H.R. 5261 — what changed

Part D of title V of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 549 (42 U.S.C. 290ee–4) the following new section:

“550. Regional Centers of Excellence in Substance Use Disorder Education

changed “(a) In general—The Secretary, in consultation with such other agencies as are appropriate, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, establish a solicitation process and award cooperative agreements to eligible entities for the designation of such entities as Regional Centers of Excellence in Substance Use Disorder Education and support of such regional centers of excellence to enhance and improve how health professionals are educated in pain management and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery through development, evaluation, and distribution of evidence-based curriculum curricula for health care professional profession schools. An eligible entity designated by the Secretary as a Regional Center of Excellence in Substance Use Disorder Education shall carry out the activities described in subsection (b).

“(b) Selection of centers of excellence

“(1) Eligible entities—To be eligible to receive a cooperative agreement under subsection (a), an entity shall—

“(A) be an entity specified by the Secretary that offers education to students in various health professions, which may include—

“(i) a health system;

“(ii) a teaching hospital;

changed “(iii) a community health center;medical school;

changed “(iv) a physician’s office;certified behavioral health clinic; or

changed “(v) a medical school; orany other health profession school, school of public health, or Cooperative Extension Program at institutions of higher education engaged in an aspect of the prevention, treatment, or recovery of substance use disorders;

changed “(vi) any other health professional school, school of public health, or Cooperative Extension Program at institutions of higher education engaged in an aspect of “(B) be accredited by the prevention, treatment, or recovery of substance use disorders;appropriate educational accreditation body;

changed “(B) “(C) demonstrate an existing strategy, and have in place a plan for continuing such strategy, or a proposed strategy to implement a curriculum based on best practices for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery;

changed “(C) “(D) demonstrate community engagement and participation through community partners, including other health profession schools, mental health counselors, social workers, peer recovery specialists, substance use treatment programs, community health centers, physicians’ offices, certified behavioral health clinics, law enforcement, and the business community; and

changed “(D) “(E) provide to the Secretary such information, at such time, and in such manner, as the Secretary may require.

“(2) Diversity—In awarding cooperative agreements under subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into account regional differences among eligible entities and shall make an effort to ensure geographic diversity.

“(c) Dissemination of information

changed “(1) Public posting—The Secretary shall make information provided to the Secretary under subsection (b)(1)(D) (b)(1)(E) publically available on the Internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services.

“(2) Evaluation—The Secretary shall evaluate each project carried out by a Regional Center of Excellence in Substance Use Disorder Education under this section and shall disseminate the findings with respect to each such evaluation to appropriate public and private entities.

changed “(d) Funding—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $2,000,000 $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.”