GRANTS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OUTLIER PRESCRIBERS OF OPIOIDS.

SEC. 6052. GRANTS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OUTLIER PRESCRIBERS OF OPIOIDS. (a) Grants Authorized.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to eligible entities for the purposes described in subsection (b). (b) Use of Funds.—Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements awarded under subsection (a) shall be used to support eligible entities through technical assistance— (1) to educate and provide outreach to outlier prescribers of opioids about best practices for prescribing opioids; (2) to educate and provide outreach to outlier prescribers of opioids about non-opioid pain management therapies; and (3) to reduce the amount of opioid prescriptions prescribed by outlier prescribers of opioids. (c) Application.—Each eligible entity seeking to receive a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d) Geographic Distribution.—In awarding grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize establishing technical assistance resources in each State. (e) Definitions.—In this section: (1) Eligible entity.—The term “eligible entity” means— (A) an organization— (i) that has demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to health care professionals on a State or regional basis; and (ii) that has at least— (I) one individual who is a representative of consumers on its governing body; and (II) one individual who is a representative of health care providers on its governing body; or (B) an entity that is a quality improvement entity with a contract under part B of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320c et seq.). (2) Outlier prescriber of opioids.—The term “outlier prescriber of opioids” means, with respect to a period, a prescriber identified by the Secretary under subparagraph (D)(ii) of section 1860D-4(c)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-104(c)(4)), as added by section 6065 of this Act, to be an outlier prescriber of opioids for such period. (3) Prescribers.—The term “prescriber” means any health care professional, including a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, who is licensed to prescribe opioids by the State or territory in which such professional practices. (f) Funding.—For purposes of implementing this section, $75,000,000 shall be available from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t), to remain available until expended.