United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2001
Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to authorize funding to reach the Federal Government's goal of providing 40 percent of the national average per pupil expenditure to assist States and local educational agencies with the excess costs of educating children with disabilities. Authorizes appropriations for IDEA part B programs of assistance for education of all children with disabilities, in specified amounts for FY 2002 through 2005, and as necessary thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2001
Education for Democracy Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to revise and reauthorize provisions for Civic Education. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to or contracts with: (1) the Center for Civic Education (CCE) to carry out civic education activities under the We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution program and The Project Citizen program, and under Cooperative Educational Exchange programs; and (2) the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) to carry out economic education activities under Cooperative Educational Exchange programs. Revises requirements for CCE implementation of the We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution program and The Project Citizen program. Sets forth requirements for the Cooperative Educational Exchange programs of civic education by CCE and economic education by NCEE. Makes eligible for such programs Central European countries, an Eastern European country, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the independent states of the former Soviet Union. Allows such program eligibility also for the Republic of Ireland, the province of Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom, and any developing country as defined under the Education for the Deaf Act. Amends the Goals 2000: Educate America Act to repeal provisions for an International Education Program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2001
Persian Gulf War Illness Compensation Act of 2001 - Amends a veterans' benefits program of compensation for disabilities occurring in veterans of the Persian Gulf War to: (1) require such disabilities, to be compensable, to occur before December 31, 2011, or such later date as prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; (2) define an "undiagnosed illness" in such veterans as one manifested by specified symptoms or signs the cause, etiology, or origin of which cannot be specifically and definitely identified; and (3) include an undiagnosed illness having such a symptom or sign within the presumption of being service-connected and therefore treatable as a service-connected disability.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2001
Permanent Partners Immigration Act of 2001 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include permanent partners (as defined by this Act) within the scope of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2001
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to modify the formula for determining the amount of reduced monthly OASDI benefits payable to a spouse, surviving spouse, or parent receiving monthly payments from a Federal or State pension plan. Declares that such benefit reductions shall be equal to the lesser of: (1) the amount by which the total amount of the combined monthly benefit (before reduction) and monthly pension exceeds $1,200, adjusted for inflation; or (2) an amount equal to two-thirds of the amount of any such monthly pension plan payment.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 2001
Declares that Federal funding for diabetes research should be increased in accordance with the recommendations of the Diabetes Research Working Group so that a cure for juvenile diabetes can be found.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2001
Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Public Health Service Act , the Internal Revenue Code, and Medicare supplemental policy provisions to prohibit health plans and insurers, with respect to protected genetic information, from discriminating in enrollment, eligibility, contribution rates, and premium rates based on such information. Makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or training program to discriminate because of protected genetic information.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2001
Teacher Technology Training Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) to award grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide classroom-related technology training to credentialed elementary or secondary school teachers, on the basis of the LEAs' demonstrated need. Requires an SEA to award at least one grant to an LEA that meets criteria established by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to award one grant to each SEA that applies, if appropriations reach a certain level for a fiscal year. Allows LEA use of grant funds to provide such training by LEA personnel on school premises.
United States · United States Congress · 13 February 2001
Family Opportunity Act of 2001 or Dylan Lee James Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) give States the option of allowing families of disabled children to purchase Medicaid coverage for such children; and (2) provide for treatment of inpatient psychiatric hospital services for individuals under age 21 under waivers allowing for payment of part or all of the cost of home or community-based services. Authorizes a State to apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for approval of a demonstration project to provide Medicaid coverage of up to a specified maximum number of children with a potentially severe disability. Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to make appropriations to the Secretary for special projects of regional and national significance for development and support of family-to-family health information centers. Amends SSA title XIX to provide for the restoration of Medicaid eligibility to certain SSI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSA title XVI) beneficiaries under age 21.
United States · United States Congress · 12 February 2001
Child Care Affordability for Federal Employees Act - Permits executive agencies to use appropriated funds (available to such agencies for salaries and expenses) to provide child care services, in Federal or leased facilities, or through contracts, for their civilian employees. Requires amounts so provided to be applied to improve the affordability of child care for lower income employees.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2001
Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group health insurance coverage, with regard to hospital stays in connection with breast cancer treatment, from: (1) covering less than 48 hours after mastectomies or less than 24 hours after lymph node dissections; or (2) requiring plan or issuer authorization for prescribing any length of stay. Prohibits: (1) denying eligibility, enrollment, or renewal to avoid these requirements; (2) providing payments or rebates to women; or (3) penalizing or providing incentives to providers. Applies the same requirements to issuers in the individual market.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2001
Bipartisan Patient Protection Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code with respect to health care coverage. Requires group health plans, and health insurance issuers providing health insurance coverage, to conduct utilization review activities in connection with the provision of benefits under such plan or coverage only in accordance with an approved utilization review program. Requires health plans and insurers to offer consumers: (1) more care options; and (2) greater access to patient information. Restricts interference by health plans and insurers with the doctor-patient relationship. Prohibits health plans and insurers from discriminating against a licensed health care professional with respect to participation or indemnification. Requires health plans and insurers to comply with patient protection requirements of this Act. Extends and expands provisions of the medical savings account program. Provides for: (1) the deduction of 100 percent of the health insurance costs of the self-employed; and (2) a credit for the health insurance expenses of small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2001
U.S. Employee, Family Unity, and Legalization Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend the admission date for permanent residence for certain aliens, including additional one-year extensions during specified time periods. Establishes fines for application-related violations of confidentiality and false statements. Revises specified restrictions respecting: (1) cancellation of removal; (2) deportability and admissibility; and (3) issuance of immigrant visas to certain spouses and children of lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens. Establishes a national task force on immigrant exploitation and trafficking, to be chaired by the Secretary of Labor and made up of Federal and State law enforcement officers.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2001
Community Access to Health Care Act of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants for the purpose of assisting the development of integrated health care delivery systems to: (1) serve communities of individuals who are uninsured and individuals who are underinsured; (2) expand the scope of services provided; and (3) improve the efficiency and coordination among the providers of such services. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 2001
Blind Empowerment Act of 2001 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to increase, by specified increments over five years, the level of earnings demonstrating the ability of a blind person to engage in substantial gainful activity for purposes of determining disability insurance benefit payments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2001
Afterschool Education Enhancement Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to extend to five years the period for grants which the Secretary of Education may make under the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. Sets maximum grant amounts for the fourth and fifth years that are 75 percent and 50 percent, respectively, of the amount received in the first year. Extends the authorization of appropriations for such program.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 2001
Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 2001 - Designates the following lands in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (System): (1) Greater Glacier/Northern Continental Divide ecosystem; (2) Greater Yellowstone ecosystem; (3) Greater Salmon/Selway ecosystem; (4) Greater Cabinet/Yaak/Selkirk ecosystem; (5) Islands in the Sky Wilderness; and (6) Blackfeet Wilderness. Designates: (1) specified wild land areas as Biological Connecting Corridors to protect the life flow of the Northern Rockies Bioregion; (2) the inventoried roadless areas identified as part of the Corridors as components of the System; and (3) certain biological connecting corridors as special corridor management areas. Establishes the Hells Canyon/Chief Joseph National Park and Preserve as a National Park System unit. Repeals Federal law provisions that establish the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) implement a program of ecosystem restoration in the Preserve; and (2) study the feasibility of creating a Flathead National Park and Preserve in the area generally known as the Glacier View Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest. Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of specified rivers and creeks in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Establishes the National Wildland Restoration and Recovery System and the National Wildland Recovery Corps. Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to assure nonexclusive access to the specified areas and corridors designated by this Act by Native Americans for traditional cultural and religious purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2001
Excellence and Accountability in Education Act of 2001 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to revise, and reauthorize appropriations for, certain ESEA programs. Revises and renames ESEA title I as Student Results programs, including: (1) the basic program for assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) to help "low-achieving" (renamed from the current "disadvantaged") schoolchildren to achieve high standards; (2) education of migratory children; and (3) programs for neglected or delinquent youth (transfers to title V revised provisions relating to dropouts and dropout prevention). Establishes programs relating to: (1) financial incentives for comprehensive school reform; (2) academic achievement awards and improving State assessments; and (3) required qualifications for teachers and professionals. Revises and renames ESEA title II provisions as Smart Classrooms programs for teacher professional development, recruitment, and retention, including programs for: (1) qualified teachers in every classroom, with priority for professional development in mathematics and science and fully qualified teachers; (2) transition of career-changing professional to teaching, and troops-to-teachers; (3) class-size reduction; and (4) teacher compensation. Redesignates under title II the National Writing Project (currently under title X). Reauthorizes the Reading Excellence Act under ESEA. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish programs for student loan forgiveness for teachers. Revises ESEA title III (Technology for Education Act). Provides for: (1) a national long-range technology plan and activities; (2) State and local technology innovation and learning; and (3) a program for getting our girls ready for the 21st century (Go Girl) in mathematics, science, technology, and engineering. Revises ESEA title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act), including State grants for drug and violence prevention programs, and national programs. Sets forth programs for alternative education, resource staff for students, and comprehensive technical assistance grants. Revises and renames ESEA title V as Magnet Schools Assistance, Public School Choice, and National Priorities, including programs for magnet schools assistance and women's educational equity. Transfers to title V revisions of provisions currently under title X, including: (1) the Fund for the Improvement of Education; (2) gifted and talented children's programs (as the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act of 2001); (3) public charter schools; (4) arts in education; (5) the inexpensive book distribution program; (6) civic education; (7) the Allen J. Ellender fellowship program; (8) 21st century community learning centers; (9) a rural education achievement program (but repeals provisions for urban education demonstration grants); and (10) physical education for progress. Transfers to title V revised provisions for coordinated services (currently title XI). Sets forth provisions for assistance to address school dropout problems, including an Office of Dropout Prevention and Program Completion. Revises ESEA title VIII provisions for Impact Aid. Revises and renames ESEA title VI as Innovative Education Program Strategies and School Capacity. Revises innovative educational strategies to add requirements for annual performance reporting. Sets forth a program for school construction and renovation grants. Revises and renames ESEA title VII as Education of Limited English Proficient Children and Emergency Immigrant Education, including: (1) instructional programs for limited English proficient children (Bilingual Instruction and Academic Achievement Act); and (2) the emergency immigrant education program. Revises ESEA title IX provisions for Indian, Native Hawaiian, And Alaska Native Education. Prohibits any services under ESEA from being provided through voucher or certificate. Prohibits State educational agencies (SEAs) and LEAs that receive ESEA funds from entering into agreements (or allowing schools under their supervision to do so) that allow any person or entity to monitor, gather, or obtain information used to advertise, sell, or develop a product from any student under 18 years of age unless such agreement requires the prior written permission of the parent. Requires SEAs to: (1) comply with standards for uniform data collection regarding school dropout rates; and (2) develop uniform, long-term suspension and expulsion policies for serious infractions. Repeals: (1) ESEA title XII, School Facilities Infrastructure Improvement (the Education Infrastructure Act of 1994); and (2) ESEA title XIII, Support and Assistance Programs to Improve Education. Amends the Education Amendments of 1978 with respect to education programs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Amends the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 to provide for a tribally controlled grant school endowment program. Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Act to reauthorize appropriations for homeless education programs and to prohibit States receiving such program funds from segregating a child or youth, either in a separate school, or in a separate program within a school, based solely on such child or youth's status as homeless.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2001
Surviving Spouses and Dependents Outreach Enhancement and Veterans Casework Improvement Act - Encourages all elements within the Department of Veterans Affairs and public and private sector entities (including veterans service and veterans widows organizations) to work cooperatively to fully inform veterans' surviving spouses and dependents regarding their eligibility for veterans' benefits and health care services. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assign appropriate Department employees to conduct outreach programs and provide outreach services for eligible spouses and dependents.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2001
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2001 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to prohibit the solicitation of soft money (not subject to FECA) by political parties, increasing the contribution limit for State committees of political parties and the aggregate individual contribution limit. Prohibits a committee of a political party, after party nomination of a candidate, from making both coordinated and independent expenditures to the candidate during the election cycle. Requires a coordinated activity to be considered a contribution to the candidate and an expenditure by the candidate. Prohibits the deposit (except in escrow accounts) or negotiation of contributions from a person making aggregate contributions exceeding $200 annually by a candidate's authorized committee, unless the information required of and disclosed by the contributor is complete. Establishes: (1) time frames (with certain exceptions) for filing of statements with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by certain persons who make aggregate disbursements exceeding $50,000 annually (of soft money) for specified Federal election activities expressing support for or opposition to a Federal office candidate or a political party; and (2) a voluntary personal funds expenditure limit of $50,000 for eligible congressional candidates. Sets forth disclaimers to affirm equal participation of eligible voters in campaigns and elections for Federal office. Establishes: (1) a clearinghouse of specified public information on political activities of foreign principals and their agents; and (2) the Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform. Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit White House political fundraising. Expresses the sense of Congress on "controlling legal authority" concerning use of Federal property to raise campaign funds. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for anyone who solicits or receives anything of value for providing a person with access to specified Federal property. Amends FECA to require political committees of national political parties (for use of Air Force One by the President, Vice President, or an executive department head) and candidates for Federal office (who don't already hold Federal office) to reimburse the Federal government for use of Government property for fundraising and campaign-related travel. Amends FECA to prohibit campaigns from providing cash to individuals to encourage turnout on election day (walking around money) Mandates imprisonment for certain FECA violations. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit presidential and vice presidential candidates certified to receive public financing from coordinating expenditures for issue advocacy unless the funds used are subject to FECA. Provides for expulsion of Members of the House of Representatives convicted of violating FECA's foreign national contribution prohibitions.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 2001
Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for ovarian cancer research. Specifies material to be included in ovarian cancer information and education programs. Requires the National Cancer Advisory Board to include at least one member who is at high risk for developing ovarian cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2001 - Permits retired members of the armed forces with service-connected disabilities to be paid both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation. Repeals a special compensation program for certain severely disabled military retirees.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 2001
Postmasters Fairness and Rights Act of 2001 - Amends Federal law to prescribe guidelines within which the Postal Service shall propose changes in pay policies, schedules, and fringe benefit programs affecting postmasters which are to be in effect during the period covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Postal Service and certain recognized bargaining representatives. Grants certain qualified postmasters' organizations the right to participate in program planning and development pertaining to pay policies, schedules, and fringe benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 2001
Benign Brain Tumor Cancer Registries Amendment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add the collection of data on benign brain-related tumors to provisions authorizing grants to States for the operation of statewide registries (currently, statewide cancer registries).
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Violence Against Women Office Act - Establishes within the Department of Justice (DOJ) a Violence Against Women Office. Specifies the duties of the Office Director, including carrying out DOJ functions under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and on matters relating to violence against women.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act - Amends Federal employee provisions to include the following as an employee, for purposes of authorized enrollment under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: (1) a member of the armed forces who began service before June 7, 1956, and retired after a minimum of 20 years of such service or by reason of a service-connected disability; and (2) the surviving widow or widower of such member. Directs the Secretary of Defense to enter into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management to provide FEHB coverage to the following eligible beneficiaries: (1) a member or former member entitled to military retired or retainer pay; (2) an unremarried former spouse who was married to a member for at least 20 years, during which such member performed at least 20 years of retirement-creditable military service; (3) a dependent of a deceased qualifying member or former member; (4) a dependent of a living member or former member; and (5) a family member.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity Amendments of 2001 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code, and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group and individual health plans from imposing treatment limitations or financial requirements on the coverage of mental health benefits, or substance abuse and chemical dependency benefits, if similar limitations or requirements are not imposed on medical and surgical benefits. Amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1986 to provide for coordination in implementation of such amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
IRA Fairness Act of 2001 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the annual limitation on deductible individual retirement account contributions to $5000.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 2001
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the full realization of the rights of women is vital to the development and well-being of people of all nations; and (2) the Senate should give its advice and consent to the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 2000
Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Beneficiary Protection Act of 2000 - Title I: Medicare Beneficiary Improvements - Subtitle A: Improved Preventive Benefits - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for: (1) coverage of biennial screening pap smear and pelvic exams; (2) coverage of screening for glaucoma; (3) coverage of screening colonoscopy for average risk individuals; (4) revision of payments and standards for screening mammography; (5) coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with diabetes or a renal disease; and (6) extension of Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) coverage for workers with disabilities. Subtitle B: Other Beneficiary Improvements - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) acceleration of reduction of beneficiary copayment for hospital outpatient department (OPD) services; (2) preservation of coverage of drugs and biologicals under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance); (3) elimination of time limitation on Medicare benefits for immunosuppressive drugs; (4) imposition of billing limits on drugs; and (5) availability of application forms for medical assistance for Medicare cost-sharing. (Sec. 116) Amends SSA title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) to provide for a waiver of 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage of individuals disabled with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Subtitle C: Demonstration Projects and Studies - Outlines: (1) a Health and Human Services (HHS) demonstration project for disease management for severely chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries; (2) HHS demonstration projects for cancer prevention and treatment for ethnic and racial minorities; (3) a National Academy of Sciences study on the addition of coverage of routine thyroid screening using a thyroid stimulating hormone test as a preventive benefit provided to Medicare beneficiaries; (4) a Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) study on consumer coalitions in marking Medicare+Choice (SSA title XVIII part C) plans; (5) an HHS study on the effect of limitations on State payment for Medicare cost-sharing on access to services for qualified Medicare beneficiaries; (6) HHS studies on preventive interventions in primary care for older Americans; and (7) a MEDPAC study on Medicare coverage of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation therapy services. Title II: Rural Health Care Improvements - Subtitle A: Critical Access Hospital Provisions - Amends SSA title XVII to: (1) prohibit beneficiary cost-sharing for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests furnished by critical access hospitals; (2) increase the amount a critical access hospital may elect to be paid for outpatient critical access hospital (OCAH) services with respect to the fee schedule payment for OCAH professional services; (3) exempt critical access hospital swing beds from the skilled nursing facility (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS); (4) provide for payment in critical access hospitals for emergency room on-call physicians; and (5) provide for the treatment of ambulance services furnished by certain critical access hospitals. (Sec. 206) Requires the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct a study on certain eligibility requirements for critical access hospitals. Subtitle B: Other Rural Hospitals Provisions - Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to payment to hospitals for inpatient hospital services to provide for: (1) application of a uniform threshold for urban and rural hospitals to be classified as disproportionate share hospitals (DSHs) for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2001; (2) adjustment of payment formulas for various specified hospitals, including hospitals that are both sole community hospitals and rural referral centers for discharges occurring during such period; (3) an option to base eligibility for the Medicare dependent, small rural hospital program on discharges during two of the three most recently audited cost reporting periods; and (4) extension of the option to use rebased target amounts to all sole community hospitals. (Sec. 214) Directs MEDPAC, in its study and report to Congress on rural providers under the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999, to analyze the impact of volume on the per unit cost of rural hospitals with psychiatric units, and recommend whether special treatment for such hospitals may be warranted. Subtitle C: Other Rural Provisions - Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to special payment rules for particular items and services to provide transitional assistance for providers of ambulance services in rural areas. (Sec. 222) Amends SSA title XVIII part B with regard to the use of carriers for administration of benefits concerning payment for certain physician assistant services. (Sec. 223) Amends BBA'97 to: (1) set a time limit for Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services; and (2) provide for an expansion of Medicare payment for such services. (Sec. 224) Amends SSA title XVIII part B to provide for expanding access to rural health clinics. (Sec. 225) Directs MEDPAC to study the effect of low patient and procedure volume on the financial status of low-volume, isolated rural health care providers participating in Medicare. Title III: Provisions Relating to Part A - Subtitle A: Inpatient Hospital Services - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for elimination of the reduction in the PPS hospital payment update. (Sec. 301) Directs the Secretary, when rebasing and revising the hospital market basket index, to consider the prices of blood and blood products purchased by hospitals and to determine whether those prices are adequately reflected in such index. Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to payment to hospitals for inpatient hospital services and updating previous standardized amounts to provide for: (1) an adjustment for inpatient case mix changes; (2) modification of the transition for indirect medical education percentage adjustment for DSHs; and (3) decreases in reductions for DSH payments. (Sec. 304) Provides for a three-year effective period for any decision of the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board to reclassify a DSH for purposes of adjusting the diagnosis-related group (DRG) prospective payment rate for hospital wage level area differences for FY 2001 or any fiscal year thereafter. Requires the Secretary to establish procedures under which a DSH hospital may elect to terminate such reclassification before the end of such period. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a process under which an appropriate statewide entity may apply to have all the geographic areas in a State treated as a single geographic area for purposes of computing and applying the area wage index; and (2) provide for the collection of data every three years on occupational mix for employees of each DSH in the provision of inpatient hospital services in order to construct an occupational mix adjustment in the applicable hospital area wage index. (Sec. 305) Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to prospective payment for inpatient rehabilitation hospital services and: (1) assistance with administrative costs associated with completion of patient assessment; as well as (2) a rehabilitation facility election to apply full prospective payment rate without phase-in. (Sec. 306) Provides that, with respect to the inpatient services of psychiatric hospitals and certain psychiatric units, in making incentive payments to such hospitals for cost reporting periods from October 1, 2000, through October 1, 2001, the Secretary shall increase the percent of the target amount used in determining such payments. (Sec. 307) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) increased target amounts and caps for long-term care hospitals before implementation of the PPS required under the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 for payment for inpatient hospital services provided in long-term care hospitals; (2) alternative implementation of such PPS by the Secretary based on the use of existing hospital DRGs that have been modified; and (3) increase in the base payment for Puerto Rico DSH hospitals. Subtitle B: Adjustments to PPS Payments for Skilled Nursing Facilities - Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to payment to SNFs for routine service costs to revise updating requirements, among other changes eliminating the reduction in the skilled nursing facility market basket update in 2001. (Sec. 311) Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the adequacy of Medicare payment rates to SNFs and the extent to which Medicare contributes to the financial viability of such facilities. (Sec. 312) Directs the Secretary to increase the nursing component of the case-mix adjusted Federal prospective payment rate specified in the final rule published in the Federal Register by the Health Care Financing Administration on July 31, 2000, effective for services furnished on or after April 1, 2001, and before October 1, 2002. Requires the Comptroller General to conduct an audit for Congress of nursing staffing ratios in a representative sample of Medicare SNFs. (Sec. 313) Amends SSA title XVIII to limit application of the SNF consolidated billing requirement to a period during which the resident is provided Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) covered post-hospital extended care services. Requires the Secretary to monitor payments made under Medicare part B for items and services furnished to SNF residents during a time in which they are not being provided Medicare covered post-hospital extended care services, in order to ensure that there is not duplicate billing for services or excessive services provided. (Sec. 314) Provides that, for purposes of computing payments for certain covered SNF services, the Secretary shall increase the adjusted Federal per diem rate for covered SNF services for specified RUG-III (resource utilization group) rehabilitation groups furnished to an individual during the period in which such individual is classified in such a RUG-III category. Directs the HHS Inspector General to review the Medicare payment structure for services classified within RUGs and report to Congress on whether payment incentives exist for the delivery of inadequate care. (Sec. 315) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a procedure for the geographic reclassification of a SNF for purposes of payment for covered SNF services under the PPS for SNFs for routine service costs. Subtitle C: Hospice Care - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a full market basket increase for hospice care for FY 2001 and 2002. (Sec. 322) Requires that the certification regarding an individual's terminal illness be based on the physician's or medical director's clinical judgment regarding the normal course of the illness. (Sec. 323) Directs MEDPAC to conduct a study on the factors affecting the use of hospice benefits under Medicare program and differences in such use between urban and rural hospice programs and based upon the presenting condition of the patient. Subtitle D: Other Provisions - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a reduction in Medicare part A late enrollment premium increases (penalty) for a qualified State or local government retiree group in the case where a State, a local government, or an agency or instrumentality of a State or local government, determines to pay, for the life of each individual in such a group, the monthly premiums due. (Sec. 332) Outlines provisions for hospital geographic reclassification for labor costs applicable to other PPS systems and for grants to States for improvements in nursing home staffing and quality. Title IV: Provisions Relating to Part B - Subtitle A: Hospital Outpatient Services - Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to the PPS for hospital OPD services to provide for: (1) a full market basket increase for such services for 2001; (2) adjustment for service mix changes; (3) use of categories in determining eligibility of a device for pass-through payments; (4) application of OPD PPS transitional corridor payments to certain hospitals that did not submit a 1996 cost report; (5) treatment of children's hospitals under the PPS; (6) inclusion of temperature monitored cryoablation in transitional pass-through for certain medical devices, drugs, and biologicals under the PPS; and (7) the Secretary to create additional groups of covered OPD services that classify separately those procedures that utilize contrast media from those that do not. (Sec. 404) Provides that, for purposes of making determinations of provider-based status under Medicare on or after October 1, 2000, any facility or organization that is treated as provider-based in relation to a hospital or critical access hospital under Medicare as of October 1, 2000: (1) shall continue to be treated as provider-based in relation to such hospital or critical access hospital under Medicare during the two year period beginning on October 1, 2000; and (2) the requirements, limitations, and exclusions specified in appropriate Federal regulations detailing requirements for a determination that a facility or an organization has provider-based status shall not apply to such facility or organization in relation to such hospital or critical access hospital until after the end of such two- year period. Prohibits a facility or organization for which a determination of provider-based status in relation to a hospital or critical access hospital is requested during FY 2001 or 2002 from being treated as not having such status in relation to such a hospital for any period before a determination is made with respect to such status pursuant to such request and in making a determination with respect to such status for any facility or organization in relationship to such a hospital on or after October 1, 2000, the facility or organization shall be treated as satisfying any requirements and standards for geographic location in relation to such a hospital if the facility or organization: (1) satisfies appropriate Federal regulations pertaining to location in immediate vicinity or is located not more than 35 miles from the main campus of the hospital or critical access hospital; and (2) is owned and operated by a hospital or critical access hospital that meets specified criteria. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Physicians' Services - Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study on: (1) the appropriateness of furnishing in physicians' offices specialist physicians' services which are ordinarily furnished in hospital outpatient departments; and (2) the refinements to the practice expense relative value units during the transition to a resource-based practice expense system for physician payments under Medicare. (Sec. 412) Amends SSA title XVIII to require the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects to test and, if proven effective, expand the use of incentives to health care groups participating in Medicare that: (1) encourage coordination of the care furnished to individuals under Medicare parts A and B by institutional and other providers, practitioners, and suppliers of health care items and services; (2) encourage investment in administrative structures and processes to ensure efficient service delivery; and (3) reward physicians for improving health outcomes. (Sec. 413) Directs the Comptroller General to study the current Medicare enrollment process for groups that retain independent contractor physicians with particular emphasis on hospital-based physicians. Subtitle C: Other Services - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a one-year extension of the moratorium on certain physical therapy services caps. (Sec. 421) Directs the Secretary to study the implications: (1) of eliminating the "in the room" supervision requirement for Medicare payment for services of physical therapy assistants supervised by physical therapists; and (2) of such requirement on the cap imposed under Medicare on physical therapy services. (Sec. 422) Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to Medicare coverage for end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients to increase the update for dialysis services furnished on or after January 1, 2001. Directs the Secretary to: (1) collect data and develop an ESRD market basket whereby the Secretary can estimate, before the beginning of a year, the percentage by which the costs for the year of the mix of labor and nonlabor goods and services included in the ESRD composite rate will exceed the costs of such mix for the preceding year; and (2) develop a system which includes in such composite rate, to the maximum extent feasible, payment for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests and drugs that are routinely used in furnishing dialysis services to Medicare beneficiaries, but which are currently separately billable by renal dialysis facilities. (Sec. 423) Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to payment for ambulance services to provide for: (1) restoration of the full consumer price index (CPI) increase for 2001; and (2) continued phase-in of the application of the payment rates under the ambulance services fee schedule in an efficient and fair manner; except that when the Secretary implements such fee schedule, such phase-in shall provide for full payment of any national mileage rate for ambulance services provided by suppliers that are paid by carriers in any of the 50 States where payment by a carrier for such services for all such suppliers in such State, before the fee schedule's implementation, did not include a separate amount for all mileage within the county from which the beneficiary is transported. (Sec. 424) Prohibits the Secretary from implementing a revised PPS for services of ambulatory surgical facilities before January 1, 2002. Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 with respect to the phase-in of the PPS for ambulatory surgical centers to: (1) extend the phase-in to four years; and (2) direct the Secretary, by January 1, 2003, to incorporate data from a 1999 Medicare cost survey or a subsequent cost survey for purposes of implementing or revising such PPS. (Sec. 425) Amends SSA title XVIII, with respect to special payment rules for particular items and services, to provide for: (1) the full update for durable medical equipment, orthotics, and prosthetics in 2001; and (2) addition of special payment provisions and requirements for prosthetics and certain custom fabricated orthotic items. (Sec. 428) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for the replacement of, and payment for, prosthetic devices and parts. (Sec. 429) Directs the Comptroller General to study the reimbursement for drugs and biologicals under the current Medicare payment methodology and for related services under Medicare part B, with recommendations for revised payment methodologies. Directs the Secretary to revise such payment methodology based on such recommendations. (Sec. 430) Amends SSA title XVIII part D (Miscellaneous) to revise the qualifications for community mental health centers under provisions defining partial hospitalization services. (Sec. 431) Makes a hospital or a free-standing ambulatory care clinic, whether operated by the Indian Health Service or by an Indian tribe or tribal organization, eligible for payments for services for which payment is made under Medicare part B for physicians' services if and for so long as it meets all of the requirements which are applicable generally to such payments, services, hospitals, and clinics. (Sec. 432) Directs the Comptroller General to study the effect on Medicare and on Medicare beneficiaries of coverage of surgical first assisting services of certified registered nurse first assistants. (Sec. 433) Directs MEDPAC to study the appropriateness of: (1) the current Medicare payment rates for services provided by a certified nurse-midwife, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, and a clinical nurse specialist; and (2) Medicare coverage for services provided by a surgical technologist, a marriage counselor, a marriage and family therapist, a pastoral care counselor, and a licensed professional counselor of mental health. (Sec. 435) Directs the Comptroller General to study: (1) the costs of providing emergency and medical transportation services across the range of acuity levels of conditions for which such transportation services are provided; (2) the post-payment audit process under Medicare as such process applies to physicians; and (3) the aggregate effects of regulatory, audit, oversight, and paperwork burdens on physicians and other health care providers participating in Medicare. (Sec. 437) Directs MEDPAC to study the barriers to coverage and payment for outpatient interventional pain medicine procedures under Medicare. Title V: Provisions Relating to Parts A and B - Subtitle A: Home Health Services - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a two-year additional delay in the application of the 15 percent reduction on payment limits for home health services. (Sec. 501) Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 to delay for an additional year the 15 percent reduction in payment rates for home health services after implementation of the PPS. Requires the Comptroller General, instead of the Secretary (as currently required), to report to Congress an analysis of the need for such a reduction. Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to the PPS for home health services concerning the annual update to provide for an adjustment for case mix changes. (Sec. 502) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for restoration of the full home health market basket update for home health services for FY 2001. Establishes a special rule for payment under the PPS for home health services for FY 2001 based on adjusted prospective payment amounts. (Sec. 503) Provides for a temporary two-month extension of periodic interim payments under BBA '97 in the case of a home health agency receiving periodic interim payments as of September 30, 2000. (Sec. 504) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for the use of telehealth in the delivery of home health services. (Sec. 505) Directs the Comptroller General to study variations in prices paid by home health agencies furnishing home health services under Medicare in purchasing nonroutine medical supplies and volumes if such supplies used determine the effect (if any) of variations on prices and volumes in the provision of such services. (Sec. 506) Provides that, in determining for Medicare purposes whether an office of a home health agency constitutes a branch office or a separate home health agency, neither the time nor distance between a parent office of the home health agency and a branch office shall be the sole determinant of a home health agency's branch office status. (Sec. 507) Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to the Medicare home health benefit to declare that absences from home to receive medical treatment shall not disqualify an individual from such benefit. (Sec. 508) Provides for a temporary payment increase for home health services furnished in a rural area for2001 and 2002. Subtitle B: Direct Graduate Medical Education - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for an increase in the floor for direct graduate medical education payments for FY 2002. (Sec. 512) Changes the distribution formula for Medicare+Choice-related nursing and allied health education costs. Subtitle C: Changes in Medicare Coverage and Appeals Process - Amends SSA title XVIII to revise the Medicare appeals process. Provides for initial determinations of entitlement and benefits by the Secretary, by a utilization and quality control peer review organization, or by an independent contractor. Provides for redeterminations of denied benefit claims. Specifies appeal rights, including the right of an individual to request a medically exigent review from the contractor who made the initial determination. (Sec. 522) Provides for the review of coverage determinations under the Medicare appeals process. Amends SSA title XI to require any advisory committee on certain Medicare coverage exclusions to: (1) assure the full participation of a nonvoting member in its deliberations; and (2) provide such nonvoting member access to all information and data (with certain exceptions) made available to the committee's voting members. Provides that, if such committee organizes into panels of experts according to types of items or services, any such panel may report directly to the Secretary without prior approval. Subtitle D: Improving Access to New Technologies - Amends SSA title XVIII to establish a new payment rule for any clinical diagnostic laboratory test performed on or after January 1, 2001, that is a new test for which no limitation amount has previously been established. (Sec. 531) Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish procedures for coding and payment determinations for the categories of new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests and new durable medical equipment under Medicare part B that permit public consultation in a manner consistent with the procedures established for implementing coding modifications for ICD-9-CM; and (2) report to Congress on the specific procedures used under Medicare part B to adjust payments for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests and durable medical equipment which are classified to existing codes where, because of a technology advance, there has been a significant increase or decrease in the resources used in the test or in the manufacture of the equipment, and a significant improvement in test or equipment performance. (Sec. 532) Directs the Secretary to: (1) maintain and continue through December 31, 2003, the use of level III codes of the HCPCS (Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) Common Procedure Coding System) coding system (as such system was in effect on August 16, 2000); and (2) make such codes publicly available. (Sec. 533) Directs the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress on methods of expeditiously incorporating new medical services and technologies into the clinical coding system used with respect to Medicare payment for inpatient hospital services, together with a detailed description of the Secretary's preferred methods to achieve this purpose; and (2) implement such preferred methods. Amends SSA title XVIII to direct the Secretary to establish a mechanism to recognize the costs of new medical services and technologies with respect to inpatient hospital services under the hospital reimbursement control system. Subtitle E: Other Provisions - Amends SSA title XVIII to reduce from 45 percent to 30 percent the reduction in the amount of bad debts otherwise treated as allowable costs attributable to the deductibles and coinsurance amounts under Medicare for FY 2001 and subsequent fiscal years in determining the reasonable costs of outpatient hospital services (thus increasing by 15 percent the amount that may be reimbursed). (Sec. 542) Provides for the treatment of certain physician pathology services under Medicare. (Sec. 543) Amends SSA title XI to make permanent the authority for the Secretary to issue written advisory opinions under provisions for guidance regarding application of health care fraud and abuse sanctions. (Sec. 544) Amends SSA title XVIII to make various specified changes in annual MEDPAC reporting with regard to revision of deadlines for submission of reports and on the record votes on recommendations. (Sec. 545) Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the development of standard instruments for the assessment of the health and functional status of patients, for whom specified items and services are furnished. (Sec. 546) Directs the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees on the effect of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act on hospitals, emergency physicians, and physicians covering emergency department call throughout the United States. (Sec. 547) Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to agreements with providers of services to provide for the application of the bloodborne pathogen standard to certain hospitals. Title VI: Provisions Relating to Part C (Medicare+Choice Program) and Other Medicare Managed Care Provisions - Subtitle A: Medicare+Choice Payment Reforms - Amends SSA title XVIII part C with regard to payments to Medicare+Choice organizations to: (1) increase the payment amount for 2001 through 2003 for accountable Medicare+Choice coordinated care plans; and (2) provide for a ten-year phase-in of risk adjustment. (Sec. 603) Provides for a transition to revised Medicare+Choice payment rates. (Sec. 604) Amends SSA title XVIII part C to provide for revision of payment rates for ESRD patients enrolled in Medicare+Choice plans. (Sec. 605) Amends SSA title XVIII part C with regard to premiums to permit Medicare part B premium reductions as additional benefits under Medicare+Choice plans. (Sec. 606) Amends SSA title XVIII part C with regard to payments to Medicare+Choice organizations to: (1) ensure full implementation of risk adjustment methodology for congestive heart failure enrollees for 2001; and (2) provide for the expansion of the application of Medicare+Choice's new entry bonus. (Sec. 608) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on a method to phase-in the costs of military facility services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and those furnished by the Department of Defense, to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries in the calculation of an area's Medicare+Choice capitation payment. Subtitle B: Other Medicare+Choice Reforms - Amends SSA title XVIII part C to provide for payment of additional amounts for new Medicare+Choice benefits covered during a contract term. (Sec. 612) Prohibits the Secretary from implementing, other than at the beginning of a calendar year, regulations that impose significant regulatory requirements on a Medicare+Choice organization or plan. (Sec. 613) Provides for timely approval of marketing material that follows model marketing language, and for avoiding duplicative regulation with respect to plan requirements. (Sec. 615) Provides that, in the case of a Medicare+Choice organization that offers a Medicare+Choice plan in an area in which more than one local coverage policy is applied with respect to different parts of the area, the organization may elect to have the local coverage policy for the part of the area that is most beneficial to Medicare+Choice enrollees apply with respect to all Medicare+Choice enrollees enrolled in the plan. (Sec. 616) Requires: (1) the quality assurance program under the Medicare+Choice program to include a separate focus on racial and ethnic minorities; and (2) the Secretary to submit to Congress a report regarding how such quality assurance programs focus on racial and ethnic minorities. (Sec. 617) Authorizes the Secretary to waive or to modify requirements that hinder the design of, the offering of, or enrollment in Medicare+Choice plans under contracts between Medicare+Choice organizations and employers, labor organizations, or the trustees of a fund established by one or more employers or labor organizations (or combination thereof) to furnish benefits to the entity's employees, former employees (or combination thereof) or to members or former members (or combination thereof) of the labor organizations. (Sec. 618) Amends SSA title XVIII part D with regard to special Medicare supplemental health insurance enrollment anti-discrimination provision for certain beneficiaries. (Sec. 619) Amends SSA title XVIII part C to restore the effective date of elections and changes of elections of Medicare+Choice plans. (Sec. 620) Permits ESRD beneficiaries to enroll in another Medicare+Choice plan if the plan in which they are enrolled is terminated. (Sec. 621) Provides that, in covering post-hospital extended care services, a Medicare+Choice plan shall provide for such coverage through a home SNF if: (1) the enrollee elects to receive such coverage through such SNF; and (2) the SNF has a contract with the Medicare+Choice organization for the provision of such services, or the SNF agrees to accept substantially similar payment under the same terms and conditions that apply to similarly situated SNFs under contract with the Medicare+Choice organization through which the enrollee would otherwise receive such services. (Sec. 622) Directs HCFA's Chief Actuary to review the actuarial assumptions and data used by the Medicare+Choice organization with respect to such rates, amounts, and values to determine the appropriateness of such assumptions and data. (Sec. 623) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for civil monetary penalties for contract default by a Medicare+Choice organization. Subtitle C: Other Managed Care Reforms - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to provide for a one-year extension of the social health maintenance organization demonstration project authority. (Sec. 632) Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 to provide for revised terms and conditions for extension of Medicare community nursing organization demonstration project. (Sec. 633) Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to provide for a two-year extension of Medicare municipal health services demonstration projects. (Sec. 634) Amends SSA title XVIII part D with regard to payments to health maintenance organizations and competitive medical plans and service area expansion for Medicare cost contracts during transition period. Title VII: Medicaid - Amends SSA title XIX with respect to DSH payments and: (1) continuation of Medicaid DSH allotments at FY 2000 levels for FY 2001 and 2002; and (2) a special rule for Medicaid DSH allotment for extremely low DSH States. (Sec. 701) Outlines provisions for: (1) assuring identification of Medicaid managed care patients for purposes of making DSH payments; (2) application of the Medicaid DSH transition rule to public hospitals in all States; (3) assistance for certain public hospitals; and (4) DSH payment accountability standards. (Sec. 702) Amends SSA title XIX to create a new PPS for Federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics. (Sec. 703) Amends SSA XI to establish an approval process for a State's application for an extension of any State-wide comprehensive demonstration project for which a waiver of compliance with Medicaid requirements is granted. (Sec. 704) Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 with respect to Medicaid county-organized health systems. (Sec. 705) Directs the Secretary to issue a final regulation based on the proposed rule announced on October 5, 2000, that: (1) modifies the upper payment limit test applied to State Medicaid spending for inpatient hospital services, outpatient hospital services, nursing facility services, intermediate care facility services for the mentally retarded, and clinic services by applying an aggregate upper payment limit to payments made to government facilities that are not State-owned or operated facilities; and (2) provides for a specified transition period. (Sec. 706) Prescribes a formula for the Federal medical assistance percentage for Alaska for purposes of SSA titles XIX and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP), which shall apply only for FY 2001 through 2005. (Sec. 707) Amends SSA title XIX to provide for optional coverage of legal immigrants under Medicaid. (Sec. 708) Makes additional entities qualified to determine Medicaid presumptive eligibility for low-income children. (Sec. 709) Provides for a one year extension of provisions on eligibility for medical assistance under Medicaid. (Sec. 710) Includes as Medicaid medical assistance any services furnished by a physician assistant which the assistant is legally authorized to perform under State law and with the supervision of a physician. (Sec. 711) Gives States the option of allowing families of disabled children to purchase Medicaid coverage for such children. Title VIII: State Children's Health Insurance Program - Amends SSA title XXI to: (1) establish a rule for redistribution and extended availability of unused FY 1998 and 1999 SCHIP allotments; (2) provide authority to pay Medicaid expansion SCHIP costs from SCHIP appropriations; (3) eliminate requirement to reduce a SCHIP allotment by Medicaid expansion SCHIP costs; (4) provide authority to transfer SCHIP appropriations to the Medicaid appropriation account as reimbursement for Medicaid expenditures for Medicaid expansion SCHIP services; and (5) provide optional coverage of certain legal immigrants under SCHIP. Title IX: Other Provisions - Subtitle A: PACE Program - Amends BBA '97 with respect to programs of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE programs) to provide for an extension of transition for the current PACE demonstration project waiver authority. (Sec. 902) Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to payments to, and coverage of benefits under, PACE programs, and regulations and use of PACE protocol to provide for the continuation of modifications or waivers of operational requirements under demonstration status. (Sec. 903) Directs the Secretary to approve or deny a request for a modification or a waiver of provisions of the PACE protocol not later than 90 days after the Secretary receives the request, in order to provide flexibility in exercising waiver authority. Permits the Secretary to exercise authority to modify or to waive such provisions in a manner that responds promptly to the needs of PACE programs relating to areas of employment and the use of community-based primary care physicians in order to provide flexibility in exercising waiver authority. Subtitle B: Outreach to Eligible Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries - Amends SSA title XI to direct the Commissioner of Social Security to: (1) conduct outreach efforts to identify individuals entitled to Medicare benefits who may be eligible for medical assistance for payment of the cost of Medicare cost-sharing under Medicaid; and (2) notify such individuals of the availability of such medical assistance. (Sec. 911) Directs the Comptroller General to study the impact of such outreach efforts on the enrollment of individuals for Medicare cost-sharing under Medicaid. Subtitle C: Maternal and Child Health Block Grant - Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) to increase the authorization of appropriations for the Maternal and Child Health Services block grant for FY 2001 and each fiscal year thereafter. Subtitle D: Diabetes - Amends the Public Health Service Act to increase FY 2001 through 2003 appropriations for special diabetes programs for children with type I diabetes and for special diabetes programs for Indians. (Sec. 931) Amends BBA '97 to extend the final report on diabetes grant programs. (Sec. 932) Amends the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act of 1998 to make appropriations to the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund for FY 2001.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2000
Surviving Spouses and Dependents Outreach Enhancement and Veterans Casework Improvement Act - Encourages all elements within the Department of Veterans Affairs, public and private sector entities, and veterans' widows and surviving spouses and their organizations to work cooperatively to fully inform veterans' surviving spouses and dependents regarding their eligibility for veterans' benefits and health care services. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assign appropriate Department employees to conduct outreach programs and provide outreach services for eligible spouses and dependents.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2000
Expresses the solidarity of Congress with the state and people of Israel at this time of crisis. Condemns the Palestinian leadership for encouraging the violence and doing so little for so long to stop it. Calls upon the Palestinian leadership to: (1) refrain from exhortations to public incitement; and (2) vigorously use its security forces to act immediately to stop all violence, to show respect for all holy sites, and to settle all grievances through negotiations. Commends successive Administrations on their continuing efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. Calls upon: (1) the current Administration to use its veto power at the United Nations Security Council to ensure that the Security Council does not again adopt unbalanced resolutions addressing the uncontrolled violence in the areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority; and (2) all involved parties to make all possible efforts to reinvigorate the peace process.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 2000
Energy Efficient Buildings Incentives Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish, for a limited time period, deductions and credits for commercial and residential properties using specified energy efficient construction or reconstruction materials or technologies, including solar energy. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) allocation of deductions for public property; and (2) property financed by subsidized energy financing. Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish specified certification and compliance procedures. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Energy.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2000
Beneficiary Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 - Title I: Beneficiary Improvements - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for: (1) availability of and assistance in completing qualified Medicare beneficiary and specified low-income Medicare beneficiary application forms; (2) election of colonoscopy instead of a screening sigmoidoscopy, but only once every 119 months; (3) elimination of time limitation on Medicare benefits for immunosuppressive drugs; and (4) preservation of coverage of drugs and biologicals (even if occasionally, but not usually, self-administered) under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). (Sec. 102) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study and report to Congress on whether limitations on State payment for Medicare cost-sharing have affected access to services for qualified Medicare beneficiaries. (Sec. 104) Amends SSA title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) to provide for Medicare coverage of individuals disabled with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), without a 24-month waiting period. (Sec. 107) Directs the Secretary to conduct a demonstration project on Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services. Title II: Other Medicare Part B Provisions - Subtitle A: Access to Technology - Directs the Secretary to report to Congress (for publication on the HHS Medicare Internet site) a detailed compilation of the actual time periods necessary to complete and fully implement any national coverage determinations that were made in the previous fiscal year for items, services, or medical devices not previously covered as a Medicare benefit. (Sec. 202) Amends SSA title XVIII part B with regard to the payment of benefits to: (1) make the national limitation amount for clinical diagnostic laboratory test fee schedules equal to 100 percent of national median for new clinical laboratory test technologies; (2) require the Secretary to establish a fee schedule for new clinical laboratory tests in a specified manner; and (3) require the Secretary to establish the use of categories in determining eligibility of a device for pass-through payments under the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (PPS). (Sec. 204) Amends SSA title XVIII part B to provide for an increase in the payment limit for new technologies applied to screening mammography performed beginning in 2001 and determined by the Secretary to enhance the detection of breast cancer. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Physicians Services - Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on the appropriateness of furnishing gastrointestinal endoscopic physicians services in physicians offices. (Sec. 212) Provides for payment to a laboratory instead of to a hospital for certain physician pathology services. (Sec. 213) Amends SSA title XVIII to mandate demonstration projects to test and, if proven effective, expand the use of incentives to participating health care groups that: (1) encourage coordination of the care furnished to individuals under Medicare parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B by institutional and other providers, practitioners, and suppliers of health care items and services; (2) encourage investment in administrative structures and processes to ensure efficient service delivery; and (3) reward physicians for improving health outcomes. (Sec. 214) Directs the Secretary to provide for designation of interventional pain management physicians as a separate category of physician specialists. (Sec. 215) Directs the Secretary to evaluate and report to Congress on the current Medicare enrollment process for medical groups that retain independent contractor physicians with particular emphasis on hospital-based physicians (such as emergency department staffing groups). Subtitle C: Other Services - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a three-year moratorium on application of certain skilled nursing facility (SNF) Medicare part B consolidated billing requirements. (Sec. 222) Prohibits the Secretary from implementing a revised PPS for services of ambulatory surgical facilities before January 1, 2002. Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 to revise provisions on contrast enhanced diagnostic procedures under the hospital PPS, including with regard to the deadline for use of 1999 or later cost surveys. (Sec. 223) Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to the payment of benefits to provide for a one year extension of the moratorium on certain physical therapy caps. (Sec. 224) Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA '97) to revise requirements for Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services. (Sec. 225) Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to payment for ambulance services to eliminate certain reductions for 2001 and 2002 enacted under BBA '97. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on costs of providing ambulance services covered under the Medicare program across the range of service levels for which such services are provided. (Sec. 226) Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to PPS hospital outpatient department (OPD) services system requirements to direct the Secretary to create additional groups of covered OPD services that classify separately those procedures that utilize contrast media from those that do not. (Sec. 227) Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a ten-year phased in increase from 55 percent to 80 percent in the proportion of hospital bad debt recognized. (Sec. 228) Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to State accreditation of diabetes self-management training programs. (Sec. 229) Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to Medicare coverage for end stage renal disease patients to provide for an increase in the update for renal dialysis composite rate for dialysis services furnished on or after January 1, 2001. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on a literature review of studies on the impact of oral self-administered prescription non-calcium phosphate binding drugs in reducing the incidence of hospitalization under the Medicare program for Medicare beneficiaries with end stage renal disease. Title III: Medicare Part A and B Provisions - Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for a one year delay in the 15 percent reduction in payment rates under the Medicare PPS for home health services. (Sec. 302) Amends SSA title XI with regard to guidance on application of health care fraud and abuse sanctions to make permanent existing advisory opinion authority, among other changes. (Sec. 303) Provides for: (1) hospital geographic reclassification for labor costs applicable to other PPS systems; and (2) reclassification of a certain Ohio metropolitan statistical area for purposes of Medicare reimbursement. (Sec. 305) Amends SSA title XVIII to: (1) make the Medicare dependent, small rural hospital program permanent; and (2) include as a Medicare dependent, small rural disproportionate share (DSH) hospital one with discharges during any of the three most recent audited cost reporting periods. (Sec. 307) Amends SSA title XI to require a peer review organization to assist providers, practitioners, and Medicare+Choice organizations in identifying and developing strategies to reduce the incidence of actual and potential errors and problems related to patient safety affecting individuals entitled to Medicare benefits. (Sec. 308) Directs the Comptroller General to submit a report to Congress on the effect of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act on hospitals, emergency physicians, and physicians covering emergency department call, focusing on those in Arizona (including Phoenix) and California (including Los Angeles). Title IV: Medicare+Choice Program Stabilization and Improvements - Subtitle A: Payment Reforms - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of SSA title XVIII with regard to calculation of annual Medicare+Choice capitation rates increasing the minimum payment amount and the minimum percentage update for 2001. (Sec. 403) Provides for a ten-year phase-in of risk adjustment methodology for payments to Medicare+Choice organizations based on data from all settings. (Sec. 404) Provides for transition to revised Medicare+Choice payment rates. Subtitle B: Administrative Reforms - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of SSA title XVIII with regard to: (1) eligibility, election, and enrollment effectiveness of elections and changes of elections; (2) Medicare+Choice program compatibility with employer or union group health plans; and (3) uniform premium and benefits. Title V: Medicaid - Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid), as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999, with regard to DSH payments to, among other changes, provide for: (1) continuation of Medicaid DSH allotments at FY 2000 levels for fiscal years 2001 and 2002; (2) higher rate of increase in the Medicaid DSH allotment for extremely low DSH States; and (3) assuring identification of Medicaid managed care patients for purposes of making DSH payments. (Sec. 502) Amends SSA title XIX to establish a PPS for Federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics. Directs the Comptroller General to provide for a study and report to Congress on the need for, and how to, rebase or refine costs for making Medicaid payment for services provided by such centers and clinics. (Sec. 503) Authorizes a State to elect to provide Medicaid assistance to children and pregnant women who are aliens lawfully residing in the United States for at least two years and otherwise eligible for such assistance. (Sec. 504) Amends SSA title XIX to provide for additional entities qualified to determine Medicaid presumptive eligibility for low-income children. (Sec. 505) Amends SSA title XIX to: (1) extend for one year provisions on eligibility for medical assistance; (2) give States the option to waive administrative reporting requirements for an additional six month extension; and (3) give States the option to exempt themselves from such provisions on eligibility for medical assistance if the State provides Medicaid coverage to needy families with incomes of up to 185 percent of the official poverty line. (Sec. 506) Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to increase from ten percent to 14 percent the percentage of all Medicaid beneficiaries in certain California counties a county-organized health insuring organization in such a county may enroll and remain exempt from specified Federal requirements for Medicaid health maintenance organization contracts. (Sec. 507) Amends SSA title XIX to provide for Medicaid recognition for services of physician assistants. Title VI: State Children's Health Insurance Program - Amends SSA title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) with regard to allotments to: (1) add a rule for extended availability and redistribution of FY 1998 and 1999 allotments; and (2) provide for State coverage of children who are aliens lawfully residing in the United States and otherwise eligible for such assistance, but only if the State has elected to do so. Title VII: Extension of Special Diabetes Grant Programs - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the funding for juvenile and Indian diabetes grant programs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2000
Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2000 - Provides that the United States shall retain all right, title, and interest to lands within the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site, Colorado. Provides for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over Rocky Flats from the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to the Secretary of the Interior. Excludes the transfer of certain property and facilities used to intercept, treat, and control hazardous substances or for purposes related to required response actions. Requires the Secretary to continue to carry out to completion cleanup and closure at Rocky Flats. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a Rocky Flats Museum.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2000
Medicare, Medicaid, and MCH Smoking Cessation Promotion Act of 2000 - Amends titles V (Maternal and Child Health Services), XVIII (Medicare), and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of counseling for cessation of tobacco use under the Maternal and Child Health Services, Medicare, and Medicaid programs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2000
Children's Research Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) review regulations concerning the protection of children participating as subjects in research and implement any modifications necessary to ensure their protection; (2) require that all such research conducted, supported, or regulated by the Department of Health and Human Services complies with such regulations; (3) award grants to qualified academic research institutions and research networks to provide training in pediatric clinical pharmacology; (4) establish a pediatric research loan repayment program under which pediatricians agree to conduct pediatric research in return for the Government repaying up to $35,000 of their educational loans; and (5) establish a loan forgiveness program under which qualified health care professionals conduct research into childhood diseases in return for the Government repaying up to $35,000 of their educational loans.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 2000
Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation Act - Amends Federal transportation law to require a manufacturer, not later than five days after determining (or after receiving notification that the government of a foreign country has determined) to conduct a safety recall or other safety campaign in a foreign country on a motor vehicle, tire, or motor vehicle equipment that is also offered for sale in the United States, to report such determination to the Secretary of Transportation. Sets forth similar requirements with respect to the reporting of possible defects in such vehicle or equipment that have resulted in a significant number of serious injuries or fatalities in a foreign country. Directs the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to promulgate a rule requiring manufacturers of tires to report periodically to the Administration data on claims submitted to it for personal injury (including death) and property damage from alleged defects in the manufacturer's tires. Declares that a remedy provided without charge by a dealer of new motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment does not apply if such vehicle or replacement equipment was bought by the first purchaser more than eight years, or the tire (including an original equipment tire), was bought by the first purchaser more than five years (currently, three years), before notice of a defect or of noncompliance with motor vehicle safety standards with respect to such equipment is given by the manufacturer to the Secretary or an order is issued by the Secretary with respect to such defect or noncompliance, whichever is earlier. Revises provisions to increase civil penalties for a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer who violates requirements prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or importation of motor vehicles and equipment that do not comply with Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Sets forth a civil penalty for such persons who violate certain inspection, investigation, and records requirements with respect to such standards. Requires the Administrator to conduct a rulemaking to revise and update the tire standard published at 49 CFR 571.109 and 49 CFR 571.119. Authorizes appropriations to the Office of Defects and Investigation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) Taiwan and its people deserve appropriate participation in the United Nations and other international organizations such as the World Health Organization; and (2) the United States should fulfill its commitment made in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review to support more actively Taiwan's membership in appropriate international organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for State accreditation of diabetes self-management training programs under the Medicare Program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 2000
Colorado Forest Restoration and Fire Reduction Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to establish a collaborative forest (fire) protection and restoration program involving public, tribal, or private lands in Colorado. (Excludes National Wilderness Preservation System lands.) Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2000
Resource Efficient Appliance Incentives Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a limited credit, for a limited time period, for producers of qualified energy efficient clothes washers and energy efficient refrigerators.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2000
Hospital Indigent Care Relief Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to increase the percent of hospital bad debt that is reimbursable under the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2000
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) a Liberty Day should be celebrated annually in the United States as a remembrance of both the freedom that Americans were given in the Declaration of Independence and the rights and liberties that Americans were given in the Constitution; and (2) elected and previously-elected representatives of the people who voluntarily give of their time to speak to Americans about those founding documents deserve our thanks.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2000
Youth Drug and Mental Health Services Act - Title I: Substance Abuse Prevention - Amends the Public Health Service Act to replace provisions relating to substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women with provisions authorizing grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts for priority substance abuse prevention needs of regional and national significance. (Sec. 102) Replaces provisions relating to drug and alcohol abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for high risk youth and to employee assistance programs with provisions mandating grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts for: (1) the replication and implementation of best practices in providing comprehensive substance abuse prevention services to children and youth; and (2) strengthening families. (Sec. 104) Shifts responsibility for an existing program of grants for services for children of substance abusers from the Health Resources and Services Administration to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and modifies various requirements of the program. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants for the training of professionals to recognize drug and alcohol problems, understand the nature of substance abuse, and obtain early intervention, prevention, and treatment resources. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts for the planning and execution of school-based (including higher education institutions) and community-based programs to prevent underage drinking. (Sec. 106) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts for programs relating to the prevention and detection of methamphetamine or inhalant abuse and addiction. Title II: Substance Abuse Treatment - Replaces provisions relating to outpatient treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women with provisions directing the Secretary, directly or through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, to address priority substance abuse treatment needs of regional and national significance. (Sec. 202) Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions relating to residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women. (Sec. 203) Replaces provisions relating to demonstration projects of national significance and to grants for substance abuse treatment in State and local criminal justice systems with provisions directing the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to provide, to people under the age of 22, substance abuse treatment and early intervention substance abuse services. (Sec. 205) Replaces provisions relating to training in the provision of treatment services with provisions directing the Secretary to make grants to provide treatment services to members of Indian tribes and tribal organizations. (Sec. 206) Directs the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts relating to fetal alcohol syndrome or alcohol-related birth defects to: (1) provide services to people diagnosed with those conditions; and (2) establish up to four centers of excellence to study prevention, adaptations of innovative clinical interventions, and service delivery improvements. (Sec. 207) Removes provisions requiring that at least 35 percent of current formula grants for preventing and treating substance abuse be used for activities relating to alcohol and at least 35 percent for activities relating to other drugs. Authorizes a State to establish a revolving fund to support group homes for recovering substance abusers. (Current law allows the Secretary to make formula grants under existing provisions only if a State establishes such a fund.) Requires a State, in order to receive a formula grant, to establish and maintain a State substance abuse prevention and treatment planning council. Modifies, for territories, requirements regarding and authorizes, for States, waiver of related requirements. Modifies minimum allotment formula provisions. (Sec. 208) Establishes the Commission on Indian and Native Alaskan Health Care. Title III: Mental Health Services - Revises requirements regarding a plan a State must submit in order to receive a grant allotment for providing comprehensive community mental health services to adults with a serious mental illness and to children with a serious emotional disturbance. Modifies requirements regarding waivers for territories and minimum allotments for States. (Sec. 302) Replaces provisions relating to grants for certain mental health demonstration projects with provisions directing the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to address priority substance abuse mental health needs of regional and national significance. Repeals provisions authorizing grants for mental health research and clinical training in exchange for a period of obligatory service. (Sec. 303) Replaces provisions authorizing grants for counseling and mental health treatment after a positive test result for the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) with provisions mandating grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to assist local communities in developing ways to help children deal with violence. (Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to: (1) establish up to four centers for excellence to study adaptations of innovative clinical intervention and service delivery improvement strategies to provide comprehensive mental health services to children; (2) establish national and regional centers of excellence on psychological trauma response; and (3) develop knowledge regarding evidence-based practices for treating psychiatric disorders resulting from witnessing or experiencing such stress. (Sec. 306) Allows the Secretary to waive, for Indian tribes or tribal organizations, American Samoa, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the United States Virgin Islands, to waive requirements relating to grants for comprehensive community mental health services to children with a serious emotional disturbance. Makes active grantees eligible to receive a sixth year of funding without peer and Advisory Council review. (Sec. 307) Allows the Secretary to waive, for the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, Palau, American Samoa, the Marshall Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, certain requirements of provisions relating to formula grants to States for services to individuals who have a serious mental illness (with or without substance abuse) and who are, or are at imminent risk of becoming, homeless. Directs the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts for mental health and substance abuse services for homeless individuals. (Sec. 308) Amends the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986 to rename it as the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness Act. Adds to the definition of "individual with mental illness" individuals with significant mental illnesses or emotional impairments who live in a community setting, including their own homes. Limits the circumstances in which allotments for systems to protect and advocate the rights of individuals with mental illness and investigate incidents of abuse and neglect of such individuals may be used to provide representation to certain individuals. Authorizes those systems to investigate the death or serious injury of an individual with a mental illness if it occurred at a facility to which the Act applies. Modifies the allotment formula. (Sec. 309) Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to enable State or local juvenile justice agencies to provide aftercare services for youth offenders who have been discharged from facilities in the juvenile or criminal justice system and have serious emotional disturbances or are at risk of developing such disturbances. Directs the Secretary to make grants and contracts to establish up to four research, training, and technical assistance centers regarding youth. Title IV: Performance Partnerships - Directs the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees a plan, under provisions relating to block grants for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, for creating more flexibility for States and accountability based on outcome and other performance measures. (Sec. 402) Replaces provisions authorizing grants to States to increase the availability of substance abuse treatment with provisions authorizing the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to develop and operate substance abuse data collection, analysis, and reporting systems regarding performance measures, process, and outcomes measures. Allows formula grants under existing provisions for comprehensive community mental health services to adults with a serious mental illness and to children with a serious emotional disturbance to be used for data infrastructure development regarding performance data. Allows formula grants under existing provisions for substance abuse prevention and treatment to be used for data infrastructure development regarding performance data. Title V: Cross-Cutting Issues Regarding Mental Health and Substance Abuse - Subtitle A: Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disorders - Replaces provisions authorizing grants, contracts and cooperative agreements for mental health and substance abuse treatment services for homeless individuals with provisions directing the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts for comprehensive prevention and treatment services to individuals with, or at risk for, co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders. (Sec. 502) Allows States to use treatment funds (under provisions relating to formula grants for services to adults with a serious mental illness and to children with a serious emotional disturbance and for substance abuse prevention and treatment) to treat persons with co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders. Subtitle B: Prevention of Sexual Abuse - Directs the Secretary to make grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to provide services to runaway and homeless and street youth who have been, or are at risk of being, subjected to sexual abuse, prostitution, or sexual exploitation. Title VI: General Provisions - Limits the disclosure of individually identifiable information collected under provisions relating to mental illness and substance abuse. Authorizes the Secretary to use up to three percent of certain funds appropriated under provisions relating to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for noncompetitive grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to address emergency substance abuse or mental health needs (or both) in local communities. (Sec. 602) Modifies grant, cooperative agreement, and contract peer review requirements. (Sec. 603) Makes amounts paid to a State (under provisions relating to formula grants for services to adults with a serious mental illness and to children with a serious emotional disturbance and for substance abuse prevention and treatment) available until the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year (currently, until the end of the fiscal year) for which the amounts were paid. (Current law makes an availability exception regarding subgrantee noncompliance.) (Sec. 604) Repeals provisions relating to narcotic addicts and other drug abusers. (Sec. 605) Requires a health care facility that receives support in any form from any program supported with Federal funds to protect and promote the rights of the facility's residents, including the rights to be free from physical or mental abuse, corporal punishment, and any restraints or involuntary seclusions imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience, or retaliation. Requires reporting of patient deaths and injuries. (Sec. 607) Authorizes (currently, requires) the existence, in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, of an Associate Administrator for Alcohol Prevention and Treatment Policy and allows (currently, requires) the Administrator to delegate certain functions to that Associate Administrator. (Sec. 608) Adds to the duties of the Directors of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the Office for Substance Abuse Prevention, and the Center for Mental Health Services certain duties relating to children, adolescents, and youth. Removes requirements that the: (1) Treatment Center Director monitor the use of revolving loan funds under, and evaluate the effect of, provisions relating to the establishment of group homes for individuals recovering from alcohol or drug abuse; and (2) Mental Health Center Director carry out programs under provisions relating to Public Health Service Act section 520A (amended by section 302 of this Act).
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Privacy and Identity Protection Act of 2000 - Title I: Provisions Relating to the Social Security Account Number - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with regard to: (1) governmental use and treatment of social security account numbers, including restrictions on the sale of such account numbers by governmental agencies; and (2) prohibitions against public access to such account numbers in governmental agency possession, and against use of such account numbers on checks issued for payment by such agencies. (Sec. 101) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Congress on: (1) the current usage by governmental agencies of the Social Security account numbers of individuals, and derivatives of such numbers, for identification purposes; and (2) the most effective means by which any such usage extending beyond the original purposes of the Social Security account number may be minimized. Amends SSA title II to provide for independent verification of birth records provided in support of applications for Social Security account numbers. Directs the Commissioner of Social Security and the Attorney General to report jointly to Congress on the progress of the Social Security Administration and the Immigration and Naturalization Service in implementing a process for enumeration at entry for aliens entering the United States. Amends SSA title II to prohibit: (1) the appearance of Social Security account numbers on driver's licenses or motor vehicle registrations; and (2) the display of such account numbers, or any derivative, on any card or tag provided by governmental agencies to their employees for identification purposes. (Sec. 102) Provides for the regulation and restriction of the sale and purchase of the Social Security account number in the private sector. (Sec. 103) Amends SSA title II to subject criminal penalties the sale and purchase of Social Security account numbers. (Sec. 104) Amends SSA title XI with regard to civil monetary penalty authority concerning treatment of withholding of material facts, and application of civil money penalties to elements of criminal violations. (Sec. 105) Amends SSA titles II and XVI (Supplementary Security Income) (SSI) to provide authority for judicial orders of restitution in cases of Social Security payments obtained by fraud. Amends SSA title VII (Administration) to provide for the establishment of a special fund in the Treasury for receipt of restitution payments. (Sec. 106) Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to provide for confidential treatment of credit report header information including the Social Security account number of the consumer or any derivative thereof. (Sec. 107) Amends SSA title VII to provide for law enforcement authority by special agents of the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration. Title II: Provisions Relating to Representative Payees - Amends SSA titles II and XVI to authorize reissue to beneficiaries or alternative representative payees of OASDI and SSI benefits misused by organizational representative payees. (Sec. 202) Amends SSA titles II and XVI to provide for: (1) oversight of nongovernmental organizational representative payees and disqualification from service as a representative payee upon a felony conviction; (2) fee forfeiture in case of benefit misuse by such a representative payees; (3) liability of representative payees for misused benefits; and (4) extension of civil monetary penalty authority with respect to representative payees.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2000 - Title I: Amendments to the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to increase benefits to railroad employees and their beneficiaries and to revise financing of the pension part (tier II) of the railroad retirement system. (Sec. 101) Increases benefits for widows and widowers by guaranteeing to them all of the tier II annuity the employee was entitled to at the time of the death. (Sec. 102) Makes employees with 30 years of service eligible to retire at age 60 with unreduced tier I and tier II annuities. Makes spouses of such employees eligible for unreduced annuities at age 60. (Sec. 103) Reduces the vesting requirement for tier II retirement annuities from ten years to five years of service after December 1995. Makes employees with at least five years of such service, but less than ten years of total service, eligible for a tier I disability annuity if their combined railroad retirement and social security earnings credits would satisfy social security eligibility requirements. Makes spouses, divorced spouses, and survivors of employees with at least five years of such service, but less than ten years of total service, eligible for a tier I annuity if they would have been entitled to a social security benefit based on combined service. (Sec. 104) Repeals a limit on the total amount of monthly railroad retirement benefits payable to an employee and spouse at the time the employee's annuity begins. (Sec. 105) Establishes a Railroad Retirement Trust Fund (the Fund) and a Railroad Retirement Investment Trust (RRIT) to manage and invest the assets of the Fund. Declares that RRIT is not an agency, department, or instrumentality of the U.S. Government. Requires RRIT to be administered by a Board of Trustees (the Trustees) with seven members (three representing labor, three representing employers, and one representing the general public) with experience and expertise in the management of financial investments and pension plans. Requires the Trustees to be appointed by a unanimous vote of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Prohibits RRB members from being Trustees. Applies specified reporting requirements and fiduciary standards to the RRIT. Requires the Trustees to diversify investments so as to minimize the risk of large losses. Authorizes the Trustees to invest Fund assets in non-Governmental assets. (Sec. 106) Abolishes the Railroad Retirement Supplemental Annuity Account and provides for transfer of its funds to the Fund. (Sec. 107) Requires the RRB, upon the establishment of the Fund, to determine the portion of the Railroad Retirement Account not needed to pay current administrative expenses and direct the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer that amount into the Fund. Requires the Fund to transfer the necessary amount of funds to pay benefits and related administrative expenses to the disbursing agent. Transfers to the Fund Social Security Equivalent Benefit account funds not needed to pay current benefits, but requires that such funds only be used to pay benefits or to invest in U.S. Government or Government-guaranteed securities. Transfers to the disbursing agent from the Dual Benefit Account the amount necessary to make dual benefit payments. Requires the Trustees to consult with the Secretary of the Treasury to develop an appropriate method for transferring or converting existing account obligations. (Sec. 108) Requires the RRB to calculate the ratio of assets to benefits to determine annual tier II tax rates for employers, employee representatives, and employees. Establishes schedules for: (1) decreasing tax rates if the average account benefits ratio, based on the ratios for the ten most recent fiscal years, is above six; and (2) increasing employer and employee representatives' tax rates if the ratio is below four. Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the Railroad Retirement Trust Fund (the Fund) from taxation. (Sec. 203) Repeals a supplemental annuity tax that railroad employers pay to finance a benefit for long-time rail employees. (Sec. 204) Provides for adjustments to railroad employers, employee representatives, and employee tier II tax rates. Decreases such rates in 2001 and in 2002 for employers and employee representatives. Provides in the years after 2002 for tax rate schedules, based on the ten-year average account benefit ratio, for employers, employee representatives, and employees.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2000
Violence Against Women Office Act - Establishes within the Department of Justice (DOJ) a Violence Against Women Office, headed by a Director. Specifies the duties of the Director, including serving as special counsel to the Attorney General on the subject of, and carrying out DOJ functions under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and on matters relating to, violence against women.
![Official portrait of Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/116_rp_co_1_degette_diana_200.jpg)