TREATS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1627
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-26: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-27T08:05:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The TREATS Act (H.R. 1627) aims to expand access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment by permitting telehealth evaluations for prescribing certain controlled medications, reducing barriers like the need for in-person visits. This supports remote care, particularly for addiction therapy, while maintaining federal oversight on controlled substances.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to In-Person Evaluation Requirement: Modifies the Controlled Substances Act to allow prescribers to conduct at least one evaluation via telehealth (instead of requiring an in-person visit) for medications in schedules III, IV, or V that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved specifically for treating SUD. (Schedules refer to categories of controlled drugs based on their potential for abuse and medical use.)
- Definition of Telehealth Evaluation: Defines a "telehealth evaluation" as a remote medical assessment by a licensed practitioner (not a pharmacist) using telecommunications technology. This includes audio-only or audio-video systems that enable real-time, two-way communication between the practitioner and patient, in line with federal and state laws. The technology must meet standards from the Social Security Act, which governs Medicare telehealth services.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law (Section 309(e)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act), prescribers must perform at least one in-person medical evaluation before issuing controlled substance prescriptions via telehealth for SUD treatment.
- The bill replaces this with a flexible option: either one in-person evaluation or one telehealth evaluation for FDA-approved SUD medications in lower-risk schedules (III–V). This does not apply to higher-risk schedule II drugs (e.g., opioids like fentanyl).
- Adds a formal definition for telehealth evaluations, clarifying eligible technology and excluding pharmacists from conducting them.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Increases access to SUD treatment for patients in rural, underserved, or mobility-limited areas by enabling remote consultations and e-prescribing, potentially improving treatment adherence and recovery rates without travel requirements.
- On Government Agencies: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may need to update regulations and guidance on telehealth prescribing to implement these changes, including monitoring for compliance and abuse prevention. No direct international relations impacts are outlined.
- Broader Effects: Could reduce healthcare costs and emergency visits related to untreated SUD, but requires states to align their telehealth laws for full effectiveness.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Patients with Substance Use Disorders: Primary beneficiaries, gaining easier access to approved medications like buprenorphine (for opioid addiction) without mandatory in-person visits.
- Healthcare Practitioners: Doctors and other eligible prescribers (excluding pharmacists) who can now use telehealth for initial evaluations, expanding their service reach.
- Federal Agencies: DEA (oversees controlled substances), FDA (drug approvals), and HHS (telehealth standards under Medicare), which must enforce and adapt to the new rules.
- Pharmacies and Treatment Providers: Indirectly affected, as they handle e-prescriptions but cannot initiate telehealth evaluations themselves.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns telehealth expansions with post-pandemic flexibilities (e.g., from COVID-19 waivers) but maintains safeguards against misuse of controlled substances by limiting to FDA-approved drugs and requiring real-time communication. States must comply with federal standards, potentially leading to harmonized interstate telehealth rules.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges; the bill operates within Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and drug scheduling under the Commerce Clause.
- Political: Introduced bipartisanship (by Reps. Norcross and Fitzpatrick) suggests broad support for addressing the opioid crisis through modern technology, without altering core drug control frameworks. It focuses on treatment access rather than decriminalization, avoiding controversy over substance legalization.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
Cosponsors (31)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-26: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-26: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services Act — issued 2025-02-26 — PDF (3 pages)