Lali's Law

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4586) to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to States for developing standing orders and educating health care professionals regarding the dispensing of opioid overdose reversal medication without person-specific prescriptions, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4586

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as ``Lali's Law''. SEC. 2. OPIOID OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATION ACCESS AND EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAMS.

(a) Technical Clarification.--Effective as if included in the enactment of the Children's Health Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-310), section 3405(a) of such Act (114 Stat. 1221) is amended by striking ``Part E of title III'' and inserting ``Part E of title III of the Public Health Service Act''.

(b) Amendment.--Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after part D of such title (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) the following new part E: ``PART E--OPIOID USE DISORDER ``SEC. 341. OPIOID OVERDOSE REVERSAL MEDICATION ACCESS AND EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAMS.

``(a) Grants to States.--The Secretary may make grants to States for--

``(1) developing standing orders for pharmacies regarding opioid overdose reversal medication;

``(2) encouraging pharmacies to dispense opioid overdose reversal medication pursuant to a standing order;

``(3) implementing best practices for persons authorized to prescribe medication regarding--

``(A) prescribing opioids for the treatment of chronic pain;

``(B) co-prescribing opioid overdose reversal medication with opioids; and

``(C) discussing the purpose and administration of opioid overdose reversal medication with patients;

``(4) developing or adapting training materials and methods for persons authorized to prescribe or dispense medication to use in educating the public regarding--

``(A) when and how to administer opioid overdose reversal medication; and

``(B) steps to be taken after administering opioid overdose reversal medication; and

``(5) educating the public regarding--

``(A) the public health benefits of opioid overdose reversal medication; and

``(B) the availability of opioid overdose reversal medication without a person-specific prescription.

``(b) Certain Requirement.--A grant may be made under this section only if the State involved has authorized standing orders regarding opioid overdose reversal medication.

``(c) Preference in Making Grants.--In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to States that--

``(1) have not issued standing orders regarding opioid overdose reversal medication;

``(2) authorize standing orders that permit community-based organizations, substance abuse programs, or other nonprofit entities to acquire, dispense, or administer opioid overdose reversal medication;

``(3) authorize standing orders that permit police, fire, or emergency medical services agencies to acquire and administer opioid overdose reversal medication;

``(4) have a higher per capita rate of opioid overdoses than other applicant States; or

``(5) meet any other criteria deemed appropriate by the Secretary.

``(d) Grant Terms.--

``(1) Number.--A State may not receive more than 1 grant under this section.

``(2) Period.--A grant under this section shall be for a period of 3 years.

``(3) Amount.--A grant under this section may not exceed $500,000.

``(4) Limitation.--A State may use not more than 20 percent of a grant under this section for educating the public pursuant to subsection (a)(5).

``(e) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary in such form and manner and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including detailed proposed expenditures of grant funds.

``(f) Reporting.--Not later than 3 months after the Secretary disburses the first grant payment to any State under this section and every 6 months thereafter for 3 years, such State shall submit a report to the Secretary that includes the following:

``(1) The name and ZIP Code of each pharmacy in the State that dispenses opioid overdose reversal medication under a standing order.

``(2) The total number of opioid overdose reversal medication doses dispensed by each such pharmacy, specifying how many were dispensed with or without a person-specific prescription.

``(3) The number of pharmacists in the State who have participated in training pursuant to subsection (a)(4).

``(g) Definitions.--In this section:

``(1) Opioid overdose reversal medication.--The term `opioid overdose reversal medication' means any drug, including naloxone, that--

``(A) blocks opioids from attaching to, but does not itself activate, opioid receptors; or

``(B) inhibits the effects of opioids on opioid receptors.

``(2) Standing order.--The term `standing order' means a document prepared by a person authorized to prescribe medication that permits another person to acquire, dispense, or administer medication without a person-specific prescription.

``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--

``(1) In general.--To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2019.

``(2) Administrative costs.--Not more than 3 percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section may be used by the Secretary for administrative expenses of carrying out this section.''. SEC. 3. CUT-GO COMPLIANCE.

Subsection (f) of section 319D of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-4) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``(except such dollar amount shall be reduced by $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2017)''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4586, Lali's Law, introduced by my colleagues in the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Dold) and the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark).

The rate of overdose for individuals age 24 to 34 has nearly tripled, going from 8.1 overdose deaths per 100,000 to 23.1 overdose deaths per 100,000. Families across the country are losing loved ones to reversible opioid overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can prevent opioid overdose deaths by binding to the opioid receptors in the body and preventing the overdose.

H.R. 4586 amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to States for developing standing orders and educating healthcare professionals regarding the dispensing of opioid overdose reversal medication without person-specific prescriptions.

This legislation is a first step in promoting wider access of naloxone or other opioid overdose reversal drugs that may come to market. Standing orders are prescriptions that are not person-specific. If a pharmacy has a standing order, anyone needing the medication may come and fill a prescription for it.

Naloxone, while incredibly effective at stopping opioid overdose, does not have severe side effects if used incorrectly or if used when not needed. Many States have standing order laws in place but need help bridging the gap between law and a functioning program. The grants funded by this legislation will help aid that process.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4586.

I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source