S. 3565Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Opioid Advocacy Transparency Act of 2018

Introduced October 10, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 16, 2026 at 12:05 AM UTC

The Opioid Advocacy Transparency Act of 2018 changes the reporting rules in the Social Security Act so that opioid manufacturers must disclose payments and other transfers of value not only to doctors and hospitals, but also to patient‑advocacy groups and foundations that focus on opioids. The bill limits this new requirement to information about opioid drugs, devices, biologics, or medical supplies, and sets a dollar threshold for reporting those transfers. It also extends the same reporting rules to pharmaceutical trade associations that make payments to these advocacy groups. The changes take effect for reports due on or after January 1 2024.

Key Provisions

  • Adds “relevant patient advocacy organizations” and foundations they establish as covered recipients for opioid manufacturers’ transparency reports.
  • Limits the new reporting requirement to information about opioid‑related products (drugs, devices, biologics, or medical supplies).
  • Requires manufacturers to report any transfer of value to these advocacy groups unless the total amount in a calendar year is $4,000 or less, with the threshold adjusted for inflation after 2024.
  • Extends the reporting obligations to pharmaceutical trade associations that make payments to the newly covered advocacy recipients.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

October 10, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

October 10, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

October 10, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued October 10, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3565

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 10, 2018

Mrs. McCaskill (for herself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to include additional covered recipients for transparency reports required of manufacturers of opioids.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Opioid Advocacy Transparency Act of 2018.

2.

Additional covered recipients for transparency reports required of manufacturers of opioids

(a)

In general

Section 1128G(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7h(e)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (6)—

(A)

in subparagraph (A)—

(i)

in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting and subject to subparagraph (C) after subparagraph (B); and

(ii)

by adding at the end the following new clause:

(vi)

A relevant patient advocacy organization (as defined in subparagraph (D)) or a foundation established by such an organization.

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

(C)

Limitation

Clause (vi) of subparagraph (A) shall only apply with respect to information required to be submitted under this section by an applicable manufacturer that is the manufacturer of a covered drug, device, biological, or medical supply that is an opioid (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)).

(D)

Relevant patient advocacy organization

For purposes of subparagraph (A)(vi), the term relevant patient advocacy organization means an organization engaged in advocacy on issues related to opioids (as so defined), including patient use of and access to opioids, the use of opioids for the treatment of pain, and opioid addiction treatment.

; and

(2)

in paragraph (10)(B)—

(A)

in clause (i), by striking A transfer and inserting Subject to clause (xiii), a transfer; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following new clause:

(xiii)

In the case of a covered recipient described in paragraph (6)(A)(vi), a transfer of anything of value to the covered recipient by an applicable manufacturer described in paragraph (6)(C), unless the aggregate amount transferred to, requested by, or designated on behalf of the covered recipient by the applicable manufacturer during the calendar year exceeds $4,000. For calendar years after 2024, the dollar amount specified in the preceding sentence shall be increased by the same percentage as the percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all items; U.S. city average) for the 12-month period ending with June of the previous year.

.

(b)

Treatment of certain payments or other transfers of value made by pharmaceutical trade associations

Section 1128G(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7h(a)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(C)

Treatment of certain payments or other transfers of value by pharmaceutical trade associations

For purposes of this section, the provisions that apply to an applicable manufacturer with respect to a payment or other transfer of value described in subparagraph (A) shall also apply to a pharmaceutical trade organization (as defined by the Secretary) but only with respect to a payment or other transfer of value described in such subparagraph provided to a covered recipient described in subsection (e)(6)(A)(vi) (or to an entity or individual at the request of or designated on behalf of a covered recipient described in such subsection).

.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to information required to be submitted under section 1128G of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7h) on or after January 1, 2024.