H.R. 5802 – Ensuring Complete Coverage of Medication-Assisted Treatment Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:44 PM UTC

The Ensuring Complete Coverage of Medication‑Assisted Treatment Act would change the Medicaid law so that every state’s Medicaid program must cover medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) for substance‑use disorders. It defines what counts as MAT, sets an effective date of January 1 2020, and lets the Health and Human Services Secretary grant waivers to states that need more time or have specific barriers.

Key Provisions

Amends the Social Security Act to add a new requirement that state Medicaid plans must include coverage for MAT beginning Jan 1 2020.
Defines MAT as any FDA‑approved drug (including methadone) and any licensed biological product used to treat substance‑use disorders, plus related counseling and behavioral therapy.
Allows the HHS Secretary to issue waivers that delay the coverage requirement if a state provides a justification, an implementation timeline, and an assessment of any prior‑authorization or utilization‑management barriers.
Provides extra time for states that need new legislation to meet the coverage requirement, so they won’t be considered non‑compliant until after the next regular legislative session.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

May 15, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 15, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

May 15, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 15, 2018

I

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5802

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 15, 2018

Mr. Gene Green of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require States to include under their State Medicaid plans coverage for medication-assisted treatment, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Complete Coverage of Medication-Assisted Treatment Act.

2.

Requirement for State Medicaid plans to provide coverage for medication-assisted treatment

(a)

Requirement for State Medicaid plans To provide coverage for medication-Assisted treatment

Section 1902(a)(10)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)) is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking and (28) and inserting (28), and (29).

(b)

Inclusion of medication-Assisted treatment as medical assistance

Section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (28), by striking and at the end;

(2)

by redesignating paragraph (29) as paragraph (30); and

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (28) the following new paragraph:

(29)

beginning, subject to paragraph (2) of subsection (ee), January 1, 2020, medication-assisted treatment (as defined in paragraph (1) of such subsection); and

.

(c)

Medication-Assisted treatment defined; Waivers

Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(ee)

Medication-Assisted treatment defined; Waivers

(1)

Medication-assisted treatment defined

For purposes of subsection (a)(29), the term medication-assisted treatment—

(A)

means all drugs approved under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355), including methadone, and all biological products licensed under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262) to treat substance use disorders; and

(B)

includes, with respect to the provision of such drugs and biological products, counseling services and behavioral therapy.

(2)

Waivers

For purposes of subsection (a)(29), the Secretary may grant a waiver, with respect to a State, to delay the application of such subsection if the State submits a waiver request that includes the following:

(A)

The reasoning for such waiver.

(B)

A timeline for the State to implement the requirement of such subsection.

(C)

A review of any prior authorization program and any drug utilization management program established by the State under the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) to assess the types of barriers that individuals encounter in accessing medication-assisted treatment (as defined in paragraph (1)) under such plan (or waiver).

(D)

Any other information that the Secretary may require.

.

(d)

Effective date

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section shall take effect with respect to medical assistance provided on or after January 1, 2020.

(2)

Exception for State legislation

In the case of a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation in order for the respective plan to meet any requirement imposed by the amendments made by this section, the respective plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet such an additional requirement before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.