S. 2900Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Comprehensive Screenings for Seniors Act of 2018

Introduced May 22, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:57 PM UTC

The Comprehensive Screenings for Seniors Act of 2018 amends the Medicare portion of the Social Security Act to require that seniors receive screening for possible substance‑use disorders and a review of any opioid prescriptions they are taking. These new requirements apply during both the initial preventive physical exam and the yearly wellness visit. The goal is to identify opioid‑related risks early and connect beneficiaries with appropriate pain‑management resources.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a mandatory screening for potential substance‑use disorders to the initial preventive physical examination for Medicare beneficiaries.
  • Requires a review of any current opioid prescriptions during that exam, including assessment of risk factors, pain severity, non‑opioid treatment options, and referral to a pain specialist when needed.
  • Adds the same substance‑use disorder screening and opioid‑prescription review to the annual Medicare wellness visit.
  • The new requirements take effect for exams and visits performed on or after January  1, 2019.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

May 22, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 22, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

May 22, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 22, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2900

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 22, 2018

Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Thune, Mr. Cassidy, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include screening for potential substance use disorders and a review of any current opioid prescriptions as part of the initial preventive physical examination and the annual wellness visit under the Medicare program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Comprehensive Screenings for Seniors Act of 2018.

2.

Inclusion of screening for potential substance use disorders and a review of any current opioid prescriptions as part of the initial preventive physical examination and the annual wellness visit under Medicare

(a)

Initial preventive physical examination

Section 1861(ww) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ww)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

by striking paragraph (2) and and inserting paragraph (2),; and

(B)

by inserting and the furnishing of a review of any current opioid prescriptions (as defined in paragraph (4)), after ‘‘upon the agreement with the individual,”; and

(2)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

by redesignating subparagraph (N) as subparagraph (O); and

(B)

by inserting after subparagraph (M) the following new subparagraph:

(N)

Screening for potential substance use disorders.

; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(4)

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term a review of any current opioid prescriptions means, with respect to an individual determined to have a current prescription for opioids—

(A)

a review of the potential risk factors to the individual for opioid use disorder;

(B)

an evaluation of the individual's severity of pain and current treatment plan;

(C)

the provision of information on non-opioid treatment options; and

(D)

a referral to a pain management specialist, as appropriate.

.

(b)

Annual wellness visit

Section 1861(hhh)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hhh)(2)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (I); and

(2)

by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new subparagraphs:

(G)

Screening for potential substance use disorders and referral for treatment as appropriate.

(H)

The furnishing of a review of any current opioid prescriptions (as defined in subsection (ww)(4)).

.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to examinations and visits furnished on or after January 1, 2019.