42 USC 294i-1 - Emergency department alternatives to opioids program

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 06, 2024

§ 294i–1.

Emergency department alternatives to opioids program

(a)

Grant program

(1)

In general

(2)

Eligibility

(3)

Geographic distribution

(4)

Use of funds

Grants under paragraph (1) shall be used to—

(A)

target treatment approaches for painful conditions frequently treated in such settings;

(B)

train providers and other hospital personnel on protocols or best practices related to the use and prescription of opioids and alternatives to opioids for pain management in the emergency department; and

(C)

develop or continue strategies to provide alternatives to opioids, as appropriate.

(b)

Additional program

(c)

Consultation

(d)

Technical assistance

The Secretary shall identify or facilitate the development of best practices on alternatives to opioids for pain management and provide technical assistance to hospitals and other acute care settings on alternatives to opioids for pain management. The technical assistance provided shall be for the purpose of—

(1)

utilizing information from recipients of a grant under subsection (a) or (b) that have successfully implemented alternatives to opioids programs;

(2)

identifying or facilitating the development of best practices on the use of alternatives to opioids, which may include pain-management strategies that involve non-addictive medical products, non-pharmacologic treatments, and technologies or techniques to identify patients at risk for opioid use disorder;

(3)

identifying or facilitating the development of best practices on the use of alternatives to opioids that target common painful conditions and include certain patient populations, such as geriatric patients, pregnant women, and children; and

(4)

disseminating information on the use of alternatives to opioids to providers in acute care settings, which may include emergency departments, outpatient clinics, critical access hospitals, Federally qualified health centers, Indian Health Service health facilities, and Tribal hospitals.

(e)

Report to the Secretary

Each recipient of a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary (during the period of such grant) annual reports on the progress of the program funded through the grant. These reports shall include, in accordance with all applicable State and Federal privacy laws—

(1)

a description of and specific information about the opioid alternative pain management programs, including the demographic characteristics of patients who were treated with an alternative pain management protocol, implemented in hospitals, emergency departments, and other acute care settings;

(2)

data on the opioid alternative pain management strategies used, including the number of opioid prescriptions written—

(A)

during a baseline period before the program began; or

(B)

at various stages of the program; and

(3)

data on patients who were eventually prescribed opioids after alternative pain management protocols and treatments were utilized; and

(4)

any other information the Secretary determines appropriate.

(f)

Reports to Congress

Not later than the end of each of fiscal years 2024 and 2027, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the results of the program and include in the report—

(1)

the number of applications received and the number funded;

(2)

a summary of the reports described in subsection (e), including data that allows for comparison of programs; and

(3)

recommendations for broader implementation of pain management strategies that encourage the use of alternatives to opioids in hospitals, emergency departments, or other acute care settings.

(g)

Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, § 7091, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4035; Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title I, § 1221, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5673.)

cite as: 42 USC 294i-1