To amend the Public Health Service Act to require additional information in State plans for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services block grants.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5630
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-30: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-17T16:49:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill aims to improve oversight and accountability in state-funded substance use disorder programs by requiring states to provide more detailed information about medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in their plans for federal block grants. MAT refers to the use of medications, combined with counseling, to treat substance use disorders, such as opioid addiction.
Key Provisions
- The bill amends Section 1932(b)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act, which governs state plans for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services block grants.
- States must now include in their plans a description of:
- The types of drugs available for MAT within the state's system of care (e.g., medications like methadone or buprenorphine used to help manage addiction).
- The state's programs or protocols to prevent diversion (illegal sharing or selling of medications) and misuse, including enforcement measures.
- Data on any misuse of MAT drugs, such as instances where these drugs are mixed with other prescription medications.
- Data on drug screening protocols used in the state's system of care, with specific details on screening for patients receiving MAT.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, state plans required descriptions of various substance use services but did not specifically address details about MAT drugs, misuse prevention, or related data collection.
- This amendment adds a new requirement (clause xi) to the list of mandatory plan elements, expanding reporting obligations without altering funding amounts or eligibility criteria for the block grants.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which administers these grants, will receive more comprehensive data, potentially leading to better monitoring of how federal funds (about $2 billion annually for these block grants) are used and improved program effectiveness.
- On citizens: Individuals seeking substance use treatment may benefit from safer MAT programs with stronger safeguards against misuse, though states might face administrative burdens that could indirectly affect service delivery.
- On international relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic state-level health programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States and local governments: Primary recipients of block grant funds; they must update plans and collect/report additional data, which could increase administrative costs.
- Healthcare providers and treatment programs: Substance use disorder facilities offering MAT will need to comply with new protocols for prevention, data tracking, and screening.
- Patients with substance use disorders: Those receiving MAT may experience enhanced safety measures but could face more screening requirements.
- Federal government (HHS and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - SAMHSA): Gains better tools for oversight and policy evaluation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal requirements under the Public Health Service Act without imposing new mandates on private entities, maintaining the cooperative federalism model where states have flexibility in implementation. No challenges to constitutional authority, as it builds on existing grant conditions.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power to attach conditions to federal funds, promoting public health goals without infringing on state sovereignty.
- Political: Addresses growing concerns about the opioid crisis and MAT safety (e.g., preventing abuse of controlled substances), potentially appealing to bipartisan efforts on addiction policy, though it may spark debate over added bureaucracy for states.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-30: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-09-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend the Public Health Service Act to require additional information in State plans for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services block grants. — issued 2025-09-30 — PDF (2 pages)