 10, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-1359
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • December 12, 2023
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • February 1, 2024
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • February 1, 2024
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 318.
Edward J. Markey

Edward J. Markey

Democratic Senator

Massachusetts

Cosponsors (12)
Mike Braun (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Mike Lee (Republican)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Rand Paul (Republican)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 118-1359: Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional oversightDrug, alcohol, tobacco useDrug therapyPrescription drugs