[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4358 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4358
To amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to
establish a grant program under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration to address substance use disorders among older
adults, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 16, 2024
Mr. Casey (for himself, Mr. Fetterman, Ms. Warren, Mr. Blumenthal, and
Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice
and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to
establish a grant program under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration to address substance use disorders among older
adults, and for other purposes.
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 the ``Preventing and Treating Substance
Use Disorders Among Older Adults Act''.
SEC. 2. SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT AND EARLY INTERVENTION
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS.
Subpart 1 of part B of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 290bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 514C. SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT AND EARLY INTERVENTION
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS.
``(a) Definition of Older Adult.--In this section, the term `older
adult' means an individual aged 60 or older.
``(b) Authority To Award Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants,
contracts, or cooperative agreements to public and private nonprofit
entities, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations (as such terms are
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act), or other health facilities or programs operated by or
in accordance with a contract or grant with the Indian Health Service,
for the purposes of--
``(1) providing early identification and services to meet
the needs of older adults who are at risk of substance use
disorders;
``(2) providing substance use disorder treatment and
prevention services for older adults, including older adults
with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders;
``(3) linking older adults to resources, either in the
community or within long-term care settings where they reside,
to support independent lives; and
``(4) providing integrated care and comprehensive care
coordination for substance use disorders and other health
conditions.
``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative
agreements under subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to
applicants who propose to--
``(1) apply evidence-informed and cost-effective methods;
``(2) improve data collection on the scope of substance use
among older adults, the scope of availability and utilization
of treatment and prevention services, and the scope of
integrated care;
``(3) coordinate and collect data on the provision of
services with other social service agencies in the community,
including congregate care, substance use, and mental health
agencies;
``(4) provide a continuum of integrated treatment services,
including case management and primary care services, for older
adults with substance use disorders, including older adults
with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders,
and their families and caregivers;
``(5) provide treatment that is person-centered, culturally
appropriate, and age-sensitive;
``(6) involve and work with peers and families and
caregivers of older adults receiving services; and
``(7) provide continuing care services for older adults and
their families following the completion of a treatment episode.
``(d) Duration of Grants.--The Secretary shall award grants,
contracts, or cooperative agreements under subsection (b) for periods
not to exceed 5 fiscal years.
``(e) Application.--An entity desiring a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement under subsection (b) shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such
information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
``(f) Evaluation.--An entity that receives a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement under subsection (b) shall submit, in the
application for such grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, a plan
for the evaluation of any project undertaken with funds provided under
this section. Such entity shall provide the Secretary with periodic
evaluations of the progress of such project and such evaluation at the
completion of such project as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029.''.
SEC. 3. EVIDENCE-BASED DRUGS AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT AND INTERVENTIONS
DEMONSTRATION.
Subpart 1 of part B of title V of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 290bb et seq.) (as amended by section 2) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``SEC. 514D. EVIDENCE-BASED DRUGS AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT AND
INTERVENTIONS DEMONSTRATION.
``(a) Grants To Expand Access.--
``(1) Authority to award grants.--The Secretary shall award
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to State substance
use disorder agencies, units of local government, United States
territories, and Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations (as
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act) that have a high rate of, or have had
a rapid increase in, the misuse of alcohol or prescription or
illicit drugs, including opioids, in order to permit such
entities to expand activities, including an expansion in the
availability of evidence-based medications for substance use
disorder treatment and other clinically appropriate services
with respect to the treatment of substance use disorders in the
specific geographical areas of such entities where there is a
high rate of, or rapid increase in, the misuse of alcohol or
prescription or illicit drugs, including opioids, or specific
geographical areas where there is a high rate of unmet need for
treatment, such as in rural areas and among communities of
color.
``(2) Nature of activities.--Funds awarded under paragraph
(1) shall be used for activities that are based on reliable
scientific evidence of efficacy in the treatment of substance
use disorders.
``(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement under subsection (a), an entity shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably
require.
``(c) Evaluation.--An entity that receives a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall submit, in the
application for such grant, contract, or agreement a plan for the
evaluation of any project undertaken with funds provided under this
section. Such entity shall provide the Secretary with periodic
evaluations of the progress of such project and an evaluation at the
completion of such project as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
``(d) Geographic Distribution.--In awarding grants, contracts, and
cooperative agreements under this section, the Secretary shall ensure
that not less than 15 percent of funds are awarded to eligible entities
that are not located in metropolitan statistical areas (as defined by
the Office of Management and Budget). The Secretary shall take into
account the unique needs of rural communities, including communities
with an incidence of individuals with substance use disorder that is
above the national average and communities with a shortage of
prevention and treatment services.
``(e) Additional Activities.--In administering grants, contracts,
and cooperative agreements under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
``(1) evaluate the activities supported under such
subsection;
``(2) disseminate information, as appropriate, derived from
evaluations as the Secretary considers appropriate;
``(3) provide States, Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations, and providers with technical assistance in
connection with the provision of treatment of substance use
disorder; and
``(4) fund only those applications that specifically
support recovery services as a critical component of the
program involved.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029.''.
<all>