Healthcare

Better Accounting for Medicaid Costs Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Better Accounting for Medicaid Costs Act of 2016 This bill amends title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to follow rulemaking procedures with respect to certain Medicaid subregulatory policies. Before issuing a Medicaid subregulatory policy, CMS must determine the extent to which the policy is projected, with respect to each year in a 10-year period, to increase state or federal expenditures under the Medicaid program. If the policy is projected to increase expenditures by an amount exceeding a specified threshold, CMS may implement the policy only through notice and comment rulemaking.

Synthetic Drug Awareness Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Synthetic Drug Awareness Act of 2016 This bill requires the Surgeon General to report to Congress on the public health effects of the increased use since January 2010 by individuals who are 12 to 18 years old of drugs developed and manufactured to avoid control under the Controlled Substances Act (e.g., synthetic marijuana, also known as "spice," and synthetic amphetamines, also known as "bath salts").

A bill to provide emergency supplemental appropriations to address the Zika crisis.

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

This bill provides FY2016 emergency supplemental appropriations to the Departments of State and Health and Human Services (HHS) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Zika virus and other infectious diseases. The bill specifies permissible uses for the funds and designates the funds as an emergency requirement, which exempts the funds from discretionary spending limits. The bill provides appropriations to HHS for: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to permit Project BioShield to be used to support the advanced development and procurement of medical countermeasures to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat harm from any infectious disease that may pose a threat to the public health. (Under current law, Project BioShield supports only countermeasures against specific chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorist threats.) The bill temporarily increases from 55% to 65% the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage in the territories (Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). The bill provides appropriations to the Department of State and Other International Programs for: the Administration of Foreign Affairs, Global Health Programs, International Security Assistance, Multilateral Assistance, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Unobligated balances of specified funds provided for the Ebola virus may be used to respond to the Zika virus and other infectious diseases.

Protecting Families with Disabilities Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Protecting Families with Disabilities Act of 2016 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with respect to how a state that had an approved home- and community-based Medicaid waiver as of January 1, 2014, may treat spousal income and assets for purposes of determining an individual's financial eligibility for services under the waiver. With respect to such a state that disregarded an individual's spousal income and assets for those purposes, specified provisions of current law shall not prohibit the state from continuing to do so.

Fair Medicare Hospital Payments Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Fair Medicare Hospital Payments Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish, with respect to hospitals not located in a frontier state, a floor on the area wage adjustment factor for hospital inpatient and outpatient services covered under Medicare. (Such a floor already applies with respect to hospitals located in frontier states.)

A resolution designating September 2016 as "National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Designates September 2016 as National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month. Expresses support for research to prevent, detect, and treat brain aneurysms.

A concurrent resolution expressing support of the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust victims live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years, and urging the Federal Republic of Germany to reaffirm its commitment to that goal through a financial commitment to comprehensively address the unique health and welfare needs of vulnerable Holocaust victims, including home care and other medically prescribed needs.

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Urges the working group established by the Federal Republic of Germany and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany to recognize the imperative to fund immediately and fully the medical, mental health, and long-term care needs of surviving Holocaust victims, with full transparency and accountability, to ensure all funds for Holocaust victims from the Federal Republic of Germany are administered efficiently, fairly, and without delay. Urges the Federal Republic of Germany also to reaffirm its commitment to fulfill its moral responsibility to Holocaust victims by: ensuring that each Holocaust victim receives all of the prescribed medical care, home care, mental health care, and other vital services necessary to live in dignity; and providing, without delay, additional financial resources to address the unique needs of Holocaust victims.

Promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals of National Minority Health Month in April 2016, which includes bringing attention to the health disparities faced by minority populations of the United States such as American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asian Americans, African-Americans, Latino Americans, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders.

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Minority Health Month, which include bringing attention to the severe health disparities faced by minority populations in the United States.

LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON H.R. 2460; H.R. 3956; H.R. 3974; H.R. 3989; DRAFT LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THAT EACH VA MEDICAL FACILITY COMPLIES WITH REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SCHEDULING VETERANS FOR HEALTH CARE APPOINTMENTS AND TO IMPROVE THE UNIFORM APPLICATION OF DIRECTIVES; AND DRAFT LEGISLATION TO DIRECT VA TO ESTABLISH A LIST OF DRUGS THAT REQUIRE AN INCREASED LEVEL OF INFORMED CONSENT

United States · United States House of Representatives · 20 April 2016

Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2016 This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to modify provisions related to coverage and payment for certain breakthrough medical devices under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Specifically, with respect to such devices, the bill: (1) provides for transitional coverage; (2) establishes accelerated processes for determining regular coverage and payment; and (3) modifies provisions related to specified payment adjustments, cost thresholds, and classification.

Flexibility in Electronic Health Record Reporting Act

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

Flexibility in Electronic Health Record Reporting Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, with respect to electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use incentive programs under Medicare and Medicaid, to continue through 2016 to allow the use of quarterly reporting without regard to the payment year or the stage of meaningful use criteria involved.

Flexibility in Electronic Health Record Reporting Act

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

Flexibility in Electronic Health Record Reporting Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, with respect to electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use incentive programs under Medicare and Medicaid, to continue through 2016 to allow the use of quarterly reporting without regard to the payment year or the stage of meaningful use criteria involved.

A resolution supporting the designation of April 2016 as "Parkinson's Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

Designates April 2016 as Parkinson's Awareness Month. Expresses support for research to develop more effective treatments and to ultimately find a cure for Parkinson's disease. Recognizes individuals with Parkinson's disease who participate in clinical trials. Commends the dedication of organizations, volunteers, researchers, and millions of individuals in the United States working to improve the quality of life for individuals with Parkinson's disease and their families.

Safe Water and Nutrition Access Act

United States · United States Congress · 20 April 2016

Safe Water and Nutrition Access Act This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take the following actions regarding eligible states (states in which there is a community with respect to which the President has declared an emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act relating to public health threats associated with the presence of lead or other contaminants in a public drinking water supply): guarantee loans to entities to process, distribute, aggregate, store, and market locally or regionally produced food under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (CFRDA) for projects in underserved communities in an eligible state, using specified Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds for FY2016; provide grants under the CFRDA's emergency and imminent community water assistance grant program to nonprofit entities in an eligible state, notwithstanding maximum population and income requirements or maximum grant limitations under such Act, using specified CCC funds for FY2016; use specified CCC funds for water and waste disposal technical assistance and training grants, and for the rural water and wastewater circuit rider program, in FY2016-FY2017; and use specified CCC funds for eligible projects or partnerships under USDA's healthy food financing initiative, with priority given to eligible projects and partnerships to be carried out in an eligible state. The bill allows such amounts to be obligated during the five-year period beginning with the date the amount is first made available, after which the provision under which such amount is provided shall expire. No funds may be used to carry out a provision of this bill unless completely offset by a corresponding reduction in mandatory funds available for another program.

A CONTINUED ASSESSMENT OF DELAYS IN VETERANS' ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

United States · United States House of Representatives · 19 April 2016

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

United States · United States Congress · 19 April 2016

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 This bill authorizes FY2017 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation. The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for: Procurement; Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Operation and Maintenance; Working Capital Funds; the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities; the Defense Inspector General; the Defense Health Program; the Armed Forces Retirement Home; and Overseas Contingency Operations. The bill also authorizes the FY2017 personnel strengths for active duty and reserve forces and sets forth policies regarding: military personnel, compensation and other personnel benefits, health care, acquisition policy and management, DOD organization and management, civilian personnel matters, and matters relating to foreign nations. Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2016 The bill establishes paid parental leave for certain federal and congressional employees. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 The bill authorizes FY2017 appropriations and sets forth policies for Military Construction, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Security Investment Program, and Base Realignment and Closure Activities. Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 2016 This bill establishes a process and an independent commission for considering the closure and realignment of certain U.S. military installations.

Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act of 2016 This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on inpatient and outpatient treatment capacity, availability, and needs, including detoxification programs, clinical stabilization programs, transitional residential support services, rehabilitation programs, and treatment programs for pregnant women or adolescents.

Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Expansion and Modernization Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Expansion and Modernization Act This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to revise the requirements for a practitioner to administer, dispense, or prescribe narcotic drugs for maintenance or detoxification treatment in an office-based opioid treatment program. Currently, a practitioner must notify the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and certify that he or she is a qualifying physician (i.e., a state-licensed physician with certain expertise), has the capacity to refer patients for appropriate counseling and ancillary services, and will comply with a patient limit. The patient limit is how many patients the practitioner can treat under the office-based treatment program at one time. This legislation expands qualifying practitioners to include nurse practitioners and physician assistants who are licensed in a state, have expertise, and prescribe medications for opioid use disorder in collaboration with or under the supervision of a physician if required by state law. Additionally, it requires a qualifying practitioner to also certify that he or she will comply with reporting requirements and has the capacity to provide directly or by referral, or provide contact information of the nearest practitioner who can provide, all drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat opioid use disorder. Finally, the bill increases the patient limit for a qualifying physician who holds a specialized certification or completes specified training. A physician must additionally certify that he or she will maintain a diversion control plan and obtain written consent from each patient regarding available treatment options. HHS must update the treatment improvement protocol containing best practice guidelines for the treatment of opioid-dependent patients in office-based settings. HHS may recommend revoking or suspending the registration of a practitioner who fails to comply with the requirements of this Act.

NAS Healthy Babies Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act or the NAS Healthy Babies Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), which results from a newborn's exposure to addictive opiate drugs while in the mother's womb. Specifically, the GAO shall report on: the prevalence of NAS, NAS treatment services for which coverage is available under state Medicaid programs, the settings and associated reimbursement methodologies for NAS treatment, the prevalence of utilization of various care settings under state Medicaid programs for NAS treatment, and any federal barriers to treating infants with NAS under state Medicaid programs. The GAO shall also report on its recommendations for improvements that will ensure access to NAS treatment under state Medicaid programs.

Opioid Review Modernization Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

Opioid Review Modernization Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to refer new drug applications for opioids (drugs with effects similar to opium, such as certain pain medications) to an advisory committee before approval, unless the FDA finds that such a referral is scientifically unnecessary and not in the interest of protecting and promoting public health and the FDA notifies Congress of its rationale. The FDA must convene an advisory committee on labeling opioids for pediatric use before approving any such labeling. As part of its evaluation of the Extended-Release/Long-Acting Opioid Analgesics Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, the FDA must develop recommendations regarding education programs for prescribers of opioids. The FDA must finalize the draft guidance entitled "General Principals for Evaluating the Abuse Deterrence of Generic Solid Oral Opioid Drug Products."

To provide information to prescribers in Federally qualified health centers and facilities of the Indian Health Service on best practices for prescribing naloxone.

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide information to prescribers in federally qualified health centers and Indian Health Service facilities on best practices for prescribing naloxone (a prescription drug used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose) for patients a provider identifies as having an elevated risk of opioid overdose. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin and certain pain medications.)

Cranial Prosthetic Medicaid Coverage Enhancement Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 April 2016

Cranial Prosthetic Medicaid Coverage Enhancement Act This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to alter coverage requirements under a state plan for medical assistance. Specifically, a state plan that provides medical assistance for an individual's inpatient hospital services shall also provide biennial medical assistance to the individual for one cranial prosthesis, as specified by the bill. (A cranial prosthesis is a custom-made wig designed for a patient who has suffered hair loss as a result of a medical condition or treatment.)

John Thomas Decker Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2016

John Thomas Decker Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to report on the availability of information regarding prescription of opioids after youth sports injury, including information on opioid use and misuse, injury treatments that do not involve opioids, and treatment for opioid addiction. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin and certain pain medications.) The report must determine the extent this information is available to teenagers and adolescents who play youth sports, their families, youth sports groups, and health care providers. Taking into consideration the findings of the report, the injury center must develop and disseminate such information.

Preventing Superbugs and Protecting Patients Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2016

Preventing Superbugs and Protecting Patients Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to identify types of medical devices for which premarket notification must include proposed labeling, including validated instructions regarding cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization. The FDA must issue final guidance regarding when a premarket notification is required for a modification to a medical device.

Disclosure; and Encouragement of Verification, Innovation, Cleaning, and Efficiency Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2016

Disclosure; and Encouragement of Verification, Innovation, Cleaning, and Efficiency Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by requiring a manufacturer of a medical device to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) premarket notification of changes to the design or reprocessing instructions of its device. Medical device manufacturers must also notify the FDA within five days of widely disseminating to health care providers in a foreign country communications relating to a change to the recommended reprocessing protocols, if any, for their device, or a safety concern about the device. The bill bans the devices if the manufacturers violate the notification requirements concerning those design or reprocessing changes or communications to foreign health care providers. The FDA must publish a list of the types of rapid assessment tests of reusable devices for which premarket notification must include proposed labeling, including validated instructions regarding sanitizing reusable devices.

Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 15 April 2016

Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study access by underserved populations to general surgeons, including whether the health professional shortage area designation under the National Health Service Corps program accurately assesses adequacy of access or whether another measure or designation would be more appropriate. HHS must consider potential methodologies for designating surgical health professional shortage areas.

TAX TREATMENT OF HEALTH CARE

United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 April 2016

INNOVATIONS IN HEALTH CARE: EXPLORING FREE-MARKET SOLUTIONS FOR A HEALTHY WORKFORCE

United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 April 2016

Taxpayers Before Insurers Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Taxpayers Before Insurers Act This bill rescinds specified departmental management funds from the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) unless HHS deposits into the Treasury specified funds derived from contributions collected under the Transitional Reinsurance Program. The rescission is required unless HHS deposits into the Treasury: (1) $2 billion for each of calendar years 2014 and 2015 within 45 days of enactment of this bill, and (2) $1 billion for 2016 by March 1, 2017. (The Transitional Reinsurance Program was created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [PPACA] to stabilize premiums in the individual health insurance market by partially reimbursing insurers for high-cost enrollees. Health insurance issuers and certain group health plans make contributions to the program, and reinsurance payments are made to issuers for enrollees in certain individual market plans with claim costs within a specified level. Portions of the reinsurance contributions are allocated for the reinsurance payment pool, administrative expenses, and the Treasury.)

Firefighter Cancer Registry Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Firefighter Cancer Registry Act This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop and maintain a voluntary patient registry to monitor, collect, and make available epidemiological information related to cancer incidence and trends among firefighters. The CDC should seek to include specified information in the registry, including the number and types of fire incidents attended by an individual. To collect information for the registry, the CDC may incorporate questions into existing public health surveys, questionnaires, and other databases. The CDC must: (1) encourage the inclusion in the registry of data on minority, female, and volunteer firefighters; and (2) seek feedback on the registry from nonfederal experts. The CDC must develop an approval process for making registry data available for research without a fee if findings or publications derived from the research are made public or available to stakeholders.

A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week.

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. Recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, governments, Indian tribes, and individuals in preventing disease and injury. Encourages increased efforts and resources to improve the health of people in the United States to create the healthiest nation in one generation through greater opportunities to improve community health and by strengthening the public health system.

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week.

United States · United States Congress · 14 April 2016

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week. Recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, governments, tribes, and individuals in preventing disease and injury. Encourages increased efforts and resources to improve the health of people in the United States to create the healthiest nation in one generation through greater opportunities to improve community health and by strengthening the public health system.

Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act This bill includes veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands during the period January 1, 1977-December 31, 1980, as radiation exposed veterans for purposes of the Department of Veterans Affairs presumption of service-connection for specified cancers.

States Achieve Medicaid Expansion (SAME) Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

States Achieve Medicaid Expansion (SAME) Act of 2016 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regardless of when such expansion takes place. Under current law, the enhanced FMAP is equivalent to 100% in 2014 through 2016, 95% in 2017, 94% in 2018, 93% in 2019, and 90% thereafter. The bill retains this enhanced FMAP, but bases it on a term of years rather than on specific dates. The bill applies retroactively.

Rural Access to Hospice Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

Rural Access to Hospice Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow payment under Medicare for certain services furnished to hospice patients by rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). With respect to a patient who elects to receive hospice care under Medicare, current law generally limits payment for services that are either duplicative of such care or related to the treatment of the individual's terminal illness. However, current law exempts from this limitation: (1) physicians' services furnished by the individual's attending physician, if not an employee of the hospice program; and (2) services provided or arranged by the hospice program. The bill expands this exemption with regard to rural health clinic and FQHC services. Specifically, the Medicare payment limitation shall not apply to such services that: (1) would otherwise be physicians' services if furnished by an individual unaffiliated with a rural health clinic or FQHC; and (2) are either arranged by the hospice program or furnished by the individual's attending physician, if not an employee of the hospice program.

Expressing support for designation of May 2016 as "National Brain Tumor Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2016

Expresses support for: (1) the designation of National Brain Tumor Awareness Month; (2) research to develop better treatments for brain tumors that will improve the quality of life and the long-term prognosis for those with brain tumors; and (3) those who are battling brain tumors and their families, friends, and caregivers. Encourages increased public awareness of brain tumors to honor individuals who are living with or who have lost their lives to brain tumors. Urges a collaborative public-private approach to brain tumor research.

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance for the safe prescribing of opioids for the treatment of acute pain.

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue guidance for the safe prescribing of opioids for the treatment of acute pain. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as certain pain medications.)

Ensuring Children's Access to Specialty Care Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

Ensuring Children’s Access to Specialty Care Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to include pediatric subspecialties in primary health services for purposes of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Psychiatrists who are pediatric subspecialists are included in behavioral and mental health professionals. (These amendments make pediatric subspecialists, including psychiatrists, eligible for the NHSC fellowship program for the delivery of primary health services in health professional shortage areas, the NHSC Scholarship Program, and the NHSC Loan Repayment Program.) “Health professional shortage area” can mean an underserved population of children and adolescents.

To reauthorize the program of the Department of Veterans Affairs under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides health services to veterans through qualifying non-Department health care providers.

United States · United States Congress · 12 April 2016

This bill amends the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 to extend through August 7, 2021, the pilot program under which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides covered health services in highly rural areas to covered veterans through qualifying non-VA health care providers.

Technical Corrections Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2016

Technical Corrections Act of 2016 This bill makes technical and clerical amendments to: the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act of 2015; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016; the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act; the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015; the Stephen Beck, Jr., ABLE Act of 2014; the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; and other specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The bill also amends various provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that are not used in computing current tax liabilities (referred to as deadwood provisions).

Technical Corrections Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 11 April 2016

Technical Corrections Act of 2016 This bill makes technical and clerical amendments to: the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act of 2015; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016; the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act; the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015; the Stephen Beck, Jr., ABLE Act of 2014; the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; and other specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The bill also amends various provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that are not used in computing current tax liabilities (referred to as deadwood provisions).

Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2016

Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants for: (1) comprehensive sex education for adolescents, (2) comprehensive sex education provided by institutions of higher education, and (3) training faculty and staff to teach comprehensive sex education to elementary and secondary school students. Grants cannot be used for health education programs that: deliberately withhold health-promoting or lifesaving information about sexuality-related topics, including HIV; are medically inaccurate or have been scientifically shown to be ineffective; promote gender stereotypes; are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of survivors of sexual abuse or assault, sexually active youth, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth; or are inconsistent with the ethical imperatives of medicine and public health. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to remove limitations on using AIDS prevention program funding for education or information that promotes certain sexual activity or intravenous substance abuse. This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow funding to be used for contraceptive distribution in schools. This bill amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to repeal the program for abstinence education. Unobligated funds for abstinence education for FY2016 and FY2017 are transferred and made available to carry out this Act.

PROP Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 April 2016

Promoting Responsible Opioid Prescribing Act of 2016 or the PROP Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to exclude certain pain-related measures for purposes of calculating incentive payments under the value-based purchasing program (VBP). (VBP is a program that links hospital payments to the quality of care provided.) Specifically, VPB measures shall not include measures based on a patient's assessment of: (1) the patient's need for pain medicine during a hospital stay; (2) how often, during the stay, the patient's pain was well controlled; or (3) how often, during the stay, hospital staff did everything they could to help manage the patient's pain.

Advancing NIH Strategic Planning and Representation in Medical Research Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2016

Advancing NIH Strategic Planning and Representation in Medical Research Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to: publish a strategic plan that addresses research, training, the biomedical workforce, and collaboration with other agencies; foster collaboration among certain clinical research projects to increase the number and diversity of human subjects; encourage improvement in research related to the health of sexual and gender minority populations; convene a working group to make recommendations to enhance the rigor and reproducibility of NIH-funded research; and develop policies for NIH-funded basic research projects to assess how differences between male and female cells, tissues, or animals may be examined and analyzed. In assessing research priorities, the NIH must publish data on clinical research study populations. The strategic plans of the national research institutes must ensure that future activities take into account women and minorities and are focused on reducing health disparities. Advisory council reports must include certain demographic data for clinical research subjects. The results of clinical trials that include women and minorities must be submitted to the NIH’s clinical trial data bank. The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities may foster partnerships between national research institutes and encourage the funding of collaborative research projects. The Department of Health and Human Services must establish the Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and Lactating Women to report on issues including development of safe and effective therapies for such women.

Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2016

Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants or contracts for Palliative Care and Hospice Education Centers. These Centers must improve the training of health professionals in palliative care and establish traineeships for individuals preparing for advanced education nursing degrees, social work degrees, or advanced degrees in physician assistant studies in palliative care. HHS may make grants to, and enter into contracts with, schools of medicine, schools of osteopathic medicine, teaching hospitals, and graduate medical education programs to support the training of physicians who plan to teach palliative medicine. HHS must: (1) provide Palliative Medicine and Hospice Academic Career Awards to individuals to promote their career development; (2) award grants or contracts to entities that operate a Palliative Care and Hospice Education Center; (3) award incentive grants or contracts to advanced practice nurses, social workers, physician assistants, pharmacists, chaplains, or students of psychology pursuing an advanced degree in palliative care or related fields; and (4) award grants to schools of nursing, health care facilities, or programs leading to certification as a nurse assistant to train individuals in providing palliative care. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality must provide for a national education and awareness campaign to inform patients, families, and health professionals about the benefits of palliative care. The National Institutes of Health must expand national research programs in palliative care.

Elder Protection and Abuse Prevention Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2016

Elder Protection and Abuse Prevention Act This bill amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Administration on Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services to: (1) ensure that all programs funded under such Act include appropriate training in elder abuse prevention and services addressing elder justice and exploitation; and (2) update periodically the need for such training related to prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation (including financial exploitation) of older adults. The Administration has a duty and function to: (1) establish priority information and assistance services for older individuals; and (2) develop a National Eldercare Locator Service, with a nationwide toll free number. The Administration shall establish a National Adult Protective Services Resources Center. Each area plan shall provide that the area agency on aging: (1) increases public awareness of elder abuse and financial exploitation, and removes barriers to elder abuse education, prevention, investigation, and treatment; and (2) reports instances of elder abuse. The Administration shall make grants to states with approved plans for elder abuse and neglect screening. A state operating a nutrition project shall encourage distributors of nutrition services to distribute information on diabetes, elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and the annual Medicare wellness exam. A state, an area agency on aging, a nonprofit organization, or a tribal organization shall use a grant for an older individuals' protection from violence project to replicate successful prevention and training models. The Administration shall award grants to and contract with eligible organizations for projects to engage volunteers over age 50 in supporting older adults (and their families or caretakers) who have experienced or are at risk of elder abuse. A state may use funds under the National Family Caregiver Support Program to support the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

Genetic Research Privacy Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 April 2016

Genetic Research Privacy Protection Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise provisions regarding disclosure by researchers of the identifiable, sensitive information of research subjects. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must prohibit researchers from disclosing such information from federally funded research to persons not connected to the research. Researchers may apply to have other research covered by this prohibition. Disclosures of such information are permitted if required by law, necessary for the medical treatment of the research subject, made with the consent of the subject, or made for the purposes of other research that is in compliance with regulations regarding protection of subjects. HHS may exempt identifiable information collected for biomedical research from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

Promoting Biomedical Research and Public Health for Patients Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 April 2016

Promoting Biomedical Research and Public Health for Patients Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise reporting requirements for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and certain national research institutes. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the NIH must review and revise policies, including policies on conflicts of interest and laboratory animals, to reduce the administrative burden on researchers while maintaining the integrity and credibility of research findings. The Office of Management and Budget must establish the Research Policy Board to make recommendations to minimize the administrative burden of federal research policies while maintaining responsible oversight. Contractors making substances and living organisms available for research on behalf of HHS may collect payments on behalf of HHS for incurred costs. HHS must revise the Vaccine Injury Table to include information on vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for pregnant women. The bill revises provisions regarding the clinical trial registry data bank to permit earlier publication of certain data and to categorize clinical trials for combination products. The Director of NIH is given the authority to appoint the directors of the national research institutes. Additional phases of clinical trials are made eligible for support from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

Infant Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Improving Safe Care for the Prevention of Infant Abuse and Neglect Act This bill amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse, to maintain and disseminate information about the best practices relating to the development of plans of safe care for infants born affected by illegal substance abuse, withdrawal symptoms, or a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. A state plan submitted to HHS for a grant to improve its child protective services system must certify that it has a state law or statewide program relating to child abuse and neglect that includes a plan of safe care for such an infant to ensure its safety and well-being following release from the care of healthcare providers. Annual state data reports shall include the total number of such infants for whom a plan of safe care was developed, and for whom referrals are made for appropriate services, including services for the affected family or caregiver. HHS shall monitor the compliance of each grant-receiving state with applicable current law requirements, including required state policies and procedures regarding care of such infants.

Co-Prescribing Saves Lives Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 2016

Co-Prescribing Saves Lives Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Department of Defense (DOD) to: (1) establish training guidelines for federal health care facilities and federally qualified health centers; and (2) train certain health care providers at federal health care facilities on best practices for prescribing pain medications, principles of pain management, the misuse potential of controlled substances, identification of potential substance use disorders and referral to further evaluation and treatment, and disposal of controlled substances. HHS, the VA, and DOD must establish, for certain health care facilities, guidelines for the prescription of naloxone to individuals at an elevated risk of overdose. (Naloxone is a prescription drug used to rapidly reverse an overdose of opioids, which are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin and certain pain medications.) HHS must award grants to state departments of health for the development and application of guidelines for the prescription of opioid overdose reversal drugs and to increase access to naloxone. Grants may be used to: establish a program for purchasing, prescribing, and distributing opioid overdose reversal drugs; expand innovative models of naloxone distribution; train and provide resources to health care providers and pharmacists on prescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs; offset individuals' cost-sharing for opioid overdose reversal drugs; conduct community outreach to raise awareness of the availability of opioid overdose reversal drugs; and establish protocols to connect patients who have experienced a drug overdose with treatment.