H.R. 5779House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Promoting Quality of Care in Pain Management Act of 2018

Introduced May 11, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:49 PM UTC

The Promoting Quality of Care in Pain Management Act of 2018 would require the Health and Human Services Secretary to create a technical expert panel that reviews and improves opioid‑related quality measures used in Medicare and other federal health programs. The panel must be set up within 180 days and would assess existing measures, spot gaps, and suggest new or revised metrics to enhance care, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for opioid use disorders. The Secretary would then consider these recommendations when designing payment and reporting programs.

Key Provisions

  • Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the HHS Secretary must establish a technical expert panel to evaluate opioid‑related quality measures.
  • The panel must review current and developing measures, identify gaps, and recommend new or revised metrics to improve opioid care and outcomes.
  • The Secretary must consider using these recommended measures in Medicare alternative payment models, shared savings programs, hospital quality reporting, and other value‑based purchasing programs.
  • The Secretary must prioritize development of measures that fill the gaps identified by the panel.
  • An expedited endorsement process is added for opioid‑related measures to speed their adoption.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

May 31, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 11, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

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.

May 11, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

May 31, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 11, 2018

I

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5779

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 11, 2018

Mr. Paulsen (for himself and Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois) 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 require the Secretary to establish a technical expert panel for purposes of evaluating the use of opioid-related quality measures under the Medicare program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Promoting Quality of Care in Pain Management Act of 2018.

2.

Requiring the review of quality measures relating to opioids and opioid use disorder treatments furnished under the Medicare program and other Federal health care programs

(a)

In general

Section 1890A of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395aaa–1) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(g)

Technical expert panel review of opioid and opioid use disorder quality measures

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a technical expert panel for purposes of reviewing quality measures relating to opioids and opioid use disorders, including care, prevention, diagnosis, health outcomes, and treatment furnished to individuals with opioid use disorders. The Secretary may elect to establish such panel through a contract with the consensus-based entity with a contract in effect under section 1890.

(2)

Review and assessment

Not later than 1 year after the date the technical expert panel described in paragraph (1) is established (and periodically thereafter as the Secretary determines appropriate), the technical expert panel shall—

(A)

review quality measures that relate to opioids and opioid use disorders, including existing measures and those under development;

(B)

identify gaps in areas of quality measurement that relate to opioids and opioid use disorders, and identify measure development priorities for such measure gaps; and

(C)

make recommendations to the Secretary on quality measures with respect to opioids and opioid use disorders for purposes of improving care, prevention, diagnosis, health outcomes, and treatment, including recommendations for revisions of such measures, need for development of new measures, and recommendations for including such measures in quality reporting programs, value-based purchasing programs, accountable care organizations, and alternative payment models under this title.

(3)

Consideration of measures by secretary

The Secretary shall consider—

(A)

using opioid and opioid use disorder measures (including measures used under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System under section 1848(q), measures recommended under paragraph (2)(C), and other such measures identified by the Secretary) in Alternative Payment Models under section 1833(z)(3)(C) and in the Shared Savings Program under section 1899; and

(B)

using opioid measures described in subparagraph (A), as applicable, in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting program under section 1886(b)(3)(B)(viii), in the hospital value-based purchasing program under section 1886(o), and under other value-based purchasing programs under this title.

(4)

Prioritization of measure development

The Secretary shall prioritize for measure development the gaps in quality measures identified under paragraph (2)(C).

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(b)

Expedited endorsement process for opioid measures

Section 1890(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395aaa(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new flush sentence:

Such endorsement process shall, as determined practicable by the entity, provide for an expedited process with respect to the endorsement of measures relating to opioids and opioid use disorders.

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