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.
Summary
HB5629 would nullify most of a final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services titled "Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder," published February 2, 2024. The bill does not repeal the entire rule; it carves out and preserves the portion that updates accreditation requirements for opioid treatment programs under subpart B of part 8 of title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
In practical terms, the bill would prevent the rest of the HHS rule from taking legal effect, thereby blocking federal regulatory changes governing medications used to treat opioid use disorder. Because the bill targets a federal rule rather than a state statute, its effect would be to alter the regulatory landscape for opioid treatment providers, patients receiving medication-assisted treatment, and accrediting bodies, while leaving the accreditation-related provisions intact.
Impact
The bill would have no direct effect on state statutes, but it would override most of the cited federal HHS rule and thereby change the applicable federal requirements for opioid use disorder treatment. The main affected parties would be opioid treatment programs, prescribers, treatment facilities, accrediting organizations, and patients relying on medications for opioid use disorder. By preserving only the accreditation-related portion of the rule, the bill would create a partial repeal of the federal regulatory package rather than a wholesale rejection of all rule changes.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a deregulatory or restrictive stance toward the HHS rule, but the available record does not show whether lawmakers viewed it as improving treatment oversight, limiting federal overreach, or undermining access to care. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and no vote history is listed.
Contention
The central point of contention is likely the scope of federal regulation over medication treatment for opioid use disorder. Supporters would likely favor blocking the HHS rule as written, while opponents would likely argue that the rule is needed to expand or standardize access to evidence-based treatment. The exception for accreditation of opioid treatment programs suggests some agreement that accreditation changes should remain in place, but the rest of the rule appears to be the main disputed area.
Modifying administrative rules relating to regulation of opioid treatment programs and requiring adjustments to the rates for substance use disorder treatment services with medications for opioid use disorder. (FE)
Modifying administrative rules relating to regulation of opioid treatment programs and requiring adjustments to the rates for substance use disorder treatment services with medications for opioid use disorder. (FE)