Library / Laws / 115th / s / S. 2704 / Introduced in Senate
II
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2704
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 18, 2018Mr. Casey (for himself and Mr. Portman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of methadone under Medicare
part B.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Medicare Beneficiary Opioid Addiction Treatment Act.
2.
Coverage of methadone under Medicare part B
(a)
Coverage
Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended—
(1) by striking and at the end of subparagraph (FF);
(2) by adding and at the end of subparagraph (GG); and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (GG) the following new subparagraph:
(HH) methadone, if furnished or dispensed (including by prescription) on or after January 1, 2019, to an individual for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment by a physician or other practitioner who has in effect a registration or waiver under section 303(g) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)) to dispense methadone for such purpose;
.
(b)
Payment
(1)
In connection with physician and supplier service
Section 1842(o)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(o)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(H) In the case of methadone (as described in section 1861(s)(2)(HH)), the amount provided under section 1847A for such drug.
.
(2)
Covered OPD service
Section 1833(t)(1)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)(1)(B)(iii)) is amended by inserting and methadone described in paragraph (2)(HH) of such section after section 1861(s).
(c)
Budget neutrality
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement the amendments made by this section in a manner such that—
(1) estimated expenditures under the physician fee schedule under section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4) with application of such amendments are equal to estimated expenditures under such schedule without application of such amendments; and
(2) estimated expenditures under the prospective payment system under section 1833(t) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)) with application of such amendments are equal to estimated expenditures under such system without application of such amendments.