Prescriber training would be required to include:

• Best practices for pain management, including alternatives to prescribing controlled substances;

• Responsible prescribing of pain medications;

• Methods of diagnosing, treating, and managing a substance use disorder, including evidence-based nonpharmacological therapies;

• Ways to link patients to evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders;

• Tools to manage adherence and diversion for controlled substances.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration would be required to establish or help set up a free, online training module that covers the above subjects practitioners need to complete.

Additionally, the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be required to:

• Establish, maintain, and periodically update a publicly available database with information on the training modules;

• Evaluate and publicly publish a report describing how increased training has changed patterns of prescribing controlled substances within five year of this bill’s enactment.