H.R. 2004

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance on whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · March 10, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Lieu · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce

Table of contents

• H.R. 2004
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Testing for fentanyl in hospital emergency departments

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as Tyler’s Law.

SEC. 2. Testing for fentanyl in hospital emergency departments

• (a) Study
  • Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall complete a study to determine—
    • how frequently hospital emergency departments test for fentanyl (in addition to testing for other substances such as amphetamines, phencyclidine, cocaine, opiates, and marijuana) when a patient is experiencing an overdose;
    • the costs associated with such testing for fentanyl;
    • the potential benefits and risks for patients receiving such testing for fentanyl; and
    • how fentanyl testing in hospital emergency departments may impact the experience of the patient, including—
      • protections for the confidentiality and privacy of the patient’s personal health information; and
      • the patient-physician relationship.
• (b) Guidance
  • Not later than 6 months after completion of the study under subsection (a), based on the results of such study, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue guidance on the following:
    • Whether hospital emergency departments should implement fentanyl testing as a routine procedure for patients experiencing an overdose.
    • How hospitals can ensure that clinicians in their hospital emergency departments are aware of which substances are being tested for in their routinely-administered drug tests, regardless of whether those tests screen for fentanyl.
    • How the administration of fentanyl testing in hospital emergency departments may affect the future risk of overdose and general health outcomes.
• (c) Definition
  • In this section, the term hospital emergency department means a hospital emergency department as such term is used in section 1867(a) of the Social Security Act (). 42 U.S.C. 1395dd(a)