text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``National Milestones to Measure 
  Progress in Ending the Opioid Epidemic Act of 2018''.
  
  SEC. 2. NATIONAL MILESTONES TO MEASURE SUCCESS IN CURTAILING THE OPIOID 
                EPIDEMIC.
  
      (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
  enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
  (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with 
  the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 
  Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, shall develop 
  national indicators to measure success in curtailing the opioid 
  epidemic, with the goal of significantly reversing the toll of opioid 
  misuse and opioid-related morbidity and mortality in the United States 
  within 5 years of such date of enactment (referred to in this section 
  as the ``national milestones'').
      (b) National Milestones To End the Opioid Epidemic.--The national 
  milestones under subsection (a) shall include the following:
              (1) The establishment of not fewer than 10 indicators or 
          metrics to accurately and expediently measure progress in 
          meeting the goal described in subsection (a)(1), which shall 
          include--
                      (A) a reduction in fatal and non-fatal opioid 
                  overdoses;
                      (B) a reduction in emergency room visits related to 
                  opioid misuse and abuse;
                      (C) an increase in public and provider education, 
                  including a focus on reducing stigma associated with 
                  opioid use disorder;
                      (D) an increase in the number of individuals in 
                  sustained recovery from opioid use disorder;
                      (E) a reduction in the number of co-infections 
                  associated with injection drug use, such as HIV, viral 
                  hepatitis, and endocarditis, and an expanded capacity 
                  to reduce initial infections and enhance access to 
                  treatment;
                      (F) an increase in the number of providers 
                  prescribing medically assisted treatment for opioid use 
                  disorder in different settings, including primary care, 
                  community health centers, jails, and prisons;
                      (G) an increase in the number of harm reduction 
                  organizations, including syringe services programs and 
                  naloxone distribution programs;
                      (H) an increase in the number of individuals 
                  admitted to opioid use disorder treatment; and
                      (I) additional indicators or metrics, such as 
                  metrics pertaining to specific populations, including 
                  women and children, American Indians and Alaskan 
                  Natives, individuals living in rural and non-urban 
                  areas, and justice-involved populations, that would 
                  further clarify the progress made in addressing the 
                  opioid misuse and abuse epidemic, as the Secretary 
                  determines appropriate.
              (2) A reasonable goal, such as a percentage decrease or 
          other specified metric, that signifies progress in meeting the 
          goal described in subsection (a), and annual targets to help 
          achieve that goal.
      (c) Extension of Period.--If the Secretary determines that the goal 
  described in subsection (a) will not be achieved with respect to any 
  indicator or metric established under subsection (b)(2) within 5 years 
  of the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary may extend the 
  timeline for meeting such goal with respect to that indicator or 
  metric. The Secretary shall include with any such extension a rationale 
  for why additional time is needed and a description of changes the 
  Secretary will make in order to achieve such goal with respect to the 
  indicator or metric.
      (d) Reports.--During the 5-year period described in subsection (a) 
  or such extended period as the Secretary may determine under subsection 
  (c), the Secretary shall--
              (1) submit to Congress annual reports on the national 
          milestones; and
              (2) make each such report publicly available.
      (e) Annual Status Update.--Beginning one year after submission of 
  the report under subsection (d) and for each year thereafter that a 
  report is required under such subsection, the Secretary shall provide 
  an update to Congress on the progress of Federal agencies in achieving 
  the goals detailed in the national milestones. Each such update shall 
  include--
              (1) the total Federal investment in programs addressing the 
          opioid epidemic and the amount invested in each program, both 
          by fiscal year and, for programs created after fiscal year 
          2015, the total spent since the program's creation;
              (2) an evaluation of the most and least effective Federal 
          programs intended to respond to the opioid crisis;
              (3) the progress made in the first year or since the 
          previous report, as applicable, in meeting each indicator or 
          metric in the national milestones; and
              (4) the Secretary's proposal for meeting each specified 
          indicator or metric in the proceeding year.
target: National Milestones to Measure Progress in Ending the Opioid Epidemic Act of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop national milestones to measure progress in reducing the opioid epidemic over a five-year period based on certain metrics, such as opioid-related overdoses, emergency room visits, and treatment admissions. HHS must submit annual reports and status updates, including evaluations of federal programs that are intended to address the opioid epidemic. 
feat_title: National Milestones to Measure Progress in Ending the Opioid Epidemic Act of 2018