The world's political record
Person
![Official portrait of Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/k000019_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
2,173 records where Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1992
Designates the week beginning May 3, 1992, as National Correctional Officers Week.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1992
Designates June 1992 as National Scleroderma Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1992
Liability Risk Retention Act Amendments of 1990 - Amends the Liability Risk Retention Act to change the ways in which: (1) States are allowed to regulate risk retention groups; (2) such groups are explicitly exempt from State regulation; and (3) States may control the licensing or qualification of agents or brokers for such groups. Allows a risk retention group to provide liability insurance to a nonmember in certain circumstances. Modifies requirements regarding reports by the groups to the States in which they are operating. Changes the ways in which: (1) purchasing groups are explicitly exempt from State regulation; (2) States may control the licensing or qualification of agents or brokers for such groups; and (3) such groups are required to report to the States in which they operate. Removes provisions regulating the purchasing, by a purchasing group, of insurance from a risk retention group that is not chartered or admitted in the State in which the purchasing group is located. Authorizes admitted insurers, approved surplus lines insurers, and other nonadmitted insurers to provide insurance under the Act to purchasing groups, provided certain conditions are met. Requires the provision of insurance by a qualified purchasing group insurer to be regulated in specified ways by the State in which the group has its principal place of business. Requires that a purchasing group insurer furnish specified information to the insurance commissioner of the State in which it has its principal place of business and, in certain circumstances, to the insurance commissioner of each State in which it is doing business. Requires a purchasing group insurer to register with and designate the State insurance commissioner of each State in which it has insured members as its agent for receiving service of legal documents or process. Requires the ownership interests of members of risk retention groups to be considered exempted securities for the purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Adds references to purchasing group insurers to provisions concerning the permissible State authority with regard to: (1) State motor vehicle no-fault and financial responsibility insurance law; (2) the applicability of the exemptions in the Act to liability insurance, and the provision or purchase of any other line of insurance; and (3) coverage which is prohibited generally by State statute or declared unlawful by the highest court of the State. Allows a State, subject to certain provisions relating to discrimination, to specify acceptable means of demonstrating financial responsibility as a condition for obtaining a license or permit to undertake specified activities. Preempts any law, rule, or regulation which would make unlawful the forming or joining of a risk retention group or a purchasing group by a State or any local government or agency or political subdivision thereof in the absence of State legislation expressly prohibiting such forming or joining. Adds a reference to a purchasing group insurer to provisions empowering district courts to issue certain injunctions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1992
Expresses the sense of the Senate that dairy products, including nonfat dry milk, from U.S. stocks should be used as part of the humanitarian assistance provided to the republics of the former Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1992
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and title II of the Social Security Act (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) with respect to the exemption from social security taxes for election officials and election workers employed by State and local governments to increase from $100 to $500 the amount of tax-free remuneration paid to such workers. Grants States the authority to modify coverage agreements with respect to election employees to reflect such increase.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1992
Repeals penalties for noncompliance by States with a program requiring the use of safety belts and motorcycle helmets.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1992
Designates May 1992 as National Huntington's Disease Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1992
Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 - Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Cuba. Requires the President to direct the U.S. Trade Representative to enter into negotiations with governments that conduct trade with Cuba for purposes of securing the agreement of such countries to restrict trade and credit relations with Cuba in a manner consistent with U.S. policy. Makes countries that provide assistance to Cuba ineligible for: (1) assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Arms Export Control Act; (2) agreements with the United States for the establishment of free trade areas; (3) participation in the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative; and (4) forgiveness or reduction of debt owed to the U.S. Government. Terminates such sanctions if the President reports to the Congress that Cuba has established democratic institutions through free and fair elections. Prohibits restrictions on the export to Cuba of medicines for humanitarian purposes. Permits telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. Requires the U.S. Postal Service to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to promote nonviolent democratic change in Cuba. Prohibits the issuance of licenses for certain transactions between U.S.-controlled firms in third countries and Cuba. Bars domestic concerns from receiving a tax deduction for the portion of the deductible expenses of such concerns which are allocated or apportioned to income derived from Cuba. Prohibits vessels which enter Cuba to engage in trade from loading or unloading any freight in the United States within 180 days after departure from Cuba. Directs the President to establish strict limits on remittances to Cuba by U.S. persons for purposes of financing the travel of Cubans to the United States to assure that such remittances are not used by the Castro regime as a means of gaining access to U.S. currency. Authorizes food, medicine, and medical supplies for humanitarian purposes to be made available to Cuba under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 if the President certifies to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Government of Cuba: (1) has made a commitment to hold free and fair elections for a new government within six months and is proceeding to implement that decision; (2) has made a commitment to respect and is respecting human rights and basic democratic freedoms; and (3) is not providing weapons or funds to any group in any other country that seeks the violent overthrow of the government of such country. Waives sanctions against Cuba under this Act if the President reports to the Congress that Cuba has established democratic institutions through free and fair elections. Declares that it shall be U.S. policy to take the following actions with respect to a freely-elected Cuban Government: (1) grant full diplomatic recognition to such government and encourage the admission of such government to international organizations and financial institutions; (2) provide emergency relief during Cuba's transition to a viable economic system; (3) encourage rescheduling or cancellation of Cuba's external debt; (4) end the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba; and (5) enter into negotiations for a trade agreement with Cuba. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to exercise the authorities of the Trading With the Enemy Act in enforcing this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Trading With the Enemy Act to authorize the Secretary to impose a civil penalty on violators of such Act. Requires the Department of the Treasury to establish a branch of the Office of Foreign Assets Control in Miami, Florida.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1992
Title I: Accelerated Growth - Economic Growth Acceleration Act of 1992 - Subtitle A: Provisions Relating to Capital Gains - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a capital gains deduction for noncorporate taxpayers for assets held from one to three years. Provides special rules for the gain or loss from the sale or exchange of collectibles and sales of interest in partnerships. Disallows such deduction in computing the alternative minimum tax. Revises the formula for determining gain from the dispositions of certain depreciable realty to take into account depreciation adjustments (adjustments allowed or allowable for exhaustion, wear and tear, obsolescence, or certain amortization). Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Passive Losses and Depreciation - Treats the real estate development activity of a taxpayer as a single trade or business activity that is not a rental activity. Allows an additional depreciation allowance for the purchase of new equipment as investment property on or after February 1, 1992, which is placed in service before July 1, 1993. Reduces the basis of adjustment of such property by the amount of the additional allowance. Requires application of such allowance in determining the alternative minimum tax. Restricts the determination of adjusted current earnings for purposes of computing alternative minimum taxable income to property placed in service after 1989 and before February 1, 1992. Subtitle C: Provisions Relating to Real Estate Investments by Pension Funds - Modifies exceptions to the exclusion of real property acquired by a qualified organization from the meaning of acquisition indebtedness. Makes certain exceptions inapplicable to sales out of foreclosure by a financial institution. Applies the meaning of acquisition indebtedness investments in certain large partnerships where the principal purpose of partnership allocations is not tax avoidance. Repeals the special rule for publicly traded partnerships with respect to the treatment of unrelated business taxable income. Subtitle D: Provisions Affecting Homebuyers - Allows a first-time homebuyer who purchases a principal residence a tax credit of ten percent of the purchase price, not to exceed $5,000. Limits such credit to one residence and requires acquisition between February 1, 1992, and January 1, 1993. Allows penalty-free withdrawals from individual retirement plans for a first-home purchase. Limits such distribution to $10,000, or other applicable amount if previous distributions have been made.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1992
Prohibits any funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs from being used by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish hospital care or medical services in Department facilities under the Rural Health Care Initiative to any person who is not eligible to be furnished hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary care under current Federal veterans' benefits provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1992
Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from carrying out the Rural Health Care Initiative program.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1992
Designates June 11, 1992, as National Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors Day.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1992
Declares that Federal tax reduction legislation based on the President's tax proposal submitted to Congress on January 29, 1992, shall be retroactive to January 1, 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1992
Designates April 15, 1992, as National Recycling Day.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1992
Designates March 8 through 14, 1992, as Deaf Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1992
Designates September 13 through 19, 1992, as National Rehabilitation Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1992
Designates October 1992 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1992
Congratulates the Governments and people of Croatia and Slovenia on the occasion of the recognition of their independence by 38 countries. Urges the President to immediately extend diplomatic recognition to, and establish mutually beneficial relations with, Croatia and Slovenia.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1992
Designates February 6, 1992, as National Women and Girls in Sports Day.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Social Security Service Preservation Act of 1991 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), and the Budget Enforcement Act of 1991 to exclude social security administrative expenses from the budget. Exempts such expenses from sequester. Sets forth baseline amounts for FY 1992 through 1996 for such expenses. Provides for decreasing the discretionary spending limit for the domestic category for FY 1992 through 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Repeals the Assault Weapon Manufacturing Strict Liability Act of 1990, signed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia. Restores or revives any provisions of law amended or repealed by it.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Congressional and Presidential Accountability Act of 1991 - Applies provisions of Federal civil rights and labor laws to Members of Congress and presidential appointees.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding: (1) visionary art as a national treasure; and (2) the American Visionary Art Museum as a national repository and educational center for such art.
United States · United States Congress · 25 November 1991
Petroleum Marketing Competition Enhancement Act - Amends the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to prohibit a refiner from: (1) selling motor fuel to a customer for resale (customer) at a price higher than the refiner's adjusted retail price for the same or similar grade or quality of motor fuel sold from a direct operated outlet in the same geographic area (sale of fuel at higher prices); and (2) entering into a scheme or agreement to set, change, or maintain maximum retail prices of motor fuel, except with respect to a refiner's retail sales at its direct operated outlets. Requires that: (1) in comparing a refiner's price charged to a customer to a refiner's adjusted retail price, adjustments be made to account for differences in freight, taxes, and inspection fees, whether or not the items are separately listed as part of the price; and (2) if a refiner includes consumer credit as part of the price, an adjustment for the cost of such credit be made in comparing the prices. Sets forth enforcement provisions, including: (1) proceedings by the Attorney General (establishes fines ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for each violation, and authorizes civil actions, equitable and other relief); (2) private civil actions (including class actions, and establishes a right to jury trial); and (3) proceedings by State attorneys general. Allows a person bringing an action to enforce provisions concerning the sale of fuel at higher prices to establish a prima facie case by showing that the refiner has sold motor fuel to a customer at a price that is higher than: (1) 94 percent of its consumer retail price per gallon (or, in the event of a sale to a branded wholesaler, 90 percent); or (2) the refiner's consumer retail price per gallon minus the most recently available average retail operating expenses per gallon (and, in the event of a sale by a refiner to a branded wholesaler, also minus the most recently available average wholesale operating expenses per gallon for the State in which the consumer retail price was charged). Specifies that: (1) the average retail and average wholesale operating expenses shall be obtained from the annual survey conducted by the relevant State, or if the State has not conducted such survey, the annual survey conducted by the Secretary of Energy (pursuant to this Act); and (2) the prima facie case may be overcome by a preponderance of evidence that the refiner's actual retail and the actual wholesale operating expenses, if applicable, are less than the average operating expenses presented by the plaintiff to establish the prima facie case. Directs the Secretary to conduct an annual survey to determine the average retail and average wholesale operating expenses per gallon for the petroleum industry. Permits a State or State agency to authorize an annual State survey to reflect local conditions with respect to motor fuels sold to the public in the State. Directs that a survey regarding: (1) actual retail operating expenses be based on all direct and indirect expenses attributable to the sale of a gallon of motor fuel to the public by direct and nondirect operated outlets; and (2) wholesale operating expenses be based on all direct and indirect expenses attributable to the wholesale sale of a gallon of motor fuel by a refiner or a branded wholesaler to a branded dealer.
United States · United States Congress · 23 November 1991
Access to Health Care for All Americans Act of 1991 - Title I: Access and Affordability of Health Insurance for Small Employers - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction of 100 percent (currently, 25 percent) of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals and to remove provisions terminating on a specified date the deductibility of such costs. Imposes a tax on insurers who fail to meet certain requirements regarding accident and health contracts for eligible small employers. Includes in those requirements issuance of contracts providing benefits identical to Medplan core benefits and contracts providing benefits identical to Medplan standard benefits. Sets forth pricing and marketing requirements. Requires that the contracts be guaranteed issue. Requires core and standard benefits to include: (1) inpatient and outpatient hospital services; (2) inpatient and outpatient surgical services; (3) inpatient and outpatient physicians' services; (4) diagnostic and screening services; (5) prenatal care; (6) ambulance services; and (7) durable medical equipment. Requires, in addition, that standard benefits include: (1) inpatient or outpatient treatment for a mental disorder; and (2) inpatient and outpatient treatment of a chemical dependency disorder. Limits deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, and copayments. Requires guaranteed eligibility. Regulates preexisting condition limitations. Requires guaranteed renewability. Sets forth rating, disclosure, and recordkeeping requirements. Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with any State to apply State standards instead of the requirements of this Act if the Secretary determines that the State standards will carry out the purposes of this Act. Prohibits any such agreement from waiving the requirement of offering contracts with benefits identical to Medplan core benefits and contracts with benefits identical to Medplan standard benefits. Defines "eligible small employer" to mean those with between one and 50 employees. Preempts any provision of State law: (1) requiring any employer member of a qualified small employer purchasing group to offer any services, category of care, or services of any class or type of provider; (2) requiring any provider of insurance to pay a tax on premiums received from members of such a group; or (3) restricting certain aspects of managed care. Title II: Health Care Cost Control - Subtitle A: Encouraging Managed Care Plans - Mandates development of recommended standards regarding the benefits, coverage, and delivery systems provided under managed care plans, as well as the standards by which managed care entities operate. Establishes the Managed Care Advisory Committee. Preempts, with regard to managed care plans, provisions of State law relating to: (1) reimbursement rates or selective contracting; (2) differential financial incentives; (3) utilization review methods; or (4) benefits. Subtitle B: Medical Malpractice Reform - Chapter 1: Definitions and Findings - Sets forth definitions and findings with regard to this subtitle. Chapter 2: Expedited Medical Malpractice Settlements - Allows any claimant to bring a civil action for damages against a person for harm caused during the provision of medical care under State law, except as superseded by this chapter. Provides, in certain circumstances, for recovery of attorney's fees by the prevailing party if the opposing party failed to accept an offer of settlement. Chapter 3: Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures - Establishes the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board of Advisors to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the establishment of a model voluntary alternative dispute resolution (ADR) program. Mandates a program to encourage States to develop and implement voluntary ADR procedures that meet the requirements of this subtitle. Requires a State which does not adopt its own procedures to adopt the model system. Allows a claimant or defendant to offer to proceed with an ADR procedure. Requires assessment of attorney's fees and costs against a recipient of such an offer who refuses to proceed if the refusal was unreasonable or not in good faith. Creates a rebuttable presumption that the refusal was unreasonable and not in good faith. Chapter 4: Uniform Standards for Medical Malpractice Cases - Applies this chapter to any medical malpractice action in any Federal or State court and any medical malpractice claim resolved through an ADR system. Limits: (1) lump sum payments for future losses; (2) noneconomic damages; and (3) attorney's fees. Makes the liability of each defendant for noneconomic damages several and not joint. Sets forth time limits. Requires proof of malpractice by clear and convincing evidence in cases related to delivery of a baby when the health care professional did not previously provide prenatal care to the claimant (sometimes referred to as "drop in deliveries"). Chapter 5: Uniform Disciplinary Reforms - Requires States to comply with this chapter. Requires each State to: (1) allocate all fees for licensing or certification of each type of health care practitioner to the State agencies responsible for the conduct of licensing and disciplinary actions regarding that type of practitioner; and (2) allow the general public to be represented on State practitioner disciplinary boards. Prohibits monetary liability on the part of any individual serving on a State disciplinary board. Requires each State to: (1) have in effect a statewide risk management program; and (2) establish a health care disciplinary trust fund. Requires all punitive damages from all medical malpractice and medical products civil actions to be transferred to the fund. Mandates use of fund amounts to provide additional resources to the boards and to provide additional resources for State consumer protection activities. Chapter 6: Medical Products - Limits whether punitive damages, otherwise permitted by applicable law, may be awarded against a health care producer (defined as a designer, manufacturer, producer, or seller of a drug or device) in certain circumstances and, if so, specifies that specified evidence may be considered in determining the amount of the damages. Makes approval of a drug or device by the Food and Drug Administration an absolute defense to a claim of strict liability. Chapter 7: Community Health Centers - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate a grant to an entity that represents recipients of grants under provisions relating to migrant and community health centers for the establishment of a nationwide risk retention group as provided for in the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986. Requires that all such centers become members in the group and purchase the professional liability insurance offered by the group. Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions relating to the group. Requires amounts saved by centers as a result of the group to be used for additional services by the centers and to defend against medical malpractice claims arising from center services. Authorizes appropriations to carry out specified provisions relating to the centers. Chapter 8: Miscellaneous Provisions - Provides for severability and for compliance deadlines. Title III: Rural Health Improvement Initiatives - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission to each submit to the Congress a report recommending a methodology for the elimination of the system of determining separate average standardized amounts for hospitals in large urban, other urban, or rural areas. Amends the Public Health Service Act to modify priorities for awarding National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment contracts. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income repayment under the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations to carry out specified provisions relating to area health education centers. Authorizes competitive grants for networks among rural and urban health care providers to preserve and share health care resources and enhance the quality and availability of health care in rural areas. Allows the networks to be statewide or regional. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for certain health professionals providing services in rural health professional shortage areas during periods when they are not receiving scholarships or loan repayments under National Health Service Corps programs. Allows, with regard to elections to expense depreciable business assets, a higher aggregate cost to be taken into account for rural health care property in a rural health professional shortage area. Allows a deduction for a limited amount of the interest paid on medical education loans by an individual performing services under an agreement with an applicable rural community to perform professional services in the community. Authorizes use of the deduction in computing adjusted gross income. Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize competitive grants for the development and implementation of a plan for mental health outreach programs in rural areas. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Improved Access to Long-Term Care - Subtitle A: Long-Term Care Insurance Promotion - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a procedure for the certification of health insurance policies for the elderly as meeting minimum standards and requirements, including: (1) meeting or exceeding the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Act Standards; (2) guaranteed renewability; (3) limited exclusion of preexisting conditions; (4) a specified period during which purchasers may rescind their purchase; and (5) simplified language. Mandates a study and report to the Congress on health insurance policies for the elderly. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit for a percentage of qualified long-term care premiums paid. Mandates: (1) an agreement between the Secretary of the Treasury and each State for the advance payment to certain individuals of the tax credit in the form of certificates usable for the purchase of long-term care insurance; and (2) a program to inform the public of the availability of the credit and filing procedures. Excludes distributions from qualified retirement plans, when used by certain individuals to pay for long-term care insurance contracts, from provisions imposing an additional tax on early distributions from such plans. Prohibits recognizing a gain or loss from the exchange by certain individuals of a life insurance, endowment, or annuity contract for a long-term care insurance contract. Subtitle B: Other Provisions Relating to Long-Term Care - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any distribution from an individual retirement plan used to pay premiums for any qualified long-term health insurance policy. Requires any amount paid under a life insurance contract on the life of an insured who is terminally ill, has a dread disease, or has been permanently confined to a nursing home to be treated as an amount paid by reason of the death of the insured. Requires, for provisions relating to definitions and special rules involving life insurance companies, references to life insurance to be treated as including a reference to a terminal illness or dread disease rider, defined as a provision of a life insurance contract which provides for payments to or for the benefit of an insured upon the insured becoming a terminally ill individual or incurring a dread disease. Amends provisions defining "life insurance contract" to include a terminal illness or dread disease rider or any qualified long-term care rider in the definition of "qualified additional benefits."
United States · United States Congress · 22 November 1991
Urges the President to renew the Voluntary Restraint Agreement with Japan and Taiwan for an additional five years in order to continue to protect national security and ensure industrial competitiveness.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1991
Fox River National Heritage Corridor Act of 1991 - Establishes in Wisconsin the Fox River National Heritage Corridor. Establishes the Fox River National Heritage Corridor Commission to assist Federal, State, and local authorities in the development and implementation of an integrated resource management plan for the corridor. Requires the Commission to submit to the Secretary of the Interior a Cultural Heritage and Corridor Management Plan, consisting of a consolidation of existing plans. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on an assessment of the historic linkage of the Fox River Corridor and the Lower Wisconsin River. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act to exclude from the social security tax on self-employment income amounts received by a former insurance salesman after retirement if: (1) such amounts are deferred or renewal commissions on policies sold before retirement; and (2) such salesman was not an employee for tax purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1991
Quality in Medical Equipment and Supplies Act of 1991 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require suppliers of items of durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics, and prosthetic devices to submit claims for payment under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) only to the carrier having jurisdiction over the geographic area in which the patient resides. Provides exceptions to this requirement if the patient to whom such an item is furnished resides within 60 miles of the border of the carrier jurisdiction or if the patient is temporarily residing in another carrier's jurisdiction. Gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to provide for further exceptions to ensure patient access or administrative efficiency. Requires the Secretary to: (1) consolidate the number of carriers processing claims for such items to no more than five regional carriers; (2) develop and implement, in consultation with private sector groups, criteria providing for uniform coverage and utilization among all carriers for such items; (3) establish national uniform standards that suppliers of such items must meet in order to obtain and renew provider numbers; (4) establish requirements for disclosure by applicants for provider numbers; (5) require the renewal of provider numbers every three years; (6) develop a standard provider number application form; and (7) establish procedures to be used by carriers to verify supplier applications for provider numbers. Modifies the current prohibition against suppliers of items of durable medical equipment distributing forms documenting medical necessity to make such prohibition applicable instead to suppliers of items included on the Secretary's list of potentially overused items. Increases the monetary penalty for violation of such prohibition with respect to suppliers of items included on the Secretary's list of potentially overused items. Requires a standardized form of medical necessity to be developed by the Secretary for suppliers of items of durable medical equipment. Requires the form to include a statement that knowing and willful misrepresentations on it by the supplier will result in imposition of monetary penalties. Extends the prohibition against physicians referring patients to clinical labs in which the physician has certain financial interests to referrals of patients to suppliers of items of durable medical equipment. Requires the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on whether payments made for items of durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics, and prosthetic devices adequately reflect the services provided by the suppliers to ensure quality of care. Requires the Comptroller General to study and make recommendations to the Congress on whether payments made for such items adequately reflect variations in the quality of equipment or supplies provided.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1991
Establishes the Independent Ethics Commission in the Senate to: (1) receive requests for review of an allegation of improper conduct and violations of law by an officer or employee of the Senate; (2) make informal preliminary inquiries in response to such allegation; (3) report to the Senate on the result of such inquiry if an investigation is not warranted; and (4) appoint an independent counsel to investigate such alleged misconduct or violation if warranted. Amends rules XXV, XXXV, XXXVII, and XLI of the Standing Rules of the Senate to transfer the functions of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Repeals the following resolutions to abolish the Select Committee on Ethics: (1) S. Res. 338, 88th Congress, 2d Session, (2) S. Res. 223, 96th Congress, 1st Session; (3) S. Res. 290, 96th Congress, 1st Session; and (4) S. Res. 425, 97th Congress, 2d Session.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 1991
National Child Protection Act of 1991 - Establishes a national criminal background check system to which a designated agency in each State is required to report child abuse crime information, for purposes of background checks of child care providers. Directs the Attorney General to establish: (1) guidelines for the reporting of such information; and (2) timetables for each State to report such information to such system (with a three-year deadline for all States to be reporting at a specified level of currency). Requires State agencies to maintain close liason for information exchange and technical assistance in cases of child abuse with the National Centers: (1) on Child Abuse and Neglect; (2) for Missing and Exploited Children; and (3) for the Prosecution of Child Abuse. Directs the Attorney General to publish annually: (1) a Statistical summary of the child abuse crime information reported under this Act; and (2) a summary of each State's progress in reporting child abuse crime information to the national criminal background check system. Requires the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to conduct a study to determine various factors relating to potential child abuse crimes and offenders, based on a statistically significant sample of convicted child abuse offenders and other relevant information. Requires a report on such study to be submitted to specified congressional committee officials. Provides for background check procedures. Allows entities that provide child care or child care placement services (including business or organizations that license or certify others to provide such services) to request State agencies to review State and Federal records through the national system, and other criminal justice recordkeeping systems, to determine if a child care provider is under indictment for, or has been convicted of, a background check crime. (Defines "provider" as one who is now or seeks to be: (1) employed by, or a volunteer with, a qualified entity; (2) an owner or operator of a qualified entity; or (3) having unsupervised access to any child to whom the qualified entity provides child care.) Directs the Attorney General to establish guidelines for such State background check procedures, permitting equivalent procedures under specified conditions. Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) exchange Federal Bureau of Investigation identification records with authorized agencies for purposes of such background checks; and (2) authorize by regulation further dissemination of such records by authorized agencies for such purposes. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) prescribe by regulation any other measures necessary to carry out this Act; and (2) encourage use of the best technology available in conducting background checks. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide for use of certain formula grants to improve State record systems and the sharing of records of child abuse crime information to implement this Act. Directs the Attorney General to make additional grants to States to improve specified aspects of the child abuse crime information system, subject to appropriations and with preference to States having the lowest percent currency of case dispositions in computerized criminal history files. Authorizes appropriations for such additional grants. Authorizes the Attorney General, beginning one year after enactment of this Act, to reduce by up to ten percent the allocation to a State for a fiscal year under title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 if the State is not in compliance with the child abuse crime information timetable established for it under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1991
Authorizes the U.S. Postal Service to issue and sell a postage stamp to honor the Women's Army Corps and to commemorate the date it officially became a part of the U.S. Army.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend for one year the following expiring provisions: (1) the credit for increasing research activities; (2) the targeted jobs credit; (3) the tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance; (4) the authority to issue qualified small issue bonds to finance manufacturing facilities and farm property; (5) the itemized deduction for health insurance costs of self-employed individuals; (6) the authority to issue mortgage revenue bonds and mortgage credit certificates; (7) the rules on allocating research and experimental expenditures in determining income from sources within or without the United States; (8) the low-income housing credit; (9) the energy investment credit for solar and geothermal property; (10) the credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions; and (11) the minimum tax exception for gifts of appreciated tangible property.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1991
Designates May 1992 as National Trauma Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Enterprise Capital Formation Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for gain on investments in new small business stock (seed capital) held for at least five years. Establishes special rules for such investments. Provides for determining the maximum capital gains rate for small business net capital gain or seed capital gain. Treats capital gains on the sale of such stock as a preference item for purposes of the minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Health Equity and Access Improvement Act of 1991 - Title I: Tax Incentives for Health Care Access - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit of up to $600 for an individual ($1,200 for a family) for qualified health expenses. Provides that in the case of a taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $10,000 ($20,000 for a family) the credit shall be reduced by an amount equal to ten percent of the excess. Permits a tax deduction, for both itemizers and nonitemizers, for the cost of health insurance premiums for which no other compensation is received. Provides an employer health insurance credit for small businesses equal to 25 percent of the qualified health care costs of the employer in the first year the employer offers health coverage to employees and which is then reduced five percentage points annually. Raises from 25 percent to 100 percent the deduction allowed to self-employed individuals for health insurance premiums and makes the deduction permanent. Provides a credit for a qualified primary health services provider who practices in a rural health professional shortage area. Sets forth a formula for determining such credit. Excludes from gross income any payment made on behalf of a taxpayer by the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Permits a physician in a rural health professional shortage area to expense up to $25,000 worth of rural health care property. Provides that interest on student loan payments by medical professionals practicing in rural areas shall not be treated as personal interest and will therefore qualify as a tax deduction. Title II: Health Care Reform Provisions - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to develop a model health care insurance benefits plan that shall contain standards that entities offering health care insurance policies should meet with respect to the benefits and coverage provided under such policies and report on such standards to the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to develop such a plan if the NAIC fails to develop such a plan or if the NAIC plan does not meet specified requirements. Sets forth such requirements. Requires the Secretary, taking into account recommendations of the Managed Care Advisory Committee, to develop recommended standards that insurers offering managed care plans should meet with respect to the benefits, coverage, and delivery systems provided under such plans. Establishes the Managed Care Advisory Committee. Provides that, in the case of a managed care plan meeting recommended standards, specified provision of State law will be preempted and will not be enforced against the managed care plan with respect to an insurer offering such plan. Permits a qualified small employer purchasing group, upon application to and approval by the Secretary, to enter into contracts with carriers to provide health insurance coverage to eligible employees. Establishes standards which health care insurers must meet in a contract with a small business. Requires such insurers, among other things, to: (1) provide coverage and benefits consistent with the model health care insurance benefits plan; (2) meet specified registration and disclosure requirements; (3) not exclude from coverage any eligible employee; (4) not extend beyond six months any limitation on any preexisting condition and, with respect to such limitation, apply it only to preexisting conditions which manifested themselves or for which medical care was sought during the three months preceding coverage; (5) guarantee renewability of the contract at the employer's election, unless the contract is terminated for cause; and (6) establish premiums that meet specified standards. Title III: Medical Liability Reform - Sets forth provisions concerning settlement offers in medical malpractice cases. Establishes an Alternative Dispute Resolution Board of Advisers to make recommendations to the Secretary concerning the establishment of a model voluntary alternative dispute resolution program for medical malpractice cases. Sets caps on the payment of future losses, non-economic damages, and attorneys' fees. Prohibits joint liability in a civil action for non-economic damages. Establishes a statute of limitations for a medical malpractice civil action. Requires each State to: (1) allocate its medical licensing fees to the State agency responsible for licensing and disciplinary actions; (2) require that at least 25 percent of a disciplinary board's membership shall be from the general public; (3) have in effect a Statewide risk management program; and (4) establish a health care disciplinary trust fund consisting of all punitive damage awards resulting from medical malpractice and medical product civil actions. Protects a health care producer of a drug or device from punitive damages if the drug or device was subject to approval or premarket approval under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to make a grant to an entity representing recipients of assistance at migrant and community health centers to develop a business plan and establish a nationwide risk retention group as provided for in the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Public Health Provisions - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title, Title XXI: BASICARE. Authorizes appropriations under title XXI for the purpose of providing basic health care benefits to low-income uninsured individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) coverage. Requires a State, in order to receive funding under title XXI, to submit and have approved by the Secretary a BasiCare assistance plan. Sets forth plan requirements. Requires, for BasiCare eligibility, that: (1) family income be below 200 percent of the poverty line; (2) an individual not be eligible for Medicaid; and (3) an individual not be otherwise covered under a health plan by the individual's employer. Permits the imposition of deductibles, copayments, and premiums if income is between 100 to 200 percent of the poverty line. Establishes the Federal Medical Waiver Demonstration Board to review applications submitted by States to conduct health care-related demonstration projects. Requires the Board to develop at least three different model health care delivery plans. Permits the Board, upon approval of a State's demonstration project, to waive the following provisions of Federal law: (1) the Public Health Service Act; (2) title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; (3) titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (BASICARE) of the Social Security Act; (4) all health care programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and (5) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Title V: Medically Underserved Areas - Authorizes appropriations for the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Directs the Secretary to establish and administer a program to provide allotments to States to enable such States to provide grants for the creation or enhancement of community based primary health care entities that provide services to pregnant women and children up to age three. Requires grant recipients to substantially target populations of pregnant women and children who: (1) lack health care coverage or ability to pay for health care services; or (2) reside in medically underserved or health professional shortage areas. Directs the Secretary to award grants to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and other entities submitting applications for the purpose of providing access to services for medically underserved populations or in high impact areas not currently served by a FQHC. Limits the expenditure of funds awarded an FQHC to the provision of those services provided under the Medicaid program and any unreimbursed costs of providing services under the community based primary health care grant program. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to develop and implement a plan for mental health outreach programs in rural areas. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary, in awarding grants under the Public Health Service Act relating to the research, teaching, and training activities of health personnel educational entities, to give priority to those entities that have a high permanent rate for placing graduates in settings serving residents of medically underserved communities and that otherwise demonstrate a commitment to serving such communities. Directs the Secretary to award grants to health professions institutions to expand training programs that are targeted at those individuals desiring to practice in or serve the needs of medically underserved communities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to award grants to eligible regional consortia to enhance and expand coordination among various health professions programs, particularly in medically underserved rural areas. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants, under the area health education center provisions of the Act, to rural communities to enable such communities to provide stipends to physicians, nurses, or other health professional trainees to encourage such individuals to continue to provide health care services in such rural communities. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to facilitate the development of networks among rural and urban health care providers to preserve and share health care resources and enhance the quality and availability of health care in rural areas. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to develop and administer cooperatives in rural areas that will establish an effective case management and reimbursement system designed to support the economic viability of essential public or private health services, facilities, health care systems, and health care resources in such rural areas. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the: (1) Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to authorize appropriations for the Rural Health Care Transition Grant Program; and (2) Medicare program to authorize appropriations for the Essential Access Community Hospital Program. Title VI: Incentives to Encourage Preventive Services - Provides a tax credit for qualified preventive services of up to $250. Includes on a list of preventive services: (1) cancer screening tests; (2) childhood immunizations; (3) mammograms; (4) pap tests for uterine cancer; and (5) other specified examinations and tests. Authorizes appropriations, under the Public Health Service Act, for grants for preventive health service programs for the provision, without charge, of immunizations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits a Member of the House of Representatives from serving more than six full terms in the House and a Senator from serving more than two full terms in the Senate (excluding any part of a partial term to which the person may have been elected or appointed).
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1991
Tax Fairness and Savings Incentive Act of 1991 - Title I: Tax Credit for Children - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of $300 per qualifying child. Title II: Retirement Savings Incentives - Subtitle A: Retirement Savings Incentives - Removes the limitations on deductions for individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and provides a cost of living adjustment for deductible amounts. Establishes special individual retirement accounts that are nondeductible. Makes such accounts nontaxable if earnings on contributions are held for at least five years. Applies the early withdrawal penalty to distributions made before the end of the five year-period. Subtitle B: Penalty-Free Distributions - Provides exemptions from the ten-percent penalty on early withdrawals from individual retirement plans for: (1) first home purchases; (2) higher education expenses; and (2) financially devastating medical expenses. Requires contributions to be held in certain IRAs (other than special IRAs) for at least five years prior to distributions. Title III: Reduction in Defense Spending - Sets forth limits on budget outlays and authority for defense spending for FY 1993 through 1997. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the Congress from exceeding such limits. Provides for reducing maximum deficit amounts. Prohibits sequestration under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1991
Economic Growth and Family Tax Freedom Act of 1991 - Title I: Nonrefundable Tax Credit for Children - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of $1,000 for each child under the age of six and $300 for each child between the age of six and 18. Makes the dependent care credit inapplicable to children under the age of six. Title II: Reducing the Cost of Capital by Reducing Capital Gains Tax Rates, Indexing the Basis of Certain Assets, and Excluding Gain From Sales of Principal Residences - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the individual and corporate capital gains rate from 34 percent to 15 percent. Reduces such tax to 7.5 percent for low- and middle-income taxpayers. Provides for the phaseout of personal exemptions and the overall limitation on itemized deductions to take into account adjusted gross income which has been reduced by net capital gain. Requires indexing, based on the gross national product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset of property used in a trade or business) that have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or other transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss. Provides for indexing the limitation on capital losses of noncorporate taxpayers. Excludes from gross income the sale or exchange of property that has been owned and used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer's principal residence. Terminates provisions relating to the rollover or gain on the sale of a principal residence. Title III: Adjusting Depreciation Rates to Reflect Inflation - Provides a depreciation deduction adjustment for tangible property (other than residential rental property and nonresidential real property) placed in service after 1991. Allows phase-in deductions for such property placed in service after 1996. Title IV: Savings Incentives - Allows individuals to establish individual retirement plus accounts with tax treatment similar to that for individual retirement plans. Makes contributions to such accounts nondeductible. Provides for qualified distributions from such accounts, other than for general retirement purposes, including special purposes distributions made for the purchase of a first home and for medical or educational purposes. Prohibits special purpose distributions from being made during the first five years of the account. Title V: Treatment of Passive Losses - Provides for the treatment of rental and nonrental real estate activities under the limitations on losses from passive activities. Title VI: Enterprise Zones - Subtitle A: Designation of Enterprises Zones - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to designate enterprise zones for purposes of providing tax and regulatory relief and improving local services. Limits choices to areas nominated by States and local governments. Limits the total number of areas that may be designated, and the time period of the designation. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a zone only if the area meets certain locational, demographic, unemployment, and poverty criteria. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action that may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, and providing job training to area residents. Describes areas to which the Secretary must give preference in selecting areas for designation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress every two years on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Subtitle B: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Allows a nonrefundable income tax credit to enterprise zone employees for five percent of any wages earned as do not exceed a specified amount. Phases out such credit. Provides for the nonrecognition of capital gain on the sale of enterprise zone property. Allows a taxpayer a deduction on the aggregate amount paid for the purchase of enterprise stock on its original issue by a qualified issuer. Requires any gain from the disposition of the stock to be treated as ordinary income. Excludes enterprise zone capital gains from income computation of alternative minimum taxes. Subtitle C: Regulatory Flexibility - Amends Federal law to revise the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified business, government, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations pertaining to the implementation of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve the request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in retaining the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement or present a danger to the public health and safety. Subtitle D: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis and to expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. Subtitle E: Repeals of Title VII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 - Repeals title VII (enterprise zone development) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1991
Designates January 4 through 10, 1992, as Braille Literacy Week.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1991
Amends title XI (Partnerships for Economic Development and Urban Community Service) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a Campus-Community Crime Intervention Program. Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to award program grants to and enter into cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education to design and implement programs that address pressing and severe crime problems in urban institutions of higher education and the surrounding community, including the root causes of such problems. Requires such awards to be made in a manner that: (1) achieves a regionally equitable distribution of such grants; and (2) serves eight urban institutions of higher education with documented campus and community crime problems. Sets the duration of each grant or cooperative agreement at five years. Sets a maximum amount for each grant or cooperative agreement. Sets forth application requirements and allowable activities. Authorizes the Secretary to award demonstration program grants to or enter into cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education to support programs demonstrating to urban institutions of higher education across the Nation the role that such institutions can play as partners in their communities to address pressing and severe crime problems and such problems' root causes. Directs the Secretary to enter into eight such demonstration grants or contracts. Sets forth application requirements and authorized activities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1997 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1991
Designates March 1992 as Irish-American Heritage Month.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1991
Designates 1992 as the Year of Reconciliation Between American Indians and Non-Indians.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1991
Medicaid Moratorium Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenues Act of 1988 to: (1) delay until September 30, 1992, the issuance of regulations changing the treatment under the Medicaid program (title XIX of the Social Security Act) of voluntary contributions and provider-specific taxes; and (2) maintain current regulations that allow intergovernmental transfers as a source of a State's expenditures for which Federal matching funds are available under the Medicaid program. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to specified congressional committees a report on: (1) regulations to limit the use of voluntary contributions and provider-specific taxes to obtain Federal financial participation; (2) specific types of voluntary contributions and provider-specific taxes that may be used as sources of a State's expenditures for which Federal financial participation is available; and (3) any legislation that the Secretary believes is appropriate. Sets forth budget compliance provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1991
Federal Energy Efficiency Bank Establishment Act - Establishes in the Treasury the Federal Facilities Energy Efficiency Bank to fund a program of loans to Federal agencies for energy efficiency projects. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1991
Better Access to Affordable Health Care Act of 1991 - Title I: Improvements in Health Insurance Affordability for Small Employers - Amends the Internal Revenue code to raise from 25 to 100 percent the deduction for self-employed individuals for health insurance premiums and makes the deduction permanent. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to make grants to up to 15 States for the establishment and operation of small employer health insurance purchasing programs. Permits grant funds to be used to finance administrative costs associated with developing and operating a group purchasing program for small employers. Authorizes appropriations. Requires a report to the Congress from the Secretary concerning the feasibility of establishing a requirement that health insurers must make available plans providing that payments to providers be made using Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) payment rules. Title II: Improvements in Health Insurance for Small Employers - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title, Title XXI: Standards for Small Employer Health Insurance and Certification of Managed Care Plans. Directs the Secretary to request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to develop model standards and regulations concerning requirements for health insurance plans for small employers. Requires such plans to provide for: (1) guaranteed eligibility; (2) guaranteed availability; and (3) guaranteed renewability. Prohibits: (1) an insurer from refusing to renew or terminate a plan, except for nonpayment of premiums, fraud, or failure to maintain minimum participation rates; and (2) for certain services, discrimination based on health status. Sets limits controlling the variation of premium charges permitted among all small employers insured by an insurer. Requires the full disclosure of an insurer's rating practices. Requires a health insurance plan for small employers to offer: (1) both a standard and basic benefit package; and (2) a managed care option, if the insurer also offers such an option to other employers. Provides, under both the standard and basic package, for coverage of: (1) inpatient and outpatient hospital care; (2) inpatient and outpatient physician services; (3) diagnostic tests; and (4) preventive services. Provides, in addition, under the standard plan: (1) for the coverage of certain mental health care; (2) that, except as specified, there will be no limits on the amount, scope, or duration of benefits, and (3) for specified limits on deductibles, copayment, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket expenses. Provides under the basic plan that: (1) premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing may be imposed, but does not specify in what amounts; and (2) there shall be an out-of-pocket limit, but does not specify such limit. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax of 25 percent of gross premiums on the issuer of any health insurance plan to a small employer, if the plan does not meet the requirements of title XXI. Sets forth study and reporting requirements. Title III: Improvements in Portability of Private Health Insurance - Imposes an excise tax of $100 per day, with respect to a covered individual, on a group health plan for its failure to provide coverage for a preexisting condition, subject to stated exceptions. Title IV: Health Care Cost Containment - Establishes a Health Care Cost Commission which shall report annually to the President and the Congress on national health care costs. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under title XXI of the Social Security Act, to establish a process for the certification of managed care plans and utilization review programs. Sets forth requirements for certification. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Administrator of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research to develop outcomes research and practice parameters for mental health services, including at least the diagnosis and treatment of childhood attention deficit syndrome disorders and manic depression. Amends Part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to authorize appropriations for research outcomes of health care services and procedures. Title V: Medicare Prevention Benefits - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish frequency and payment limits for screening for fecal-occult blood tests and screening flexible sigmoidoscopies. Amends Medicare part C (Miscellaneous Provisions) to provide coverage for tetanus-diphtheria boosters and their administration. Provides Medicare coverage for well-child services, which include routine office visits, immunizations, laboratory tests, and preventive dental care. Expands the coverage of a screening mammography to provide for one such screening annually for all covered women over age 49. Directs the Secretary to establish and provide for a series of ongoing demonstration projects which provide coverage for specified preventive services, including: (1) glaucoma screening; (2) cholesterol screening; (3) osteoporosis screening and treatment; (4) screening services for pregnant women; (5) assessments for individuals beginning at age 65 or 75; and (5) other appropriate services. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1991
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) it should be U.S. policy to pursue discussions regarding Syria and terrorism at the Middle East peace conference in Madrid, Spain, in October and November of 1991; and (2) Syria should renounce all forms of terrorism, cease all support of terrorism, and close all terrorist training bases on Syrian territory and Syrian-controlled Lebanese territory.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1991
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to change the period for the U.S. Trade Representative to identify trade liberalization priorities to no later than September 30 of each of the calendar years 1992 through 1997. Sets forth the procedure for a congressional committee to file a petition with the Trade Representative to investigate barriers and market distorting practices of a foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1991
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the United States Trade Representative should take action under the Trade Act of 1974 to compensate for any trade losses caused by the European Community's (EC) failure to adopt by October 31, 1991, a new oilseeds regime that conforms with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) panel oilseed ruling; and (2) such actions should remain in effect until the EC's oilseed regime conforms with its GATT obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 1991
American Health Quality Act - Declares that the Congress finds that health care liability systems impact on interstate commerce by contributing to the high cost of health care and premiums for malpractice and products liability insurance purchased by health care providers and producers. Title I: Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to make enhanced Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) bonus payments for a two-year period to eligible States that submit a plan for the development or implementation of alternative dispute resolution systems (ADRS) to resolve health care liability claims as an alternative to a judicial proceeding in a Federal or State court. Sets forth eligibility, approval, and review requirements for such program. Directs the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research to make recommendations to the Secretary concerning such requirements. Requires the Agency to appoint a panel of advisers to: (1) assist in developing criteria for an ADRS that States must meet to be eligible to receive enhanced payments and assist States in preparing applications; (2) as part of such criteria, assist States receiving enhanced payments in complying with data gathering and evaluation guidelines; (3) provide advice and assistance to representatives from State governments concerning the establishment of an ADRS; (4) develop qualification standards and assist States applying to be quality improvement States; (5) report, not later than four years after the approval of an application, to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional committees on States receiving enhanced payments; (6) recommend to such entities, not later than four years after enactment of this Act, on the feasibility of a mandated ADRS; and (7) report to such entities, not later than four years after approval of the first quality improvement State plan, concerning the reform of State health profession disciplinary boards or alternative quality assurance plans. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to award grants to private entities for the establishment of demonstration alternative dispute resolution programs in the private sector. Sets forth application requirements for such program. Requires the panel: (1) to provide assistance to such entities in designing and implementing an ADRS; and (2) report to the Agency, the Secretary, and the appropriate congressional committees with data collected on such systems, together with recommendations for improvements. Authorizes appropriations for the demonstration programs for FY 1992 through 1996. Amends the Social Security Act to revise certain Medicaid payment provisions to conform with enhanced payments made under this title. Title II: Uniform Standards for Health Care Liability Claims - Establishes uniform rules for health care liability actions brought in any Federal or State court and any health care action resolved through an ADRS. Establishes procedures for settlement offers, including the calculation of attorney fees. Requires mandatory periodic payments of awards exceeding $100,000. Limits non-economic damages to $250,000. Mandates reductions in damages received by an individual, where other payments will be or have been made to compensate such individual. Limits attorney fees to 25 percent of the first $150,000 of any award or settlement and 15 percent of any additional amount in excess of $150,000. Prohibits punitive damages from exceeding twice the award of compensatory damages. Allows a separate proceeding to decide if punitive damages are to be awarded or to decide the amount of such award. Requires that 50 percent of all awards of punitive damages resulting from health care liability actions be transferred to a State health care disciplinary trust fund to assist the State in the improvement of health care quality programs. Permits claimants pursuing punitive damages to collect reasonable attorney fees. Declares that the liability of each defendant for non-economic damages shall be several only and shall not be joint. Prohibits health care liability actions from being initiated after the expiration of the two-year period that begins on the date on which the alleged injury should reasonably have been discovered, but in no event later than four years after the date of the alleged occurrence of the injury. Provides an exception for minors. Requires a higher standard of proof in obstetric cases where the physician delivering the baby has not provided prenatal services prior to delivery. Prohibits punitive damages from being awarded against a manufacturer or product seller of a drug or device that caused a complaint, if the drug or device is in compliance with Food and Drug Administration approval processes. Declares that this title supersedes any State law only to the extent that such law establishes higher payment limits, applies joint and several liability to all damages, permits the recovery of a greater amount of damages or the awarding of a greater amount of attorney fees, or establishes a longer period during which a health care liability claim may be initiated. Title III: Health Care Injury Prevention - Directs the Secretary to establish a program to make enhanced Medicaid bonus payments for a two-year period to eligible States that submit a State plan for the development or implementation of a health care injury prevention program or an approved alternative. Sets forth eligibility and application requirements for States. Designates a State that receives enhanced payments as a quality improvement State. Requires a quality improvement State to: (1) establish a Statewide health care injury prevention program; and (2) cooperate with Federal research efforts with respect to patient outcomes, clinical effectiveness and clinical practice guidelines. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations that establish performance criteria for the health care practitioner disciplinary board of such State in performing its oversight functions concerning health care professionals. Requires the State to: (1) allocate certain fees for the conduct of disciplinary actions with respect to health care professionals; (2) ensure that the general public is represented on such board; (3) grant immunity to such board from liability; (4) include a continuing education requirement in performance criteria for physicians who have been disciplined by such board. Title IV: Community Health Centers - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to make a grant to an entity that represents recipients of assistance under provisions relating to migrant and community health centers to enable the entity to develop a business plan for, and to establish, a nationwide risk retention group as provided for in the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986, and that meets other requirements. Allows the group to negotiate with other entities for the purpose of managing and administering the group, and for obtaining reinsurance. Requires the group to provide professional liability insurance, and other types of profitable insurance approved for issuance by the Secretary, to migrant and community health centers. Requires the centers, subject to exception, to become members of the group and purchase the group's insurance. Makes all professional staff members of the centers eligible to obtain the group's insurance. Requires the group to engage outside experts in insurance, financing, and business to analyze and audit the group. Requires the experts to provide the group with an evaluation of the plan and group. Requires the group to submit the plan and the evaluation to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to permit implementation of the plan and operation of the group if it will result in an increase in the amount of funds available for use by community and migrant health centers and other entities receiving assistance under the specified provisions. Authorizes appropriations for preparation of the plan, establishment of the group, and capitalization of the group. Requires assets remaining after dissolution of the group to be used by the Secretary to pay the remaining expenses of the group. Authorizes appropriations to carry out specified provisions relating to migrant and community health centers.