Healthcare

Youth Reentry Improvement Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Youth Reentry Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to require: (1) information on the number of juveniles released from prison and their living arrangements upon release in the annual report of the Administrator of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Office; (2) states seeking juvenile justice grants to adopt procedures to assure the availability of post-release programs and services for juvenile offenders; and (3) research and evaluation on outcomes for juvenile offenders who have been released from custody and reintegrated into communities. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) award grants to states to establish programs to identify juveniles likely to be released before attaining age 25 and to help such juveniles attain self-sufficiency; (2) develop outcome measures to assess the performance of states in operating juvenile offender reentry programs and track services provided to such offenders; and (3) conduct evaluations of state juvenile offender reentry programs. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to continue health care benefits for juvenile offenders after release from incarceration.

Nursing and Allied Health Education Preservation Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Nursing and Allied Health Education Preservation Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from denying provider-operated status for a nursing and allied education program that substantially meets certain requirements pertaining to the cost of approved activities for such programs, in effect as of October 1, 2006, on the basis of an organizational structure, contractual arrangements, or legal structure of the program, or a change in such a structure or arrangement, so long as a hospital, hospitals, or health system continues to substantially control the nursing or allied program. Prohibits denial of payments for the costs of approved educational activities for a nursing or allied health education program. Requires restoration to a hospital of any recoupment or denial effected for a previous cost reporting year.

Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants for: (1) services to children, adults, and older adults with mental illnesses who have co-occurring primary care conditions and chronic diseases through the co-location of primary and specialty medical care in community-based mental and behavioral health settings; (2) programs to address behavioral and mental health workforce needs in professional shortage areas; (3) expanding behavioral and mental health education and training programs; (4) tele-mental health in medically-underserved areas; and (5) developing and implementing a plan to ensure that the National Health Information Infrastructure meets the needs of mental health and substance abuse providers. Provides for reports to Congress on: (1) the paperwork burden on community mental health providers; and (2) the compensation structure for such providers.

To temporarily delay application of proposed changes to Medicaid payment rules for case management and targeted case management services.

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Delays until April 1, 2009, implementation of proposed changes to payment rules under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act for case management and targeted case management services. Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services, before such date, from taking any action to restrict coverage or payment under Medicaid if such action is more restrictive than the administrative action, policy, or practice that applies to coverage of, or payment for, such services under Medicaid on December 3, 2007. Makes null and void any such action taken by the Secretary between December 4, 2007, and March 31, 2009, that is based in whole or in part on such interim final rule.

Children's Compassionate Care Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Children's Compassionate Care Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to award grants to: (1) provide training in pediatric palliative care and related services for children with life-threatening conditions; and (2) implement or expand pediatric palliative care programs for such children. Authorizes the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to award training grants to expand the number of physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, and appropriate allied health professionals and specialists with interdisciplinary pediatric palliative clinical training and research experience. Allows the Secretary to award grants to enhance pediatric palliative care and care for children with life-threatening conditions in general pediatric or family practice residency training programs and general or pediatric nursing education programs through the development of model interdisciplinary programs that partner with other health professional schools. Requires the Director to provide grants to fund interdisciplinary research in pediatric pain and symptom management that will utilize existing NIH facilities. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish Medicare and private sector pediatric palliative care demonstration projects; and (2) convene a Symposium on Pediatric Palliative Care.

Robin Danielson Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Robin Danielson Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to provide for the conduct or support of research on the extent to which additives in feminine hygiene products pose any risks to the health of women or the health of the children of women who use those products during or before the pregnancies involved. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) collect, analyze, and make available data on toxic shock syndrome, including data on the causes of such syndrome; and (2) determine the national incidence and prevalence of such syndrome.

FULL COMMITTEE HEARING ON LIMITED HEALTH CARE OPTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE SMALL GROUP MARKET

United States · United States House of Representatives · 23 January 2008

H.R. 1232, VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE EXPANSION ACT OF 2007

United States · United States House of Representatives · 23 January 2008

A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare Advantage benchmark adjustment for certain local areas with VA medical centers and for certain contiguous areas.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2008

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for a Medicare Advantage benchmark adjustment for certain local areas with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and for certain contiguous areas.

Fair and Simple Tax Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2008

Fair and Simple Tax Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish an alternative income tax rate system with three tax brackets (10, 15, and 30%); (2) repeal the estate and gift tax; (3) adjust the increased alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amounts for inflation after 2007 and make such exemptions permanent; (4) reduce the maximum corporate income tax rate to 25%; (5) reduce the maximum tax rate on capital gains to 10%; (6) allow an inflation adjustment to the basis of capital assets for purposes of determining gain or loss; (7) establish new tax-exempt accounts for retirement savings, lifetime savings, and lifetime skills accounts; (8) exempt individuals under age 65 who do not have employer health care coverage from the adjusted gross income threshold for the medical care tax deduction; and (9) make permanent the tax credit for increasing research activities. Repeals the terminating dates applicable to provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a Medicare Advantage benchmark adjustment for certain local areas with VA medical centers and for certain contiguous areas.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2008

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for a Medicare Advantage benchmark adjustment for certain local areas with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and for certain contiguous areas.

Fair and Simple Tax Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2008

Fair and Simple Tax Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) establish an alternative income tax rate system with three tax brackets (10, 15, and 30%); (2) repeal the estate and gift tax; (3) adjust the increased alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amounts for inflation after 2007 and make such exemptions permanent; (4) reduce the maximum corporate income tax rate to 25%; (5) reduce the maximum tax rate on capital gains to 10%; (6) allow an inflation adjustment to the basis of capital assets for purposes of determining gain or loss; (7) establish new tax-exempt accounts for retirement savings, lifetime savings, and lifetime skills accounts; (8) exempt individuals under age 65 who do not have employer health care coverage from the adjusted gross income threshold for the medical care tax deduction; and (9) make permanent the tax credit for increasing research activities. Repeals the terminating dates applicable to provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.

9/11 HEALTH: WHY DID HHS CANCEL CONTRACTS TO MANAGE RESPONDER HEALTH CARE?

United States · United States House of Representatives · 22 January 2008

Joxel Garcia, of Connecticut, to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to the qualifications therefor as provided by law and regulations, and to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, vice John O. Agwunobi, resigned.

United States · United States Senate · 22 January 2008

Hospital Price Reporting and Disclosure Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2008

Hospital Price Reporting and Disclosure Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require a hospital or ambulatory surgical center to: (1) report data to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding the frequency of performing certain services and administering certain drugs and the charge by the hospital or center for such services or drugs; and (2) prominently post such information at each admission site. Requires the Secretary to: (1) publicly post such information in a manner that promotes charge comparisons among hospitals and centers; and (2) select which services or drugs are to be reported based on how frequently each service is performed or each drug is administered. Allows the Secretary to impose a civil monetary penalty for violations of this Act.

Ultrasound Informed Consent Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 January 2008

Ultrasound Informed Consent Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require abortion providers, before a woman gives informed consent to any part of an abortion, to perform an obstetric ultrasound on the pregnant woman, explain the results, display the ultrasound images so the woman may view them, and provide a medical description of the ultrasound images, including the dimensions of the embryo or fetus and the presence of external members and internal organs, if present and viewable. Provides for: (1) civil penalties for willful failure to comply; and (2) a medical emergency exception. Prohibits construing this Act to require a woman to view the images or penalizing the physician or the woman if she refuses to look at the images.

Fairness in Autism Treatment Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2008

Fairness in Autism Treatment Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to require a group health plan that provides both medical and surgical benefits to also provide coverage for pervasive developmental disorders, including coverage for therapeutic, respite, and rehabilitative care for participants or beneficiaries who have not attained 22 years of age. Applies the requirements of this Act separately with respect to benefits provided in-network and out-of-network. Prohibits a group health plan from: (1) imposing any annual or lifetime dollar limitation on benefits for pervasive developmental disorders unless such limitation applies to all medical and surgical benefits as well; (2) imposing a deductible, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing for such disorders that is greater than the cost-sharing imposed for medical and surgical benefits; or (3) denying eligibility, or continued eligibility, to enroll or renew coverage under the term of the plan solely for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of this Act. Considers the requirements of this Act a material change for the purpose of notice requirements. Excludes from the requirements of this Act: (1) a group health plan of a small employer; or (2) a group health plan if the application of this Act results in an increase in the cost under the plan of at least 1%. Provides that this Act shall not be construed to preempt any state law that at least meets the requirements of this Act.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2008

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY2008. Authorizes appropriations to DOD for: (1) procurement, including for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion; (2) research, development, test, and evaluation, including ballistic missile defense; (3) operation and maintenance, including for defense working capital funds, the Defense Health Program, drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, and environmental restoration; (4) active and reserve military personnel, including end strengths and the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (5) increased costs for military activities and military construction due to the global war on terror (6) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program; (7) chemical demilitarization construction; and (8) Guard and reserve forces facilities. Sets forth provisions or requirements concerning: (1) active and reserve military personnel policy; (2) military education and training; (3) military justice; (4) military pay and allowances; (5) retired pay and survivor benefits; (6) military health care; (7) acquisition policy and management; (8) DOD organization and management, including intelligence-related matters; (9) counter-drug activities and matters related to homeland security; (10) civilian personnel matters; (11) matters relating to other nations; and (12) cooperative threat reduction with states of the former Soviet Union. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for military construction for the Armed Forces and defense agencies. Allows a victim of terrorism (or his or her representative) to seek money damages for an injury or death in a private cause of action in U.S. courts against a foreign state designated as a state sponsor of terrorism at the time of the injury or death if such injury or death was caused by an official, employee, or agent of such foreign state while acting within the scope of his or her employment. Permits the President to except the government of Iraq if: (1) the exception is in the interest of U.S. national security; (2) the waiver will promote the reconstruction of, the consolidation of democracy in, and the relations of the United States with, Iraq; and (3) Iraq continues to be a reliable ally of the United States and partner in combating acts of international terrorism.

Vaccines for the Uninsured Adult Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2008

Vaccines for the Uninsured Adult Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to: (1) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program for the free distribution of adult vaccines through states to adults who do not have health insurance coverage, who receive such vaccines at federally-qualified health centers or federal, state, or local correctional institutions, and who are uninsured with respect to such vaccines; (2) require the Secretary to develop and maintain a plan to respond to vaccine shortages and to implement a plan to educate the public about adult immunization; and (3) allocate funds for state programs to provide free adult immunization and to require states receiving federal funding to develop plans to respond to vaccine shortages. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit co-payments and cost-sharing charges for adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish standards for the measurement of use by Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries of routinely recommended adult immunizations; and (2) study including adult immunization by Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries as a performance measure under quality initiatives; (3) establish standards for the measurement of use by health care workers of adult immunizations for influenza; (4) study the best practices of health insurers and managed care organizations to encourage the use of adult immunizations; and (5) study the feasibility and advisability of including health care worker immunization rates as a performance measure for accreditation under Medicare. Requires coverage of adult immunization services under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).

Medicare Improvement Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2008

Medicare Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) to include federally recommended vaccines under Medicare part B.

Vaccine Shortage Preparedness Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2008

Vaccine Shortage Preparedness Act of 2008 - Amends the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to sell to public health departments or back to the manufacturers such quantities of the six-month supply of pediatric vaccines acquired for unanticipated needs as the Secretary determines appropriate. Makes proceeds of such sales available only for purposes of procuring pediatric vaccine stockpiles. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require: (1) a manufacturer of an approved vaccine to notify the Secretary 12 months prior to discontinuing manufacture of the vaccine, with exceptions; and (2) the Secretary, promptly after receiving such notice and after determining that a reduction applies, to inform the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to declare a public health emergency if there is: (1) a shortage of an approved vaccine for an infectious disease; and (2) a significant risk of a significant outbreak of such disease. Requires: (1) each manufacturer or distributor of such vaccine to then provide the Secretary with the location of vaccine supplies; and (2) the Secretary, upon request, to provide such information to a state, provided the state agrees to restrict use of the information to facilitating access to vaccines and to otherwise keep such information confidential. Requires the Secretary to study successful models and alternatives for tracking and facilitating reallocation of vaccine at the local level in times of shortage or emergency.

Vaccines for Children Access Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2008

Vaccines for Children Access Act of 2008 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to include all public clinics for distribution of pediatric vaccines under Medicaid.

Supporting the goals and ideals of "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day".

United States · United States Congress · 16 January 2008

Expresses support for: (1) the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; (2) full and equitable funding for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006; (3) development of a national AIDS plan to reduce new HIV infections; (4) appropriate funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment; (5) the strengthening of stable African-American communities; (6) reducing the impact of incarceration as a driver of new HIV infections within the African-American community; (7) HIV prevention education programs to promote the early identification of HIV through voluntary routine testing and to connect those in need to treatment as early as possible; (8) reducing the number of HIV infections in the African-American community resulting from injection drug use; and (9) efforts to link those infected with HIV to accessible care and treatment options. Applauds the codification of the Minority AIDS Initiative within the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act.

Medicare Wound Therapy Patient Protection Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2008

Medicare Wound Therapy Patient Protection Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to exempt from the Medicare competitive acquisition program negative pressure wound therapy pumps and related supplies and accessories, until the Secretary can validate, using a panel of wound care clinical experts, the clinical comparability of all such products.

AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE: A BIG PROBLEM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

United States · United States Senate · 10 January 2008

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2008

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to make Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations (Indian health programs) eligible for payments under their respective programs. Amends SSA title XI to: (1) eliminate the National Commission on Children; and (2) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to encourage states to increase enrollment in Medicaid and SCHIP programs on or near Indian reservations. Amends SSA title XIX to: (1) prohibit premiums or cost sharing for Indians furnished items or services directly by Indian health programs or through referral under the contract health service; and (2) require a state to disregard certain property for purposes of determining eligibility for Medicaid or SCHIP assistance. Amends SSA title XI to require nondiscrimination in qualifications for services provided by an Indian health program under a federal health care program. Directs the Secretary to maintain within the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services a Tribal Technical Advisory Group. Grants the Secretary additional authority to waive the exclusion of certain individuals and entities from participation in affected Indian health programs. Sets forth rules applicable under Medicaid and SCHIP to managed care entities with respect to Indian enrollees, Indian health care providers, and Indian managed care entities.