Bill Summary
The proposed legislation aims to nullify the final rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding "Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder," which was published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2024. This bill specifies that the entire rule will have no legal effect, with the exception of the section related to the accreditation of opioid treatment programs. Essentially, if enacted, this legislation would revoke most provisions of the final rule while allowing the accreditation aspects to remain in place, thereby maintaining oversight standards for treatment programs.
Possible Impacts
The proposed legislation, which nullifies the final rule regarding medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (except for accreditation modifications), could have several impacts on individuals and communities. Here are three examples:
1. **Access to Treatment**: By negating the rule that governs medications for opioid use disorder, this legislation may limit access to certain medications that are crucial for individuals struggling with opioid addiction. This could lead to increased barriers for patients seeking treatment, potentially exacerbating the opioid crisis as fewer people may receive effective medication-assisted therapies.
2. **Impact on Healthcare Providers**: Healthcare providers who rely on the final rule for guidelines on prescribing medications for opioid use disorder may face uncertainty and confusion regarding best practices. This could lead to inconsistent treatment approaches, with some providers potentially becoming hesitant to prescribe necessary medications due to a lack of regulatory clarity, ultimately affecting patient care and outcomes.
3. **Public Health Consequences**: The withdrawal of the final rule could have broader public health implications, including a potential increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. Without established protocols and guidelines for treatment, communities may experience a rise in substance abuse problems, necessitating additional resources for emergency services and public health interventions to address the fallout from untreated opioid use disorder.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5629 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5629
To provide that the final rule of the Department of Health and Human
Services titled ``Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use
Disorder'', except for the portion of the final rule relating to
accreditation of opioid treatment programs, shall have no force or
effect.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 30, 2025
Mrs. Houchin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide that the final rule of the Department of Health and Human
Services titled ``Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use
Disorder'', except for the portion of the final rule relating to
accreditation of opioid treatment programs, shall have no force or
effect.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. RULE RELATING TO MEDICATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF OPIOID USE
DISORDER.
(a) In General.--Except as provided by subsection (b), the final
rule of the Department of Health and Human Services titled
``Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder'' (89 Fed. Reg.
7549; published February 2, 2024) shall have no force or effect.
(b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to the portion of
the final rule that makes modifications to subpart B of part 8 of title
42, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to accreditation of opioid
treatment programs).
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