118 HR 7050 IH: Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2024-01-18
text/xml
EN
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I
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7050
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 18, 2024
Mr. Schneider (for himself, Ms. Kuster, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Carey, and Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the distribution of additional residency positions to help combat the substance use disorder crisis.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act”.
2.

Distribution of additional residency positions to help combat substance use disorder crisis
(a)

In general
Section 1886(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (4)(F)(i), by striking “paragraphs (7), (8), (9), and (10)” and inserting “paragraphs (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11)”;
(2)
in paragraph (4)(H)(i)(I), by striking “paragraphs (7), (8), (9), and (10)” and inserting “paragraphs (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11)”;
(3)
in paragraph (7)(E), by striking “paragraph (10)” and inserting “paragraph (10), paragraph (11)”; and
(4)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(11)

Distribution of additional residency positions to help combat substance use disorder crisis
(A)

Additional residency positions
During the period of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 (and succeeding fiscal years if the Secretary determines that there are additional full-time-equivalent residency positions available to distribute under subparagraph (D)), the Secretary shall distribute additional full-time-equivalent residency positions to increase the otherwise applicable resident limit for each qualifying hospital that submits a timely application under this paragraph by such number as the Secretary may approve, effective beginning July 1 of the fiscal year of the increase. The aggregate number of additional full-time-equivalent residency positions available for distribution under this paragraph shall be equal to 500 in fiscal year 2024 and 500 over the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2028, distributed in accordance with the succeeding subparagraphs of this paragraph.
(B)

Distribution for fiscal year 2024
(i)

In general
For fiscal year 2024, the positions available for distribution for such fiscal year (as described in subparagraph (A)) may only be distributed to hospitals that have established (as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph) approved programs in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine, as determined by the Secretary.
(ii)

Considerations in distribution
The Secretary shall distribute additional residency positions under this subparagraph based on the demonstrated likelihood, as determined by the Secretary, of the hospital filling such positions within the first 4 training years (as specified by the Secretary) after the increase would be effective.
(iii)

Requirements
A hospital that receives an increase in the otherwise applicable resident limit under this subparagraph shall ensure, during the 5-year period beginning after the date of such increase, that the hospital uses the positions made available under this subparagraph for a program described in clause (I) or a program that is a prerequisite (as determined by the Secretary) for such a program so described, such as internal medicine. The Secretary may determine whether a hospital has met the requirements under this clause during such 5-year period in such manner and at such time as the Secretary determines appropriate, including at the end of such 5-year period.
(iv)

Redistribution of positions if hospital no longer meets certain requirements
In the case in which the Secretary determines that a hospital described in clause (iii) does not meet the requirements of such clause, the Secretary shall—
(I)
reduce the otherwise applicable resident limit of the hospital by the amount by which such limit was increased under this subparagraph; and
(II)
provide for the distribution of positions attributable to such reduction in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph.
(v)

Positions not distributed during fiscal year 2024
If the number of full-time-equivalent residency positions distributed under this subparagraph is less than the aggregate number of positions available for distribution for fiscal year 2024 (as described in subparagraph (A)), the difference between such number distributed and such number available for distribution shall be added to the aggregate number of positions available for distribution under subparagraph (C).
(C)

Distribution for fiscal years 2025 through 2028
(i)

In general
For the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2028, the positions available for distribution for such period (as described in subparagraph (A)), and any positions made available pursuant to subparagraph (B)(v), shall be distributed to hospitals which demonstrate to the Secretary that the hospital has established or will establish an approved residency training program in addiction medicine, addiction psychiatry, or pain medicine.
(ii)

Considerations in distribution
The Secretary shall distribute additional residency positions under this subparagraph based on the demonstrated likelihood, as determined by the Secretary, of the hospital filling such positions within the first 4 training years (as specified by the Secretary) after the increase would be effective.
(iii)

Requirements
A hospital that receives an increase in the otherwise applicable resident limit under this subparagraph shall ensure, during the 5-year period beginning after the date of such increase, that the hospital uses the positions made available under this subparagraph for a program described in clause (I) or a program that is a prerequisite (as determined by the Secretary) for such a program so described, such as internal medicine. The Secretary may determine whether a hospital has met the requirements under this clause during such 5-year period in such manner and at such time as the Secretary determines appropriate, including at the end of such 5-year period.
(iv)

Redistribution of positions if hospital no longer meets certain requirements
In the case where the Secretary determines that a hospital described in clause (iii) does not meet the requirements of such clause, the Secretary shall—
(I)
reduce the otherwise applicable resident limit of the hospital by the amount by which such limit was increased under this subparagraph; and
(II)
provide for the distribution of positions attributable to such reduction in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph.
(D)

Distribution of remaining positions
If the aggregate number of positions distributed under subparagraphs (B) and (C) during the period of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 is less than 1,000, the Secretary shall distribute the remaining residency positions in succeeding fiscal years according to criteria consistent with this paragraph until such time as the aggregate amount of positions distributed under this paragraph is equal to 1,000.
(E)

Limitation
An individual hospital may not receive more than 25 full-time-equivalent residency positions under this paragraph.
(F)

Notification
The Secretary shall notify hospitals of the number of positions distributed to the hospital under this paragraph as a result of an increase in the otherwise applicable resident limit by January 1 of the fiscal year of the increase. Such increase shall be effective beginning July 1 of that fiscal year.
(G)

Application of per resident amounts for primary care and nonprimary care
With respect to additional residency positions in a hospital attributable to the increase provided under this paragraph, the approved FTE per resident amounts are deemed to be equal to the hospital per resident amounts for primary care and nonprimary care computed under paragraph (2)(D) for that hospital.
(H)

Permitting facilities to apply aggregation rules
The Secretary shall permit hospitals receiving additional residency positions attributable to the increase provided under this paragraph to, beginning in the fifth year after the effective date of such increase, apply such positions to the limitation amount under paragraph (4)(F) that may be aggregated pursuant to paragraph (4)(H) among members of the same affiliated group.
(I)

Clarification
Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to the implementation of this paragraph.
(J)

Definitions
In this paragraph:
(i)

Otherwise applicable resident limit
The term otherwise applicable resident limit means, with respect to a hospital, the limit otherwise applicable under paragraph (4)(F)(I) on the resident level for the hospital determined without regard to this paragraph but taking into account paragraphs (7)(A), (7)(B), (8)(A), (8)(B), and (9)(A).
(ii)

Resident level
The term resident level has the meaning given such term in paragraph (7)(C)(I).”.
(b)

IME
(1)

In general
Section 1886(d)(5)(B)(v) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(B)(v)), in the third sentence, is amended by striking “and (h)(10)” and inserting “(h)(10), and (h)(11)”.
(2)

Conforming provision
Section 1886(d)(5)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(B)) is amended by adding after clause (xiii) the following new clause:
“(xiv)
For discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2024, insofar as an additional payment amount under this subparagraph is attributable to residency positions distributed to a hospital under subsection (h)(11), the indirect teaching adjustment factor shall be computed in the same manner as provided under clause (ii) with respect to such residency positions.”.