CONNECTIONS Act

Creating Opportunities that Necessitate New and Enhanced Connections That Improve Opioid Navigation Strategies Act of 2018 or the CONNECTIONS Act This bill authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide technical assistance and award grants in order to: (1) improve the efficiency and use of state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), achieve community or health system interventions relating to controlled substances (e.g., prescription guidelines), and promote new approaches to responding to emerging public health crises; and (2) improve the timeliness, comprehensiveness, and usefulness of reported overdose data. The bill also amends the Public Health Service Act to alter requirements relating to PDMPs. Among other changes, the bill: (1) repeals requirements regarding grant formulas, database standards, and authorized data disclosures; and (2) authorizes federal support for specific improvements regarding use, data reporting, and intrastate and interstate interoperability. The Department of Health and Human Services must report on the progress of states in implementing PDMPs that are consistent with such improvements.