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S 644 118th Congress Senate Health Congressional oversight Drug therapy Drug, alcohol, tobacco use Prescription drugs

Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act

Introduced: March 2, 2023 Introduced by: Markey, Edward J. Democratic · Massachusetts See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 1, 2024
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 318.
Feb 1, 2024
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Dec 12, 2023
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 2, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mar 2, 2023
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act

This bill expands access to methadone for an individual's unsupervised use to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). (Typically, methadone must be dispensed to individuals in person through opioid treatment programs.)

The bill (1) waives provisions of the Controlled Substances Act that require qualified practitioners to obtain a separate registration from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe and dispense methadone to treat OUD, and (2) requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the DEA to jointly report on the waiver.

Additionally, the bill directs the DEA to register certain practitioners to prescribe methadone that is dispensed through a pharmacy for an individual's unsupervised use. Qualified practitioners must be licensed or authorized to prescribe controlled substances, and they must either work for an opioid treatment program or be a physician or psychiatrist with a specialty certification in addiction medicine. A state may request that the DEA stop registering such practitioners in its jurisdiction.

Individuals who receive methadone for unsupervised use must continue to have access to other care through an opioid treatment program.

For purposes of the waiver, the bill also requires the exclusive use of electronic prescribing, establishes prescription limits, and sets out requirements for informed consent. Further, the bill permits the use of telehealth to provide methadone treatment and related services if the state and the Department of Health and Human Services jointly determine the use is feasible and appropriate.

What's happening now February 1, 2024

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 318.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1359 Identical bill Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 11

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

See all 11 filings →
 Cosponsors 10
All 10 Democratic 7 Republican 2 Independent 1
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Feb 9, 2024
 D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Jan 24, 2024
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Dec 4, 2023
 R
Lee, Mike
Utah · Nov 8, 2023
 D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Sep 13, 2023
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Sep 13, 2023
 D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Mar 2, 2023
 D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Mar 2, 2023
 R
Paul, Rand
Kentucky · Mar 2, 2023
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Mar 2, 2023
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 644: Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-644/
MLA
"S. 644: Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-644/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 644, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-644/.
Markdown link
[S. 644: Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-644/)
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