United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1976
Establishes a Compact of Permanent Union between Puerto Rico and the United States. Delineates the legal and political framework for this union. Recognizes the right of the people of Puerto Rico to govern themselves according to their own Constitution and laws, and the right of the United States Government to exercise authority and powers specified in the Compact. Reserves all other political and governmental authority to Puerto Rico or to the people of Puerto Rico. Recognizes the Supreme Court of the United States as the final adjudicator of this Compact, including the decision as to whether the laws of the United States or of Puerto Rico conform to this compact and applicable provisions of the Constitution of the United States. Grants the United States responsibility for foreign affairs and defense affecting Puerto Rico. Provides that Puerto Rico may conclude educational, cultural, health, sporting, professional, industrial, agricultural, financial, commercial, scientific, and technical agreements with foreign countries and may participate in specialized agencies of international organizations dealing in these matters. Makes all persons born in Puerto Rico citizens of the United States with all attenuant rights, privileges, and immunities, as well as duties. Grants United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico the same rights, privileges and immunities as well as duties established by the Constitution and laws of Puerto Rico. States that the currency of the United States shall be the exclusive currency of Puerto Rico, and all United States law relating to currency, coinage, gold, and silver are applicable to Puerto Rico. Directs that economic, trade, and commercial relations between the United States and Puerto Rico shall be conducted within the framework of the common market between the two entities. Prohibits tariffs, customs, or duties on trade between the two countries and makes provisions for regulating proceeds of customs, duties, licenses and tariffs collected in or in respect to imports into Puerto Rico from other countries. Directs the United States to take into account Puerto Rico's stage of economic development in all international trade negotiations, and to protect and promote Puerto Rico's economic interests. Makes all property acquired in Puerto Rico by the United States under the cession of Spain in the treaty of peace of December 10, 1898, and not subsequently disposed of, the property of Puerto Rico. Permits the United States to use for public purposes all property which is now being used for such purposes. Allows the President of the United States to convey from time to time to Puerto Rico any lands, buildings, or interests in lands or other property of the United States within the territorial limits of Puerto Rico which are deemed no longer necessary for the purposes of the United States. Limits the applicability of United States income tax laws to residents of Puerto Rico to that income derived from United States or foreign sources. Establishes full reciprocity between the United States and Puerto Rico and other bodies politic of the United States. Establishes a voting Representative from Puerto Rico in the United States House of Representatives who shall be elected according to the laws of Puerto Rico. Declares that such a Representative shall have all rights, privileges and immunities of such members as are compatible with the Constitution of the United States and as provided by the House of Representatives. Applies all Federal laws to Puerto Rico which are presently applicable. Sets forth methods for objecting to and denying applicability of future legislation which affects Puerto Rico. Permits the assignment of Federal functions to Puerto Rico which would otherwise be vested in the Government of the United States by law. Sets forth the procedures through which such transfers may occur. Places the primary responsibility for protecting and improving the environmental quality of Puerto Rico with Puerto Rico. States that environmental regulations promulgated by Puerto Rico shall be presumptively valid, and not disapproved or superceded by Federal regulations unless they are determined to be clearly injurious to the health and safety of the Puerto Rican people. Creates a Joint Commission on United States-Puerto Rico Relations to assist in bringing the legal and administrative relations between the United States and Puerto Rico into further conformity with the fundamental objectives of this Compact. Enumerates tasks of the Joint Commission, including: (1) to study desirability of retaining, modifying or eliminating application of specified Federal laws to Puerto Rico, and methods of implementing Commission policy decisions; (2) to study other possible transfers of Federal functions to agencies of Puerto Rico, and methods of implementing such transfers; and (3) to study the desirability of recommending a system of contributory payments from the Government of Puerto Rico to the Treasury of the United States in such ways as to not impede the socio-economic development of Puerto Rico. Establishes a United States district court for Puerto Rico and grants this court the same powers as other U.S. district court. Sets forth the procedures and jurisdiction of the U.S. district court for Puerto Rico in general. Applies all immigration laws, rules, regulations, and procedures of the United States to Puerto Rico. States that in order to become effective, this Compact must be approved by the Congress of the United States and by the electorate of Puerto Rico in a special referendum called for that purpose by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico. Establishes an amending procedure to this Compact, which may be modified only by mutual agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of Puerto Rico with the approval of the electorate of Puerto Rico.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1976
Government Economy and Spending Reform Act - Title I: Authorizations of New Budget Authority - Terminates all budget authority for Federal programs on specified dates according to the functional or subfunctional category of each program as set forth in the fiscal year 1977 budget. Requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress by April 1, 1977, on specified programs with respect to the laws under which such program is carried on, the amount of new budget authority received by such program during the four fiscal years ending before April 1, 1977, and to identify programs for which no outlays have been made during the last two fiscal years ending before April 1, 1977. Prohibits providing new budget authority after the applicable review date set forth in this Act unless the provision of such budget authority is specifically authorized by law or the standing rules of either House of Congress. Title II: Zero-Base Program Review - Sets forth a timetable for Congressional zero-base review of new budget authority. Defines "zero-base review" as an evaluation of a given program to determine the merits of its continuation at a level less than, equal to, or more than its existing level. Requires each congressional committee conducting a zero-based program review to adopt tentative and final review plans, receive reports from the Comptroller General and Federal agencies on the program being reviewed, and report to their respective House the results of such zero-base review of the program. Sets forth minimum objectives of inquiry for such reviews. Requires that any committee reporting pursuant to this Act recommend the extent to which any program reviewed should be continued or eliminated. Title III: Continuing Review - Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 to require, whenever the Comptroller General issues a report which discloses any substantial deficiency in the achievement of the objectives of any Federal program, the agency conducting such program to report to specified congressional committees 60 days after such report and every six months thereafter to deliniate the actions taken with respect to such deficiency. Requires that such agency continue to issue such reports until such time as the Comptroller General determines that no purpose is served by their submission. Amends the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921, to require the inclusion in the Budget of a statement of the specific objectives of each Government program, and a comparison, in each subsequent Budget, of the achievement of such objectives for the last completed fiscal year with the planned objectives of such year. Title IV: Citizens Bicentennial Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government - Establishes the Citizens' Bicentennial Commission on the Organization and Operation of Government, an independent agency of 18 members to study Federal agencies. Directs the Commission to make recommendations to the President and Congress for the restructuring of such agencies to improve their efficiency. Requires the Commission to submit its final report by September 30, 1979, and terminate it 90 days thereafter. Authorizes to be appropriated without fiscal year limitation $12,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this title. Title V: Miscellaneous - Requires the Director of Management and Budget to study the feasibility of zero-base budgeting for Federal agencies. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to study the feasibility of personnel ceilings on employees of the United States and their relationships to alternative methods of carrying out the activities of such employees. Requires that such reports be submitted to Congress. Requires Federal agency heads to report requests for new budget authority to Congress. Requires specified committees to study the effectiveness of the zero-base review procedures required by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1976
Waives application of the Congressional Budget Act requirement that new budget authorizations be reported to Congress before May 15th in order to permit Senate consideration of S. 3800 (Victims of Crime Act). States that such waiver is necessary in order that both Houses of Congress may go to conference in the event the House of Representatives approves a companion measure.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1976
Medicare-Medicaid Anti-Fraud Act - Establishes within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, an Office of Central Fraud and Abuse Control. Provides that such Office shall have the overall responsibility for directing and establishing policies with respect to the undertaking of activities which are designed to deal with fraud and abuse in the Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children's Services, Medicare and Medicaid. Specifies that the Office shall also have responsibility for investigating alleged fraud or abuse in any such program, and assisting State agencies, at their request, in the establishment and operation of State antifraud and abuse activities. Directs that no payment for Medicare service may be made to a person claiming such payment under an assignment, including a power of attorney, but may be made to an agent of the person furnishing such service. Authorizes the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare or the Comptroller General to require providers or suppliers of items or services, with respect to which payment is claimed under one of the programs within the jurisdiction of the Office, to furnish specified information including the following: (1) the identity of persons having ownership interest in such entity; and (2) a consolidated certified costs report with respect to its costs and charges, including costs and charges of related organizations. Specifies sanctions which shall be imposed upon entities which fail to comply with requests for information. Increases the penalties for defrauding the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Provides that it shall be a felony (presently misdemeanor) punishable by imprisonment of up to five years for such an offense. States that where a Professional Standards Review Organization is found competent by the Secretary to assume review responsibility with respect to specified types of health care services or specified providers or practitioners of such services and is performing such reviews, such reviews shall constitute the conclusive determination on those issues for purposes of payment under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1976
Victims of Crime Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Steets Act of 1968 to authorize the compensation of persons injured by violent criminal acts. Establishes within the Department of Justice the Violent Crimes Reimbursement Board to carry out the purposes of this Act. Specifies the composition of the Board. Requires the Board to order payments, with respect to a violent crime: (1) in the case of the personal injury of an intervenor or victim, to or on behalf of that person; or (2) in the case of the death of the intervenor or victim, to or on behalf of the surviving dependent or dependents of either of them. Limits reimbursements made under this Act to $50,000. Prohibits reimbursement of any claim made more than one year after the commission of the crime. Stipulates the procedure to be followed by the Board for disposition of claims. Specifies the crimes for which resulting injury shall be compensible under this Act. Creates on the books of the United States Treasury a fund known as the Criminal Victim Indemnity Fund from which reimbursements under this Act shall be paid. Stipulates that the Fund shall be the repository of (1) criminal fines paid in the Federal courts; (2) additional amounts that may be appropriated to the Fund as provided by law; and (3) such other sums as may be contributed by public or private agencies, organizations, or persons. Establishes an Advisory Council on the Victims of Crime consisting of the members of the Board and one representative of each State crime victims compensation or reimbursement program. Directs the Council to review the Federal and State crime victims reimbursement programs and advise the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration on matters of policy relating thereto. Requires the Board to transmit to the Congress an annual report of its activities under this Act. Authorizes the Federal Prison Industries to withhold from the wages of any offender employed in such Industries, an amount not to exceed ten percent of such wages to be deposited in the Criminal Victim Indemnity Fund established by this Act. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration to make grants to States for the costs of administering crime victims reimbursement programs similar to the Federal program. Establishes eligibility criteria for such State programs. Authorizes the appropriation of $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1975 to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 September 1976
Declares that Members, officers and employees of the Senate shall not hire, fail to hire, discharge or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to promotion, compensation, or terms, conditions or privileges of employment on the basis such individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin or state of handicap. Declares that Members, officers, and employees shall encourage the hiring of women and minorities at all levels of employment of Senate staffs.
United States · United States Congress · 31 August 1976
Provides for a recess of the Senate from noon on Wednesday, September 1, 1976, to noon on Tuesday, September 7, 1976, and for a recess of the House of Representatives from noon on Thursday, September 2, 1976, to noon on Wednesday, September 8, 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 27 August 1976
Designates the extension of the Senate Office Building presently under construction pursuant to the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973, as the "Philip A. Hart Office Building."
United States · United States Congress · 26 August 1976
Authorizes the President of the Senate to appoint a special delegation of Members of the Senate to visit certain countries in the Middle East, Europe, and other areas as needed to conduct a study on United States security and foreign policy interests in those areas with particular emphasis on worldwide nuclear proliferation. Provides that the expenses of the delegation, including staff members designated by the co-chairman to assist said delegation, shall not exceed $35,000, and shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 23 August 1976
Extends the sympathy of the Senate to the people of the Republic of the Philippines in regard to the earthquake and tidal wave which struck that nation. Supports the supplying of emergency assistance for the relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the disaster.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1976
Requires the President, under the Interstate Commerce Act, to designate two of the Commissioners of the Interstate Commerce Commission to serve as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Commission for two-year terms beginning January 1, 1977. Directs that every two years thereafter the members of the Commission shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among its members.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1976
Renders specified restrictions on the disposition of certain lands by the State of Montanna inapplicable to any transfer of the penitentiary at Deer Lodge to the city of Deer Lodge.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1976
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to construct, operate, and maintain the Allen Camp unit of the Central Valley project in California. Authorizes the Secretary to replace roads and bridges which would be inundated by the project. Places restrictions on the use of water from such project. Authorizes the appropriation of $64,220,000 for construction of the unit. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1977 of $150,000 under the Indian Elementary and Secondary School Assistance Act, $1,200,000 under the Elementary and Secondary School Assistance Act, $1,200,000 under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and $632,000 under the Adult Education Act for the continuation of specified grants authorized under those Acts. Directs the Commissioner of Education to make grants under authorities contained in the Indian Education Act in specified amounts to applicants not yet funded for fiscal year 1976 from the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1976
States that the Senate of the United States endorses and supports the President's offer to provide assistance to the victims of the earthquakes in the People's Republic of China. Extends the deepest condolences of the Senate to the victims of the earthquakes.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1976
Includes within the meaning of the term "hospital" in Title XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, rural health facilities of 50 beds or less.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1976
Authorizes the State of California to elect not to implement the food stamp program for beneficiaries of supplemental security income but to provide instead for a higher level of State supplementary benefits under Title XVI (Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1976
Directs that there be printed for the use of the Commission on Art and Antiquities of the United States Senate 30,000 additional copies of the booklet entitled "The Senate Chamber, 1810-1859."
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1976
Directs the President to call a National Leadership Conference on Energy Policy to convene in Washington during 1977. Provides that it shall be the purpose of the Conference to consider alternate policy approaches available to the United States with respect to energy. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this joint resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1976
Authorizes the printing of 1,300 additional copies of the program in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol on the occasion of the presentation of the Magna Carta to the American people.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1976
Directs that the expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by Senator Proxmire in the defense of a specified civil action shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate on vouchers signed by the Senator and approved by the Committee on Rules and Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1976
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should allocate an equitable share of North Slope and other crude oil resources and petroleum products to the Northern Tier region of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1976
Amends rule XXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate to provide that service of a Senator as a member of a select committee shall not be considered in restricting the number of committees upon which such Member may serve.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1976
Increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for land acquisition and development of Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, North Dakota and Montana.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1976
Amends the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 to direct the President to prohibit petroleum marketers or distributors from reducing by more than ten percent the amount of refined petroleum products marketed within any State without prior notice to the Governor of such State. Limits the amount of any such reduction where prior notice is given to a 25 percent reduction over each six-month period. Exempts small marketers and distributors whose amount of business did not exceed one percent of the total market in such State. Exempts marketers engaged solely in the selling of refined petroleum products on a retail level to end users.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1976
Mosquito Control Act- Title I: Surveys and Demonstrations - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a program of information and assistance to State and local governments relating to the control and elimination of mosquitos. Authorizes the Secretary to make studies and investigations of problems involved in mosquito control upon the request of a State department or Governor. Authorizes the appropriation of $1,000,000 per year for fiscal year 1977 and each of the three succeeding fiscal years to carry out the provisions of this title. Title II Matching Grants to the States - Establishes a program of Federal assistance for approved State mosquito control plans. Limits such assistance in any fiscal year to the lesser of: (1) 50 percent of the total cost for such plan or (2) $2,000,000. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 1977 and each of the three succeeding fiscal years to carry out the provisions of this title. Title III: General Provisions - Defines the term "State" to include territories and possessions of the United States. Defines the term "mosquitoes" to include mosquito vectors of human disease. Declares that all actions initiated by the Secretary under this Act must be with the explicit consent of the State concerned.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1976
Authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to perform such work as may be necessary to prevent further deterioration of historically significant sections of the Congressional Cemetery. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study for the purpose of formulating proposals for the renovation and maintenance of such areas by the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1976
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct fish and wildlife studies, and the Secretary of Transportation to conduct intermodal economic transportation studies, to determine the impact of the proposed replacement of components of the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway System. Directs the Secretary of the Army to give full consideration to the recommendations of such Secretaries and Federal, State, and local officials, and the public with respect to such waterway system. Directs the Secretary of the Army to transfer funds for such studies to the Secretaries of the Interior and Transportation. Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from carrying out such replacement prior to receipt of such studies, with specified exceptions. Directs the Secretary of the Army to develop and implement a plan to minimize delays in lockage at certain existing points on the waterway system.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1976
Provides that the Senate at 4:00 p.m. on June 16, 1976, shall recess and immediately reassemble in legislative session for ceremonies in the Old Chamber previously used by the Senate from 1810-1859, for the dedication and reopening of this meetingplace to the people of the United States as an historical shrine.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1976
Authorizes the installation of power generating facilities at the Libby Reregulating Dam, Kootenai River, Montana, at an estimated Federal cost of $62,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1976
Amends the River Basin Monetary Authorization and Miscellaneous Civil Works Amendment Act of 1970 to modify the project for Libby Dam in Montana to authorize construction of a trout hatchery for mitigation of fish losses caused by the project. Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to convey all interest in the hatchery to the Montana Fish and Game Commission. Stipulates that capitalized hatchery operation and maintenance costs shall be borne by the Federal Government at an estimated annual cost of $150,000.
United States · United States Congress · 14 April 1976
Federal Agency Pilot Termination and Review Act - Declares the purpose of this Act to establish a pilot demonstration program of termination and review to cover all Federal agencies. Terminates by October 1, 1979, the Civil Aeronautics Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Terminates by October 1, 1980, the Federal Energy Administration, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and the Federal Maritime Commission. Allows Congress to reestablish such agencies for up to six years after it has conducted public hearings to evaluate each such agency. Requires the Attorney General to assume the responsibilities of any such terminated agency in all matters then pending before any such agency or in any court of any State or of the United States to which such agency was a party.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1976
Directs that studies be conducted for the purpose of determining the feasibility and desirability of designating the Nee-Me-Poo Trail in Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana as a national scenic trail.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1976
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to establish the acreage of individually owned land which may eligibly receive project water as nonexcess acreage under Federal reclamation laws at 160 acres of class I land or the equivalent acreage of lands of lesser productive value as would be appropriate for an economic family-size farm. Requires the Secretary in establishing land classes to take into account factors including soil characteristics, crop adaptability, cost of crop production and soil characteristics.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1976
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the terms of Representatives shall be four years. States that the term shall commence at noon on the 3rd day of January in the year the regular term of the President is to begin.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1976
Medicare-Medicaid Administrative and Reimbursement Reform Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under the Social Security Act to establish within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare a unit known as the Health Care Financing Administration. States that such Administration shall include the functions and personnel of the existing Bureau of Health Insurance, Medical Services Administration, Bureau of Quality Insurance, and Office of Nursing Home Affairs. Establishes within the Department the office of Assistant Secretary for Health Care Financing. Places the Assistant Secretary in charge of the Health Care Financing Administration. Includes in the area of responsibility of such Assistant Secretary the programs established by Title XVIII (Medicare) and Title XIX (Medicaid), the Professional Standards Review program, and the renal disease program of the Social Security Act. Establishes an Office of Central Fraud and Abuse Control within the Department. Directs the creation of a new position to be known as Inspector General for Health Administration. Places such Inspector General in charge of the Office of Central Fraud and Abuse Control. States that such Inspector General shall have responsibility for dealing with fraud and abuse in the programs established by Title V (Maternal and Child Health Crippled Children's Services), Title XVIII, Title XIX, the Professional Standards Review section of Title XI, and the renal disease treatment provisions of Title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Declares it to be the duty of the Inspector General to take such actions as are necessary to ascertain the efficiency and economy of the administration of the programs under his cognizance, their consonance with the provisions of law by or pursuant to which such programs were established, and the attainment of the objectives and purposes for which such provisions of law were enacted. Authorizes the appropriation of such funds as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Inspector General. Establishes mandatory time limits for States to observe in making determinations of eligibility for services under the Medicaid program and in making payments on claims. Specifies those reports which States must submit to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in connection with the operation of the State Medicaid program. Includes reports on the State's performance in meeting the time limits established pursuant to this Act. Directs the Secretary to conduct an annual survey of each State's performance in meeting established time frames and remaining within allowable rates of error in making eligibility determinations. Establishes sanctions for States which fail to correct deficiencies uncovered by such surveys. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to any State which requests such assistance in meeting the time limits and error rates established by this Act. Directs the Secretary to prepare a biannual report on the characteristics of the State programs of medical assistance financed under the Medicaid program, including as a minimum: (1) a description of the amount, duration, and scope of benefits available in each State; (2) a description of eligibility criteria for all groups eligible for medical assistance in each State; (3) a specification of the reimbursement rates paid under the State program for the major types of services in each State; and (4) a listing of all fiscal agents contracted with for administration of the program. Directs the submission of such report to the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Directs the Secretary to establish procedures consistent with Federal procurement requirements to ensure the economical processing of Medicare claims by organizations engaged in the provision of group health services. Terminates the Health Insurance Benefits Advisory Council. Establishes a new method of reimbursement for routine operating costs for hospitals under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Requires, as part of the implementation of such new method, the establishment of a uniform accounting and cost allocation system for determining operating and capital costs of hospitals providing services. Requires the establishment of a system by which hospitals will be classified by such criteria as: (1) size; (2) type of hospital (general, teaching, or specialized Care); and (3) such other criteria as the Secretary shall identify. Stipulates that the term "routine operating costs" does not include: (1) capital costs (including interest expense on loans to purchase capital assets, and depreciation); (2) direct personnel and supply costs of hospital education and training programs; (3) costs of interns, residents, and medical (but not nursing) personnel; and (4) energy costs associated with heating or cooling the hospital plant. Directs the Secretary to determine annually for the hospitals classified in each category of the hospital classification system established by this Act, an average per diem routine operating cost amount for use in determining, for purposes of making payment under this title to such hospitals for services furnished by them, the reasonable cost of that portion of the hospital's costs which consist of routine operating costs. Provides for the periodic increase during the year of the routine operating cost as determined pursuant to this Act to reflect increases in the cost of services which are attributable to inflation. Provides for the adjustment of the routine operating cost of a hospital to reflect higher costs to such hospital of a case mix which requires a greater intensity of care than that for other hospitals in the same classification. Directs the Secretary to establish a five-member Hospital Transitional Allowance Board. States that the function of such Board shall be to act on the applications of hospitals for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the retirement or conversion of underutilized facilities. Requires that such conversion promote efficient and economical delivery of services covered by the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Sets forth criteria for determining the reasonable charge which may be made for physicians' services, and medical services, supplies and equipment under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Establishes a plan for the reimbursement of physicians under which participating doctors of medicine or osteopathy would accept the assignment of patients' claims for reimbursement under the Medicare program. Requires the Secretary to establish procedures for expediting the payment of such assigned claims to physicians. Promulgates an incentive payment to encourage physicians to participate in the program of assignment of claims. Sets forth the conditions under which anesthesiologists, pathologists, and radiologists may be paid under the Medicare and Medicaid programs for patient care services which they personally perform or direct. Authorizes payment, under the Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits program of Medicare, for antigens prepared by an allergist for a particular patient. Prohibits, under both the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the making of any payment which may be made directly to a physician to a person claiming such payment under an assignment. Permits the Secretary to make agreements with the States under which the services of a State health agency will be utilized for the purpose of determining whether an institution in such State qualifies as a skilled nursing facility for purposes of the Medicaid program. Sets forth procedures for determining the reasonable cost and reasonable charge for services under the Medicare and Medicaid programs and under the program of Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children's Services. Specifies those items of cost which may not be included in a claim for reimbursement for services. Promulgates standards under which payment will be made to health maintenance organizations under the Medicaid program. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to public or nonprofit private regional pediatric respiratory centers affiliated with institutions of higher learning for training and instruction in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of respiratory diseases in children and young adults and in providing health care services to children and young adults suffering from such diseases. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary for the making of such grants for fiscal year 1977 and the succeeding four fiscal years. Increases the criminal penalties for the crimes of receiving or offering kickbacks or bribes in connection with the furnishing of services under the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
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