S. 2711Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Enhancing Access to Addiction Treatment Act of 2018

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:20 PM UTC

The Enhancing Access to Addiction Treatment Act of 2018 changes the Controlled Substances Act to make it easier for physicians to get a waiver allowing them to prescribe narcotic drugs for addiction maintenance or detox treatment. It does this by setting specific training requirements for doctors and by providing federal grants to help medical schools create the needed training programs. The changes affect doctors who treat opioid‑dependent patients and the medical schools that train them.

Key Provisions

Adds a new waiver category (VIII) to the Controlled Substances Act that lets doctors who have graduated from an accredited U.S. allopathic or osteopathic medical school within the past five years obtain a waiver for the separate registration required to dispense narcotics for maintenance or detoxification treatment, provided they have completed at least 24 hours of training on treating opioid‑dependent patients and additional best‑practice training the Secretary may require.
Creates a grant program run by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund medical schools and teaching hospitals that develop curricula meeting the new training requirements, with up to $4 million authorized each fiscal year from 2019 through 2023.
Updates the agency name in the Controlled Substances Act from “Health, Education, and Welfare” to “Health and Human Services.”

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

April 19, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 19, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

April 19, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 19, 2018

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2711

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 19, 2018

Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Portman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend section 303 of the Controlled Substances Act to facilitate waivers of the separate registration requirement for physicians dispensing narcotic drugs to individuals for maintenance treatment or detoxification treatment.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Enhancing Access to Addiction Treatment Act of 2018.

Waivers for maintenance or detoxification treatment

(a)

Waiver

Section 303(g)(2)(G)(ii) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)(2)(G)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(VIII)

The physician graduated from an accredited school of allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine in the United States during the 5-year period ending on the date on which the physician submits to the Secretary a written notification under subparagraph (B) and successfully completed a comprehensive allopathic or osteopathic medicine curriculum or accredited medical residency that—

(aa)

included not less than 24 hours of training on treating and managing opiate-dependent patients; and

(bb)

included, at a minimum—

(AA)

the training described in items (aa) through (gg) of subclause (IV); and

(BB)

training with respect to any other best practice the Secretary determines should be included in the curriculum, which may include training on pain management, including assessment and appropriate use of opioid and non-opioid alternatives.

(b)

Grants

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a grant program under which the Secretary may make grants to accredited schools of allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine and teaching hospitals located in the United States to support the development of curricula that meet the requirements under subclause (VIII) of section 303(g)(2)(G)(ii) of the Controlled Substances Act, as added by subsection (a).

(2)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated for grants under paragraph (1), $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

(c)

Technical amendment

Section 102(24) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(24)) is amended by striking Health, Education, and Welfare and inserting Health and Human Services.