H.R. 5927 — Introduced in House

I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5927 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2018Mr. Soto (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to expand, intensify, and coordinate research and other activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to prenatal opioid exposure and neonatal abstinence syndrome. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Best Practice Act. 2. Research on prenatal opioid exposure and neonatal abstinence syndrome Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 409J (42 U.S.C. 284q) the following new section: 409K. Prenatal opioid exposure and neonatal abstinence syndrome (a) Research The Director of NIH shall expand, intensify, and coordinate research and other activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to the prevention, identification, and treatment of prenatal opioid exposure and neonatal abstinence syndrome. Such research and activities shall include the evaluation of treatment options, including with respect to— (1) the impact on short-term and long-term clinical outcomes and costs of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for infants with opioid withdrawal syndrome; and (2) innovative care models to transition mothers and babies affected by such exposure and syndrome out of the hospital through outpatient follow-up programs and other interdisciplinary post-discharge programs. (b) Best practices Based on the research and activities conducted pursuant to subsection (a), the Director of NIH shall— (1) establish, and update as necessary, best practices for screening and treating pregnant women for opioid use disorder and for screening for neonatal abstinence syndrome and opioid withdrawal syndrome among infants exposed to opioids during pregnancy; and (2) disseminate such best practices to interested stakeholders. .