42 U.S.C. § 290bb–36d: Treatment Referral…

Summary

Run and keep a national service that helps people and families find mental health and substance use treatment. The Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary, must operate a year‑round telephone line that works across the country, is updated regularly, keeps callers confidential and does not require them to give their names, offers at least English and Spanish, and is free. The service must also include a searchable website listing providers and community groups with name, location, contact information, and basic services. If the website lists any practitioner who prescribes narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V of section 812 of title 21 for maintenance or detoxification, that practitioner must be given a way to ask to have their contact information removed. The Assistant Secretary may try other ways to keep the website current, and may use unused funds already available to the Administration to run the service.

Title 42, §290bb–36d

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary, shall maintain the National Treatment Referral Routing Service (referred to in this section as the “Routing Service”) to assist individuals and families in locating mental and substance use disorders treatment providers.

(b)Activities of the Secretary

To maintain the Routing Service, the activities of the Assistant Secretary shall include administering—

(1)a nationwide, telephone number providing year-round access to information that is updated on a regular basis regarding local behavioral health providers and community-based organizations in a manner that is confidential, without requiring individuals to identify themselves, is in languages that include at least English and Spanish, and is at no cost to the individual using the Routing Service; and

(2)an Internet website to provide a searchable, online treatment services locator of behavioral health treatment providers and community-based organizations, which shall include information on the name, location, contact information, and basic services provided by such providers and organizations.

(c)Removing practitioner contact information

In the event that the Internet website described in subsection (b)(2) contains information on any practitioner who prescribes narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V of section 812 of title 21 for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment, the Assistant Secretary—

(1)shall provide an opportunity to such practitioner to have the contact information of the practitioner removed from the website at the request of the practitioner; and

(2)may evaluate other methods to periodically update the information displayed on such website.

(d)Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Assistant Secretary from using any unobligated amounts otherwise made available to the Administration to maintain the Routing Service.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 119–26, § 4(2)(B)(iv), amended Pub. L. 117–328, § 1262(b)(3). See 2022 Amendment note below. 2022—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–328, § 1262(b)(3), as amended by Pub. L. 119–26, § 4(2)(B)(iv), substituted “information on any practitioner who prescribes narcotic drugs in schedule III, IV, or V of section 812 of title 21 for the purpose of maintenance or detoxification treatment” for “information on any qualified practitioner that is certified to prescribe medication for opioid dependency under section 823(h)(2)(B) of title 21” in introductory provisions. Pub. L. 117–215 substituted “823(h)(2)(B)” for “823(g)(2)(B)” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2025 Amendment Pub. L. 119–26, § 4, July 16, 2025, 139 Stat. 416, provided that the amendment made by section 4(2)(B)(iv) is effective as if included in the enactment of Pub. L. 117–328.

§290bb–36d Treatment Referral Routing Service