1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Hospice Safe Drug Disposal Act of 2018 . 2. Disposal of controlled substances of a deceased hospice patient by employees of a hospice program (a) In general Section 302(g) of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 822(g) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (5) (A) An employee of a qualified hospice program acting within the scope of employment may handle, in the place of residence of a hospice patient, any controlled substance that was lawfully dispensed to the hospice patient, for the purpose of assisting in the disposal of the controlled substance after the hospice patient's death. (B) In this paragraph: (i) The term employee of a qualified hospice program means a person (including a physician, nurse, or physician assistant) who— (I) is employed by, or pursuant to arrangements made by, a qualified hospice program; and (II) is licensed or certified to perform such employment in accordance with applicable State law. (ii) The terms hospice care and hospice program have the meanings given those terms in section 1861(dd) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd) ). (iii) The term hospice patient means an individual receiving hospice care. (iv) The term qualified hospice program means a hospice program that— (I) has written policies and procedures for assisting in the disposal of the controlled substances of a hospice patient after the hospice patient's death; (II) at the time when the controlled substances are first ordered— (aa) provides a copy of the written policies and procedures to the hospice patient or hospice patient representative and the family of the hospice patient; (bb) discusses the policies and procedures with the hospice patient or hospice patient representative and the family in a language and manner that those individuals understand to ensure that those individuals are educated regarding the safe disposal of controlled substances