H.R. 2482House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act of 2019

Sponsored by Paul TonkoRep. Paul Tonko (D-NY)
Introduced May 2, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:38 AM UTC

The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act of 2019 changes federal drug law so doctors and other practitioners no longer need a special registration to dispense schedule III, IV, or V narcotics—such as buprenorphine—when providing maintenance or detoxification treatment for opioid use disorder. By removing this extra hurdle, the bill aims to make medication‑assisted treatment more accessible. It also directs the Health and Human Services Department to run a national education campaign to inform clinicians about the new rules.

Key Provisions

  • Amends the Controlled Substances Act to delete the separate registration requirement for dispensing schedule III‑V narcotics for maintenance or detoxification treatment.
  • Updates related sections of the CSA, the Public Health Service Act, and the Social Security Act so they reference the new dispensing rules instead of the old registration requirement.
  • Requires HHS, through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to conduct a national campaign that educates practitioners about the rule change and encourages integration of substance‑use treatment into routine practice.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

3 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

May 31, 2019

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 2, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, 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 2, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

May 3, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

May 31, 2019

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 2482 on the floor

1 Democrat
Antonio Delgado
Rep. Antonio DelgadoD-NY-19 · May 9, 2019

Madam Speaker, I rise today because I have heard from too many parents and siblings in upstate New York who have lost a loved one to overdose from opioids. I rise because overdose fatalities are the…

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Introduced in HouseIssued May 2, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2482

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 2, 2019

Mr. Tonko (for himself, Mr. Luján, Mr. Delgado, Mr. Budd, Ms. Stefanik, and Mr. Turner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, 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 section 303(g) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)) to eliminate the separate registration requirement for dispensing narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V (such as buprenorphine) for maintenance or detoxification treatment, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act of 2019.

2.

Eliminating separate registration requirement for dispensing narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, and V for maintenance or detoxification treatment

(a)

In general

Section 303 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) is amended—

(1)

by striking paragraph (2) of subsection (g); and

(2)

in subsection (g), as amended—

(A)

by striking (g)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), practitioners who dispense narcotic drugs to individuals for maintenance treatment or detoxification treatment and inserting (g) Practitioners who dispense narcotic drugs (other than narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V) to individuals for maintenance treatment or detoxification treatment;

(B)

by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively; and

(C)

in paragraph (2), as redesignated, by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively.

(b)

Conforming changes

(1)

Subsections (a) and (d)(1) of section 304 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 824) are amended by striking 303(g)(1) each place it appears and inserting 303(g).

(2)

Section 309A(a)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 829a) is amended—

(A)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking the controlled substance is to be administered for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment under section 303(g)(2) and inserting the controlled substance is a narcotic drug in schedule III, IV, or V to be administered for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment; and

(B)

by striking and— and all that follows through is to be administered by injection or implantation; and inserting and is to be administered by injection or implantation;.

(3)

Section 520E–4(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–36d(c)) is amended by striking information on any qualified practitioner that is certified to prescribe medication for opioid dependency under section 303(g)(2)(B) of the Controlled Substances Act and inserting information on any practitioner who prescribes narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment.

(4)

Section 544(a)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd–3) is amended by striking any practitioner dispensing narcotic drugs pursuant to section 303(g) of the Controlled Substances Act and inserting any practitioner dispensing narcotic drugs for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment.

(5)

Section 1833(bb)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(bb)(3)(B)) is amended by striking first receives a waiver under section 303(g) of the Controlled Substances Act on or after January 1, 2019 and inserting first begins prescribing narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment on or after January 1, 2019.

(6)

Section 1834(o)(3)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(o)(3)(C)(ii)) is amended by striking first receives a waiver under section 303(g) of the Controlled Substances Act on or after January 1, 2019 and inserting first begins prescribing narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V of section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment on or after January 1, 2019.

(7)

Section 1866F(c)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc–6(c)(3)) is amended—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by inserting and at the end;

(B)

in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and

(C)

by striking subparagraph (C).

(8)

Section 1903(aa)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(aa)(2)(C)) is amended—

(A)

in clause (i), by inserting and at the end; and

(B)

by striking clause (ii).

3.

National education campaign

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall conduct a national campaign to educate practitioners with respect to the elimination of the separate registration requirement under section 303(g) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823(g)), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, for dispensing narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, and V for maintenance or detoxification treatment.

(b)

Required components

The national education campaign under subsection (a) shall—

(1)

encourage practitioners to integrate substance use treatment into their practices; and

(2)

include education on publicly available educational resources and training modules that can assist practitioners in treating patients with a substance use disorder.