H.R. 4641, a bill to provide for the establishment of an inter-agency task force to review, modify, and update best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication, and for other purposes

H.R. 4641 would require the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a task force to review and modify best practices for the treatment of pain. The Secretary of HHS would be required to coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Task force members would include representatives from relevant federal agencies, medical professionals, researchers, and individuals who have specific expertise in pain management and addiction to pain medication. The task force would issue a report to Congress on its findings, which would include a strategy for disseminating information to relevant medical professionals about best practices in pain management.

CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 4641 would cost $2 million over the 2016-2021 period, assuming appropriation of the estimated amounts, mostly to cover administrative expenses associated with the task force. Estimated outlays are based on information from affected agencies and historical spending for similar types of initiatives. Enacting H.R. 4641 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 4641 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year period beginning in 2027.

The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.