Introduced in House

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 1627 Introduced in House (IH)] 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1627 To amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow for the use of telehealth in substance use disorder treatment, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 26, 2025 Mr. Norcross (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 the Controlled Substances Act to allow for the use of telehealth in substance use disorder treatment, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Telehealth Response for E- prescribing Addiction Therapy Services Act'' or the ``TREATS Act''.

SEC. 2. TELEHEALTH FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT.

SEC. 2. TELEHEALTH FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT.

Section 309(e)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.

Section 309(e)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 829(e)(2)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A)(i)-- (A) by striking ``at least 1 in-person medical evaluation'' and inserting the following: ``at least-- ``(I) 1 in-person medical evaluation''; and (B) by adding at the end the following: ``(II) for purposes of prescribing a controlled substance in schedule III, IV, or V that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a substance use disorder, 1 telehealth evaluation of the patient; or''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(D) The term `telehealth evaluation' means a medical evaluation that is conducted in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws by a practitioner (other than a pharmacist) who is at a location remote from the patient and is communicating with the patient, or a practitioner who is treating the patient, using a telecommunications system referred to in section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) that includes audio-only or audio and video equipment permitting two-way, real-time interactive communication between the distant site practitioner and the patient, or the practitioner who is treating the patient.''.