H.R. 2281 would direct the Attorney General to revise regulations that permit practitioners who are not registered to conduct a narcotic treatment program to administer a narcotic for withdrawal. The revision would allow those practitioners to provide a three-day supply of a narcotic rather than a one-day supply for three days.
Based on discussion with outside experts, CBO expects the bill would predominately affect the provision of buprenorphine/naloxone in emergency departments. Although CBO expects that the bill would lead to an increase in the amount of buprenorphine/naloxone provided, it also expects a decrease in the number of emergency room visits. The estimated net effect of these changes would be to reduce the deficit by $94 million over the 2021-2030 period.
Enacting the bill also would increase off-budget revenues by $2 million because of estimated changes in Social Security revenues.
