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![Official portrait of Rep. Griffin, Tim [R-AR-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000567_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
No stored named vote for this person. House roll-calls come from Congress.gov; Senate member lists come from senate.gov LIS XML.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 2014
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income payments received by a student under a comprehensive work-learning-service program operated by a work college.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2014
Protecting the Integrity of Medicare Act of 2014 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish cost-effective procedures to ensure that: (1) a Social Security account number (or any derivative) is not displayed, coded, or embedded on the Medicare card issued to an individual entitled to benefits under part A (Hospital Insurance) of SSA title XVIII (Medicare) or enrolled under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance); and (2) any other identifier displayed on such card is not identifiable as a Social Security account number (or any derivative). Directs the Secretary to establish procedures to ensure that Medicare payment is not made for items and services furnished to an individual incarcerated, deceased, or otherwise ineligible and not lawfully present in the United States. Directs the Secretary, if cost-effective and technologically viable, to consider appropriate measures to implement use of electronic Medicare beneficiary and provider cards. Extends the Medicare durable medical equipment (DME) face-to-face encounter documentation requirement to include physician assistants, practitioners, or specialists as well as physicians (as under current law). Requires each Medicare administrative contractor to establish an improper payment outreach and education program for service providers and suppliers in order to reduce improper Medicare payments. Requires the Secretary to develop a plan to revise the incentive program under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 to encourage greater participation by individuals to report fraud and abuse in the Medicare program. Directs the Secretary to require a claim for a covered Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) drug for an individual enrolled in a prescription drug plan (PDP) or in a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan to include a valid prescriber National Provider Identifier. Gives Medicare beneficiaries the option to receive the Medicare Summary Notice (explanation of benefits) electronically. Directs the Secretary to: (1) apply competitive procedures to selection of a Medicare administrative contractor at least once every 10 years (currently once every 5 years); and (3) study and, as appropriate, specify incentives for states to work with the Secretary under the Medicare-Medicaid Data Match Program to protect the federal and state share of expenditures. Authorizes a PDP sponsor to establish a drug management program for at-risk beneficiaries. Directs the Secretary to authorize Medicare drug integrity contractors (MEDICs) to accept directly an individual's prescription and necessary medical records from pharmacies, prescription drug plans, and physicians in order for MEDICs to provide information relevant to determining whether the individual is an at-risk beneficiary. Directs the Secretary to issue a clarification or modification with respect to the application of the Common Rule (governing the protection of human subjects in research) to activities involving clinical data registries. Amends SSA title XI to eliminate civil monetary penalties for inducements to physicians to limit services that are not medically necessary. Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on options for amending existing Medicare fraud and abuse laws and regulations to permit gainsharing or similar arrangements between physicians and hospitals that would otherwise be subject to penalties. Modifies the Medicare home health surety bond condition of participation requirement. Directs the Secretary to: (1) implement a process for medical review of spinal subluxation services by a chiropractor, and (2) develop educational and training programs to improve the ability of chiropractors to document services in a manner that demonstrates they are reasonable and necessary. Applies Medicare competitive bidding to vacuum erection systems, and requires the Secretary to phase-in a national mail order program for such devices. Requires the Secretary to: (1) revise the testing in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina of a model of prior authorization for repetitive scheduled non-emergent ambulance transport to cover specified additional states; and (2) apply the prior authorization program to all states. Directs the Secretary to submit a plan to Congress for including in the annual report of the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) programs data on services (other than medical visits) paid under the physician fee schedule where the fee schedule amount exceeds $250 and where the error rate exceeds 20%.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2014
No Social Security for Nazis Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to consider the following individuals to be removed under the Immigration and Nationality Act and so to have their OASDI benefits terminated: an individual with respect to whom an order admitting the individual to citizenship has been revoked and set aside where such action is based on conduct relating to participation in Nazi persecution, concealment of a material fact about such conduct, or willful misrepresentation about such conduct; and an individual who, pursuant to a settlement agreement with the Attorney General (AG), has admitted to such conduct and has lost status as a U.S. national by renouncing that status. Requires such individuals to have been considered removed under such Act as of the date of the revocation, setting aside, or renunciation. Prohibits such individuals from receiving other Social Security benefits based on the wages and self-employment income of any other individual. Prohibits the payment to such individuals also of any benefits under SSA tile XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI). Requires the AG or the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to notify the Commissioner of Social Security of such revocations, setting asides, and renunciations of nationality.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2014
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that legislation regarding Energy Savings Performance Contracts and Utility Energy Service Contracts or that may lead to their use by the federal government should receive congressional scoring treatment making it more likely that the legislation will be scored as budget neutral. Supports allowing future discretionary spending savings to be counted against the mandatory spending attributed to entering into the contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2014
Farm Protection Act of 2014 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 2014 to require the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to extend: (1) the term and any due date of a marketing assistance loan, and (2) the due date for repayment of farm ownership, operating, or emergency loans. Requires the extensions in cases where a farmer has sold, transferred, or delivered the commodity subject to the loan to a purchaser who has filed for bankruptcy prior to payment. Provides that the extensions shall last until after the bankruptcy case is closed or dismissed. Suspends the accrual of interest on the loans during the extension period.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2014
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits a bill that increases entitlement spending or creates a new entitlement program from becoming law unless it: (1) is approved by a two-thirds majority of each house of Congress, or (2) provides that the increase or program shall terminate after not more than seven years. Prohibits a bill that increases entitlement spending or creates a new entitlement program from becoming law unless it is spending neutral or creates net savings to the government. Requires the President to implement and Congress to prescribe spending reductions if the law is not spending neutral or does not create net savings when averaged over the previous two fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2014
FIREARM Act - Prohibits the federal government from requiring disclosure of the race or ethnicity of a person to whom a firearm is transferred.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2014
Electronic Health Fairness Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit any patient encounter of an eligible professional occurring at an ambulatory surgical center from being treated as such an encounter in determining whether an eligible professional qualifies as a meaningful electronic health record (EHR) user. Terminates this prohibition three years after the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) certifies EHR technology for the ambulatory surgical center setting.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2014
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in specifying the electronic health record (EHR) reporting period under EHR electronic health record technology incentive payment programs under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, to continue through 2015 (in the case of eligible professionals) and FY2015 (in the case of eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals) to permit the use of a three-month quarter EHR reporting period to demonstrate meaningful use without regard to the payment year or the stage of meaningful use criteria involved.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 2014
Firefighter Equipment Protection Act of 2014 - Codifies a national security exemption from emissions regulations for excess personal property of the Department of Defense (DOD) that is transferred under specified DOD property transfer programs to a firefighting agency in a state or to another state agency.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 2014
Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act of 2014 - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the ambulance fee schedule to: (1) increase the conversion factor for ground ambulance services in the formula for determining the appropriate fee, and (2) increase the mileage rate for such services. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study how the conversion factor should be modified, if at all, to take into account the cost of providing ambulance services in urban, rural, and super-rural areas. Directs the Secretary to establish a process to determine, in advance of furnishing end stage renal disease (ESRD) ambulance services, whether payment for them may not be made because they are not covered or because they are excluded from coverage. Prohibits any payment unless the Secretary determines, pursuant to this process, that the service meets coverage requirements. Directs the Secretary to develop a data collection system for providers and suppliers of ambulance services to collect cost, revenue, utilization, and other appropriate information.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 2014
Amends the federal charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to describe the organization as a national association of veterans (currently, an association of men) who, as soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen, served this Nation in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign soil or in hostile waters. Expands its purpose of assisting widows to that of assisting surviving spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 2014
Reforming CFPB Indirect Auto Financing Guidance Act - Declares without force or effect Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Bulletin 2013-02 (Indirect Auto Lending and Compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act), published March 21, 2013. Amends the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to direct the CFPB, when proposing and issuing guidance primarily related to indirect auto financing, to: provide for a public notice and comment period before issuing the guidance in final form; make publicly available all information relied on by the CFPB; redact any information exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act; consult with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Department of Justice (DOJ); and study the costs and impacts of the guidance to consumers and women-owned, minority-owned, and small businesses.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2014
Welcomes: (1) African leaders to the first United States-Africa Leaders' Summit in Washington, DC, and (2) African trade ministers to the 13th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum. Recognizes the progress and hope that modern Africa represents in global affairs and economic advancement. Acknowledges the opportunities to boost cultural, trade, and economic relations and partnerships between the United States and Africa. Recognizes the importance of renewing the AGOA program. Encourages implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement as one important way to address supply-side barriers and encourage greater trade and investment in Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 2014
Condemns: (1) all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects attempts to justify anti-Jewish hatred or violent attacks as an acceptable expression of disapproval over political events, and (2) the comparison of Israel to Nazis perpetrating a Holocaust or genocide. Applauds those foreign leaders, especially in France, Italy, and Germany, who have condemned anti-Semitic acts, and calls on those who have yet to take firm action against anti-Semitism in their countries to do so. Reaffirms support for the mandate of the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. Supports Holocaust educational programs at home and abroad. Urges the Secretary of State to: maintain the fight against anti-Semitism as a U.S. foreign policy priority, urge governments to ensure that adequate laws are in place to punish anti-Semitic violence and hate crimes as well as establish mechanisms to investigate and punish perpetrators, continue U.S. reporting on anti-Semitism as a human rights and religious freedom issue, provide training for diplomatic and law enforcement personnel posted abroad to report on anti-Semitic incidents, deepen engagement with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and support its specialized efforts to monitor and address anti-Semitism, and oppose efforts to prevent any individual from exercising his or her religion without fear of prosecution or violence.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2014
Stop Disability Fraud Act of 2014 - Directs the Commissioner of Social Security to take any necessary actions to ensure that cooperative disability investigations units have been established that would cover the country and specified U.S. territories. Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to prohibit the Commissioner, in determining whether an individual is or continues to be under a disability, from considering any evidence furnished by an unlicensed or sanctioned physician physician or health care practitioner. Authorizes the Commissioner to disqualify or suspend immediately from appearing as a claimant representative before the Social Security Administration any individual who has been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude in a federal or state court, or, in the case of an attorney, upon the individual's disbarment from any court or bar. Amends SSA titles II, VIII (Special Benefits for Certain World War II Veterans), and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to subject to criminal penalties for fraud any conspiracy to commit specified offenses, and increase criminal as well as civil monetary penalties for certain individuals in positions of trust who commit fraud. Amends SSA title II to direct the Commissioner to establish rules under which fines and other appropriate sanctions may be imposed on claimant representatives for failure to comply with the Commissioner's rules and regulations. Amends SSA title XI to: (1) establish a civil monetary penalty for any claimant representative who knowingly charges for services rendered in excess of the maximum fee prescribed by the Commissioner or allowed by a court; and (2) direct the Commissioner periodically to adjust civil monetary penalty maximum amounts for inflation. Requires federal courts (which currently are merely authorized) to order defendants convicted of Social Security fraud to provide restitution to victims in certain cases. Amends SSA title II to ban any payment of benefits to individuals on whom a civil monetary penalty is imposed for fraudulently concealing work activity. Directs the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration to conduct biennial reviews of the practices of a sample of the highest earning claimant representative to ensure compliance with Administration policies. Directs the Commissioner to conduct pre-effectuation and post-effectuation quality reviews of hearing dispositions with respect to decisions in connection with applications for OASDI or SSI benefits, in a sufficient number to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and other guidance issued by the Commissioner. Requires the Commissioner to establish by regulation standard qualifications for state and federal decision makers and medical or vocational advisors involved in the disability determination process. Amends SSA title VII (Administration) to direct the Commissioner to designate data exchange standards, under SSA titles II, VIII, and XVI, to govern: (1) necessary categories of information that state agencies operating programs under approved state plans are required under applicable federal law to exchange electronically with another state agency, and (2) required federal reporting and data exchange. Directs the Commissioner to update medical-vocational guidelines used in disability determinations. Includes in the research and demonstration projects conducted under SSA title XI: (1) development of instruments to assess function that are rapid, reliable, and objective to inform the disability determination process; and (2) studies of the availability and effects of more fully considering assistive devices and workplace accommodations in the disability determination process. Amends SSA titles II and XVI to authorize the Commissioner to allow for the referral of individuals denied benefits based on an adverse determination of disability to an appropriate public or private entity for employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services. Directs the Commissioner to make on-line tools publicly available through the Administration website to allow all individuals eligible for disability and SSI benefits to assess the impact of earnings on their eligibility for, and amount of, benefits received through federal and state benefit programs. Amends SSA title II with respect to real property acquired using funds derived from the the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund. Prohibits the use of amounts from the Trust Funds for the operation and maintenance of real property in amounts exceeding certain administrative costs. Revises rules for the use of death information furnished to or maintained by the Administration. Declares that reconsiderations of disability cessation determinations may be made by the state agency or the Commissioner regardless of whether the finding was originally made by the one or the other.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 2014
Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act of 2014 - Prohibits the federal government, and any state that receives federal funding for any program that provides child welfare services under part B (Child and Family Services) or part E (Federal Payments for Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV (Grants to States for Aid and Services to Needy Families with Children and for Child-Welfare Services) of the Social Security Act (SSA), from discriminating or taking an adverse action against a child welfare service provider that declines to provide, facilitate, or refer for a child welfare service that conflicts with the provider's sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions. Bars such prohibition from applying to SSA requirements that forbid state entities from denying or delaying adoption or foster care placements on the basis of an adoptive parent's or a child's race, color, or national origin. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to withhold 15% of the federal funds that a state receives for such programs if the state violates this Act. Allows an aggrieved child welfare service provider to assert such an adverse action violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and to obtain all appropriate relief (including declaratory relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs).
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 2014
UAC State Authority Act of 2014 - Amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), before awarding grants or contracts to provide housing facilities for unaccompanied alien children, to: (1) consult with state elected officials and agencies; (2) hold a public hearing; and (3) provide for a period during which the governor of the state in which the facility would be located may submit to the Secretary an objection to the contract, which, if timely submitted, shall preclude the Secretary from awarding the grant or contract.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2014
Simplifying Technical Aspects Regarding Seasonality Act of 2014 or the STARS Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt seasonal employees from the definition of "full-time employee" for purposes of the employer mandate to provide employees with minimum essential health care coverage. Defines "seasonal employee" as an employee who is employed in a position for which the customary annual employment is not more than six months and which requires performing labor or services that are ordinarily performed at certain seasons or periods of the year.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2014
Making the Education of Nurses Dependable for Schools Act or the MEND Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), for any reimbursements to providers under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for the costs of nursing and allied health education activities, to apply the regulation establishing the payment methodology for such reimbursements by treating a provider as meeting the requirements: for consideration as operating an approved nursing or allied health education program if the provider or a wholly owned subsidiary educational institution singly or collectively meets all such requirements; and for payment for certain nonprovider-operated programs at wholly owned subsidiary educational institutions if the provider meets all such requirements except that the transfer of a nursing or allied health education program to that wholly owned subsidiary educational institution to meet accreditation standards occurred after October 1, 2003. Defines "wholly owned subsidiary educational institution" as one that: (1) is organized as a legal entity distinct from the provider, (2) has the provider as its sole owner or sole member, and (3) is organized in the same state in which the provider is organized or registered to do business.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 2014
Prohibits any federal agency or instrumentality from using federal funding or resources to: (1) consider or adjudicate any new or previously denied application of any alien requesting consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals, as authorized by Executive memorandum on August 15, 2012; or (2) authorize any alien to work in the United States who was not lawfully admitted into the United States and who is not in lawful status in the United States on the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2014
UAC State Notification Act of 2014 - Amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, with respect to an unaccompanied alien child in federal custody by reason of the child's immigration status, to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) or the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to notify the governor of a state within 48 hours before the child's placement in the care of a proposed custodian located in that state.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2014
Condemns the use of innocent civilians as human shields, including Hamas's use of this illegal tactic. Calls on: (1) the international community to recognize Hamas's grave breaches of international law by using human shields, and (2) Mahmoud Abbas to condemn the use of innocent civilians as human shields. Places responsibility for launching the rocket attacks on Hamas and other terrorist organizations, such as Islamic Jihad, in Gaza. Supports Israel's sovereign right to defend its territory and stop the rocket attacks on its citizens. Expresses condolences to the families of the innocent victims on both sides of the conflict. Supports Palestinian civilians who reject Hamas and all forms of terrorism and who desire to live in peace with their Israeli neighbors.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2014
Medicare DMEPOS Audit Improvement and Reform (AIR) Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish a Medicare Administrative Contractor Payment Outreach and Education Program for DMEPOS (durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies) suppliers. Requires each Medicare administrative contractor responsible for DMEPOS payments, in order to reduce improper payments to DMEPOS suppliers under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance), to provide suppliers, physicians and practitioners who prescribe DMEPOS, and discharge planners and case managers who coordinate DMEPOS for individuals in the contractor's area with error rate reduction training as well as: a list of suppliers' most frequent payment errors and the most expensive payment errors over the last quarter, specific instructions regarding how to correct or avoid such errors in the future as well as to prevent future issues related to new audits, and a notice of all new topics that have been approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) for audits. Sets forth the structure for audits of DMEPOS suppliers, requiring a contractor to give priority to activities under the DMEPOS payment outreach and education program that will reduce improper Medicare payments based on technical errors, medical necessity, and fraud. Requires annual reports to Congress on the use of recovery audit contractors under the Medicare Integrity Program to include certain information on the results of audit appeals related to DMEPOS. Requires the Secretary to: (1) increase the maximum record requests made by Medicare DMEPOS contractors in auditing claims of suppliers with a relatively high audited claims error rate for DMEPOS payments, and (2) decrease the maximum record requests for suppliers with a relatively low error rate. Directs the Secretary to limit the audit documentation review period for Medicare administrative contractors to three years.
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