H.R. 4007House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

HEAL Act of 2023

Introduced June 12, 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 8:46 AM UTC

The HEAL Act of 2023 requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to broaden any mention of opioid overdose reversal drugs in its grant programs to include all FDA‑approved agents, not just naloxone. This change affects HHS regulations, guidance, and other documents that support state, tribal, and national substance‑use‑disorder grant programs. By expanding the definition, the bill aims to give grant recipients flexibility to use newer or alternative reversal medications approved by the FDA.

Key Provisions

  • The HHS Secretary must ensure that any reference to an opioid overdose reversal agent in grant‑related regulations or guidance is inclusive of every FDA‑approved or authorized agent.
  • All existing references that mention only naloxone must be updated by the end of 2023 to reflect this broader inclusion.
  • The update applies to grant programs for State and Tribal opioid response under the 21st Century Cures Act and to priority substance‑use‑disorder prevention grants under the Public Health Service Act.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

June 16, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 12, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

June 12, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

June 16, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 4007 on the floor

1 Republican
Monica De La Cruz
Rep. Monica De La CruzR-TX-15 · Sep 12, 2023

Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and resolutions, as follows: H.R. 16: Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Magaziner, Mr. Casten, Mr. Casar, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Caraveo, and Mr. Sablan. H.R.…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 12, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4007

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 12, 2023

Mr. Armstrong (for himself and Mr. Tonko) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To ensure references to opioid overdose reversal agents in grant programs of the Department of Health and Human Services are not limited to naloxone.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Halting the Epidemic of Addiction and Loss Act of 2023 or the HEAL Act of 2023.

2.

References to opioid overdose reversal agents in HHS grant programs

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure that, whenever the Department of Health and Human Services issues a regulation, guidance, or other document for any grant program addressing opioid misuse and use disorders, any reference to an opioid overdose reversal agent (such as a reference to naloxone) is inclusive of any opioid overdose reversal agent that has been approved or otherwise authorized for use by the Food and Drug Administration.

(b)

Existing references

(1)

Update

Not later than the end of calendar year 2023, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall update all references described in paragraph (2) to be inclusive of any opioid overdose reversal agent that has been approved or otherwise authorized for use by the Food and Drug Administration.

(2)

References

A reference described in this paragraph is any reference to an opioid overdose reversal agent (such as naloxone) in any regulation, guidance, or other document of the Department of Health and Human Services that—

(A)

was issued before the date of enactment of this Act; and

(B)

is for—

(i)

the grant program for State and Tribal response to opioid use disorders under section 1003 of the 21st Century Cures Act (42 U.S.C. 290ee–3 note; commonly referred to as State Opioid Response Grants and Tribal Opioid Response Grants); or

(ii)

the grant program for priority substance use disorder prevention needs of regional and national significance under section 516 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–22).