Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Combating the Opioid Epidemic Act”.
Combating the Opioid Epidemic Act
A BILL
To increase funding for the State response to the opioid misuse crisis and to provide funding for research on addiction and pain related to the substance misuse crisis.
Sec. 2 Additional funding for the State response
in subsection (a), by striking “under subsection (b)” and inserting “under subsection (b)(3) and the appropriations under subsection (b)(4)”;
in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Additional appropriations—In addition to the amounts transferred to the Account under paragraph (2)(A), there are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated, to the Secretary, out of monies in the Treasury not otherwise obligated, $4,474,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2027, to carry out the grant program described in subsection (c). Such funds shall remain available until expended.”
by striking subsection (f).
by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (G); and
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
“(E) Detection, surveillance, and treatment of co-occurring infections associated with the opioid epidemic, including hepatitis C and HIV.
“(F) Surveillance, data collection, and timely and consistent reporting on the number of opioid overdose deaths, including the incidence and prevalence of co-occurring infections and toxicology reporting on the number of deaths where fentanyl or other illicit opioid analogs were detected.”
Sec. 3 Grants for research on addiction and pain
In general— The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall use any funds appropriated under subsection (b) to award grants for the purpose of conducting research on addiction and pain related to substance misuse. The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall determine the amount of each grant awarded under this section.
Appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated, to the Secretary, out of monies in the Treasury not otherwise obligated, $50,400,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022, to carry out the grant program described in subsection (a). Such funds shall remain available until expended.