WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA), today advanced seven bills to be next considered by full committee. Six of the bills were approved by voice vote. H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act passed by a vote of 18 to 12.

“In approving these seven important bills, we took a big step today in implementing meaningful reforms for the American public,” said full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “From addressing the growing prevalence of synthetic drugs, restoring common sense to menu labeling, and to improving our country’s mental health system, these bills will make a real difference in the lives of countless Americans.”

The subcommittee approved the following bills (in order by consideration):

H.R. 3014, the Medical Controlled Substances Transportation Act - Authored by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), this legislation would amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow registered physicians to transport and administer controlled substances to patients at other practice settings and disaster areas if the physician enters into an agreement with the Drug Enforcement Agency.

H.R. 3537, Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2015 - Authored by Reps. Charlie Dent (R-PA), James Himes (D-CT), David Jolly (R-FL), and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), the legislation would help stop the sale of deadly synthetic drugs by scheduling certain designer drugs (phenylalkylamines) in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

H.R. 2446, To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require the use of electronic visit verification for personal care services furnished under the Medicaid program - Authored by Health Subcommittee Vice Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), this legislation requires states to have in place an electronic visit verification system for personal care services. The amendment in the nature of a substitute is available here.

H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Terminated Providers Are Removed from Medicaid and CHIP Act - Authored by Rep. Larry Buchson, M.D. (R-IN), this legislation addresses issues raised in a recent report from the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General that found health care providers terminated from Medicaid in one state were still participating in Medicaid and CHIP programs in other states. The amendment in the nature of a substitute is available here.

H.R. 3821, the Medicaid Directory of Caregivers Act - Authored by Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), this legislation would require state Medicaid programs that operate fee-for-service and/or primary care case management programs include a directory of physicians who served Medicaid patients in the prior 12 months on the Medicaid program’s website. The amendment in the nature of a substitute is available here.

H.R. 2017, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015 - Authored by committee member and Republican Conference Chair Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), this legislation will provide clarity and flexibility for small businesses from some of the health care law’s most costly and burdensome regulations regarding menu-labeling requirements. The amendment in the nature of a substitute is available here.

H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act - Authored by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA), the legislation addresses many of the issues identified by the Energy and Commerce Committee’s review of the nation’s mental health system. The bipartisan legislation aims to fix the nation’s broken mental health system by refocusing programs, reforming grants, and removing barriers to care. The amendment in the nature of a substitute and the amendments agreed to are available here.

To learn more about these bills, view amendments, or watch archived webcast, click HERE.

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