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Bill > HR4978


US HR4978

US HR4978
NAS Healthy Babies Act Nurturing And Supporting Healthy Babies Act


summary

Introduced
04/18/2016
In Committee
04/27/2016
Crossed Over
05/12/2016
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017

Introduced Session

114th Congress

Bill Summary

NAS Healthy Babies Act Nurturing And Supporting Healthy Babies Act (Sec. 2) This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), which results from a newborn's exposure to addictive opiate drugs while in the mother's womb. Specifically, the GAO shall report on: the prevalence of NAS, NAS treatment services for which coverage is available under state Medicaid programs, the settings and associated reimbursement methodologies for NAS treatment, the prevalence of utilization of various care settings under state Medicaid programs for NAS treatment, any federal barriers to treating infants with NAS under state Medicaid programs, and best practices for treating infants with NAS. The GAO shall also report on its recommendations for improvements that will ensure access to NAS treatment under state Medicaid programs. (Sec. 3) The bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to exclude abuse-deterrent formulations of prescription drugs from the requirement that manufacturers of single-source or innovator drugs pay additional rebates to state Medicaid programs. (Sec. 4) Under current law, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must use predictive modeling and other analytic technologies to identify improper Medicaid claims. The bill prohibits a state agency from using or disclosing such technologies except for purposes of administering a state Medicaid program or Children's Health Insurance Program. A state agency shall have in effect adequate data security and control policies to ensure that access to such information is restricted to authorized persons for authorized uses. (Sec. 5) The bill places $5 million in the Medicaid Improvement Fund to be available beginning in FY2021.

AI Summary

This bill, known as the NAS Healthy Babies Act, mandates that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate and report on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a condition where newborns experience withdrawal symptoms due to exposure to addictive opiate drugs in the womb, detailing its prevalence, treatment services available through state Medicaid programs, associated costs and settings, utilization rates, and any federal obstacles to treatment, along with recommendations for improvement. Additionally, the bill amends the Social Security Act to exempt abuse-deterrent formulations of prescription drugs from certain rebate requirements for manufacturers selling to state Medicaid programs, and it restricts state agencies from using or disclosing predictive modeling and other analytics technologies, which are advanced data analysis tools used to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in programs like Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), except for administering these programs, while requiring adequate data security measures. Finally, the bill allocates $5 million to the Medicaid Improvement Fund starting in fiscal year 2021.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

Sponsors (16)

Last Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (on 05/12/2016)

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