Healthcare

Advancing Medical Resident Training in Community Hospitals Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 14 March 2016

Advancing Medical Resident Training in Community Hospitals Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise payment rules for graduate medical education (GME) costs with respect to a hospital that establishes a new medical residency training program. With respect to a hospital that has not entered into a GME affiliation agreement, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall establish the hospital's full-time equivalent (FTE) resident amount only after determining that the hospital's medical residency training program trains more than 1.0 FTE resident in a cost reporting period. In the case of a hospital with an approved FTE resident amount based on the training of no more than 1.0 FTE resident in a cost reporting period before October 1, 1997, or 3.0 FTE residents in a cost reporting period after that date, CMS shall provide the hospital an opportunity to have its FTE resident amount reestablished when the hospital begins training FTE residents in excess of the applicable threshold. Current law limits the number, subject to the application of certain adjustments, of FTE residents a hospital may have in allopathic and osteopathic medicine for purposes of Medicare payment. The bill specifies that CMS shall determine a hospital's limitation adjustment only after determining that the hospital's medical residency training program trains more than 1.0 FTE residents in a cost reporting period. In the case of a hospital with a limitation adjustment based on the training of no more than 1.0 FTE resident in a cost reporting period before October 1, 1997, or 3.0 FTE residents in a cost reporting period after that date, CMS shall provide the hospital an opportunity to have its adjustment re-determined when the hospital begins training FTE residents in excess of the applicable threshold.

Common Sense Savings Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2016

Common Sense Savings Act of 2016 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to specify how a state must treat qualified lottery winnings and lump sum income for purposes of determining an individual's income-based eligibility for a state Medicaid program. Specifically, a state shall include such winnings or income as income received: (1) in the month in which it was received, if the amount is less than $60,000; (2) over a period of two months, if the amount is at least $60,000 but less than $70,000; (3) over a period of three months, if the amount is at least $70,000 but less than $80,000; and (4) over an additional one-month period for each increment of $10,000 received, not to exceed 120 months. Qualified lump sum income includes: (1) monetary winnings from gambling; (2) damages received in lump sums or periodic payments, excluding monthly payments, on account of causes of action other than those arising from personal physical injuries or sickness; and (3) income received as liquid assets from the estate of a deceased individual. In addition, the bill eliminates the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) with respect to the coverage of individuals who are inmates in public institutions. Under current law, the enhanced FMAP applies to coverage of individuals who are newly eligible for Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The bill also amends title XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program [CHIP]) of the SSAct to terminate increases to the enhanced FMAP as established by the PPACA with respect to CHIP. Under current law, federal Medicaid reimbursement to states is reduced in proportion to any impermissible state taxes collected from health care providers. The bill lowers a percentage threshold used to determine whether such taxes are impermissible. The bill terminates the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

Ensuring Removal of Terminated Providers from Medicaid and CHIP Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 2016

Ensuring Removal of Terminated Providers from Medicaid and CHIP Act This bill amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program [CHIP]) of the Social Security Act to prohibit federal payment under Medicaid for nonemergency services furnished by providers whose participation in Medicaid, Medicare, or CHIP has been terminated. Under current law, a state must exclude from Medicaid participation any provider that has been terminated under any state's Medicaid program or under Medicare. The bill maintains those requirements and further requires a state to exclude from Medicaid participation any provider that has been terminated under CHIP. Furthermore, a state must exclude from CHIP participation any provider that has been terminated under Medicaid or Medicare. The bill also revises a state's reporting requirements with respect to terminating a provider under a state plan. A state shall require each Medicaid or CHIP provider, whether the provider participates on a fee-for-service (FFS) basis or within the network of a managed care organization (MCO), to enroll with the state by providing specified identifying information. When notifying the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that a provider has been terminated under a state plan, the state must submit this information as well as information regarding the termination date and reason. HHS shall review such termination notifications and, if appropriate, include them in a database or similar system, as specified by the bill. The bill prohibits federal payment under a state's Medicaid or CHIP program for services provided by an MCO unless: (1) the state has a system for notifying MCOs when a provider is terminated under Medicaid, Medicare, or CHIP; and (2) any contract between the state plan and an MCO provides that such providers be excluded from participation in the MCO provider network.

A resolution supporting the designation of March 2016, as "National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2016

Expresses support for the designation of March 2016 as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Veterans Choice Equal Cost for Care Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2016

Veterans Choice Equal Cost for Care Act of 2016 This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to permit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to recover or collect reasonable charges for hospital care or medical services from a health-care plan when an eligible veteran is furnished such care or services for a non-service-connected disability. The VA shall have the primary (and sole) responsibility to pay any related health insurance cost sharing amount. An eligible veteran shall not pay a greater amount for receiving hospital care or medical services than the amount the veteran would pay for receiving the same or comparable care or services at a VA medical facility or from a VA health care provider. (The bill repeals the VA's secondary responsibility to pay the costs of care in such circumstances.)

A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2016

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to ending multiple sclerosis by promoting awareness about individuals affected by multiple sclerosis and supporting research and education programs. Recognizes people living with multiple sclerosis and salutes the health care professionals and medical researchers who assist those so affected and continue to work to find ways to stop the progression of the disease, restore nerve function, and end multiple sclerosis forever.

Veterans Choice Improvement Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2016

Veterans Choice Improvement Act of 2016 This bill codifies, revises, and makes permanent the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VCP is enlarged to include additional health care providers that meet specified VA criteria. Veterans eligibility provisions are revised, including by: eliminating the August 1, 2014, deadline for enrollment in the VA patient enrollment system; requiring that a veteran does not live within 40 miles driving distance of a VA medical facility with a full-time primary care physician or within 20 miles of a VA medical facility that provides hospital care, emergency medical services, and surgical care rated as having a surgical complexity of standard; and providing eligibility for a veteran enrolled in the VCP pilot program that provides hospital or medical care through qualifying non-VA health care providers to veterans in highly rural areas. Medical service rate exceptions are provided for: (1) highly rural areas, (2) Alaska, and (3) states that have an All-Payer Model Agreement. The VA shall provide for a nationwide claims processing system. The following VA programs, contracts, and agreements shall be consolidated into the VCP by December 31, 2017: the patient-centered community care program; contracts for kidney dialysis services; contracts through the retail VA pharmacy network; and health care agreements with federal entities or federally-funded entities, including the Department of Defense, the Indian Health Service, tribal health programs, federally-qualified health centers, and academic teaching affiliates. VCP funds shall be derived from the appropriations account established under the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015. The VA shall ensure that VCP health care provider payments comply with the Prompt Payment Act and the requirements of this bill. VCP claims, with a limited exception, must be submitted electronically as of January 1, 2019. The VA shall establish an electronic claims interface by such date. This bill terminates certain provisions authorizing medical care through non-VA facilities. The Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 is amended to extend the pilot program under which the VA provides covered health services in highly rural areas to covered veterans through qualifying non-VA health care providers. The VA may, if unable to furnish hospital care, medical services, or extended care at VA facilities or under other authorized contracts or sharing agreements, enter into a Veterans Care Agreement with an eligible provider to furnish such care and services. An eligible provider is: a physician, supplier, or service provider that has entered into an agreement under the Social Security Act; a provider of items and services receiving payments under a state Medicaid plan; an aging and disability resource center, an area agency on aging, or a center for independent living; or a provider located in a health shortage area. The VA shall reimburse an ambulance provider or other entity that provides emergency transportation to a non-VA facility for a veteran who is an active VA health care participant who is personally liable for emergency treatment in a non-VA facility. A veteran seeking VA hospital care or medical services shall provide the VA with information about other health plan coverage. If the VA establishes or has established a presumption of service connection for disability compensation for a specified illness/condition incurred by a veteran who served at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the VA shall commence payment of such compensation within 90 days of: (1) establishing such presumption, or (2) enactment of this bill for such a presumption established prior to enactment.

Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2016

Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2015 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and Internal Revenue Code to direct the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury to require group health plans and health insurers to disclose specified information regarding compliance of plans or coverage with requirements for parity between mental health and substance use disorder benefits and medical and surgical benefits. Information that must be disclosed includes the specific analyses performed to ensure parity, findings and conclusions regarding parity in applying nonquantitative treatment limitations (e.g., tiered benefits, step therapy, or preauthorization), and a comparison of denials of claims between types of benefits. HHS, Labor, and Treasury must: (1) issue guidance on the process for current and potential participants and beneficiaries to file formal complaints of plans or insurers being in violation of the requirement for parity, and (2) conduct audits of plans and insurers to determine compliance with parity requirements and publish information from those audits. HHS must establish a consumer parity unit to collect and respond to complaints and provide information to consumers on parity. Plans and insurers must respond to consumer complaints received by the unit. State health insurance commissioners must report on compliance of plans and insurers with parity requirements and include a comparison of benefits. The Government Accountability Office must report on HHS, Labor, and Treasury efforts to enforce parity.

Prevent Drug Addiction Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Prevent Drug Addiction Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to award grants for consumer education about opioid addiction. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin or certain prescription painkillers.) This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to require medical practitioners to be trained in the treatment of opioid-dependent patients, pain management, and early detection of opioid addiction before they can be registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration to dispense opioids. Opioid treatment programs that close on any day must make arrangements for each patient to receive treatment during the closure, as necessary. A report must be submitted to SAMHSA for each individual who dies while receiving treatment in an opioid treatment program. In states receiving funding for controlled substance monitoring programs, deaths where an opioid drug is detected in the body must be reported to SAMHSA. The National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must establish a National Opioid Death Registry to track opioid-related deaths. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality must develop and apply prescription drug addiction prevention and treatment quality measures. This bill amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors to limit the access of certain beneficiaries to addictive drugs. PDP sponsors must have a utilization management tool to prevent drug addiction. Medicare Drug Integrity Contractors may accept prescription and medical records to determine whether a beneficiary is at risk for prescription drug addiction.

Fairness for Veterans Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Fairness for Veterans Act of 2016 This bill addresses medical evidence reviews in the case of: (1) a former member of the Armed Forces who was deployed in a contingency operation and subsequently diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury as a consequence of such deployment, or (2) a former member whose application for relief from the terms of his or her military discharge is based in whole or in part on matters relating to post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury related to combat or military sexual trauma. Any board of review shall: review medical evidence of the Department of Veterans Affairs or a civilian health care provider presented by the former member, and review the case with a rebuttable presumption in favor of the former member that post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury materially contributed to the circumstances resulting in the discharge of a lesser characterization.

Improving Veterans Access to Care in the Community Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Improving Veterans Access to Care in the Community Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into contracts or agreements with eligible providers to furnish hospital care and medical services to electing, eligible veterans, which include veterans who are unable to schedule an appointment with a VA health care provider within a specified time frame or who do not reside within 40 miles of a VA medical facility. Such provisions may be referred to as the Veterans Choice Program. VA reimbursement of veterans for emergency treatment in a non-VA facilities is expanded to include urgent care. If the VA is not able to furnish hospital care, medical services, or extended care at VA facilities or under contracts or sharing agreements, the VA may furnish such care and services by entering into Veterans Care Agreements with certified eligible providers. The VA shall: (1) establish a system to monitor the quality of care and services provided under such Agreements, and (2) review Agreements exceeding $1 million annually at least once every two years. The bill allows VA agreements with state homes to provide nursing home care for veterans with a service-connected disability to be entered into without the use of competitive procedures. The bill requires advance appropriations for the Care in the Community Account of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to direct the VA to annually transfer to the VHA an amount estimated to be needed to furnish hospital care, medical services, and other health care through non-VA providers. The requirement that the VA act as a secondary payer for certain non-service connected disability care is eliminated. Veterans Choice Fund amounts may be used to: (1) carry out certain disability examinations by non-VA providers; and (2) provide hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care at non-VA facilities. The VA may record as a U.S. obligation amounts owed for hospital care or medical services furnished at non-VA facilities on the date the payment claim is approved. The bill requires the VA to be treated as a participating provider for purposes of allowing recovery of costs incurred in providing care to a veteran for a non-service connected disability that is covered under the veteran's health plan contract. The VA shall assign each veteran enrolled in the annual patient enrollment system a full-time primary care provider using specified distance and travel criteria.

Removing Barriers to Clinical Research Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Removing Barriers to Clinical Research Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare coverage of costs associated with clinical trials. Under current law, Medicare covers routine costs of care furnished to a beneficiary enrolled in a category A (experimental) clinical trial of a medical device intended for use in the diagnosis, monitoring, or treatment of an immediately life-threatening disease or condition. The bill requires Medicare to also cover, with respect to a beneficiary enrolled in a category B (non-experimental) clinical trial, routine costs of care as well as the cost of the device under investigation. A trial of a medical device shall, for purposes of Medicare coverage, be deemed to meet the definition of a category A or category B clinical trial, as the case may be, if the trial is conducted under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act's investigational use exemption.

Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act This bill amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: identify and publish a recommended core set of maternal and infant quality measures for women and children, as specified by the bill; publish an initial core set of any such measures applicable to mothers and infants eligible under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); establish a Maternal and Infant Quality Measurement Program; and establish an online clearinghouse of resources for entities working to improve maternity and infant care quality. HHS may make grants to eligible entities for: the development of new state and regional maternity and infant care quality collaboratives; expanded activities of existing collaboratives; and maternity and infant care initiatives within established state and regional quality collaboratives that are not focused exclusively on maternity care. Under current law, HHS must contract with a consensus-based entity to carry out specified duties regarding performance measurement. The bill requires such an entity to facilitate increased coordination and alignment between the public and private sector with respect to quality and efficiency measures.

Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act This bill requires the market name of genetically modified (commonly called "GMO") salmon to include "Genetically Engineered" or "GE" in front of the existing market name. The Department of Health and Human Services must ensure that an independent scientific organization reviews and reports on the Food and Drug Administration's environmental assessment of AquAdvantage Salmon.

Aidan's Law

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Aidan's Law This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require hospitals, child care centers, clinics, and similar institutions caring for infants who are 28 days or less of age to administer to such infants a test for adrenoleukodystrophy, a progressive genetic disease that can cause behavioral changes, seizures, and other neurological symptoms. To be eligible for funds under the Heritable Disorders Program, a state must establish adrenoleukodystrophy testing standards and procedures. These standards and procedures are subject to review and approval by the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children. The committee must establish standards and procedures for states without approved standards and procedures.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should establish a national goal of more than 50 percent clean and carbon free electricity by 2030 for the purposes of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, growing our economy, increasing our shared prosperity, improving public health, and preserving our national security.

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Urges the United States to: (1) establish a national goal of 50% clean and carbon-free electricity by 2030, and (2) enact legislation to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Aidan's Law

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Aidan's Law This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require hospitals, child care centers, clinics, and similar institutions caring for infants who are 28 days or less of age to administer to such infants a test for adrenoleukodystrophy, a progressive genetic disease that can cause behavioral changes, seizures, and other neurological symptoms. To be eligible for funds under the Heritable Disorders Program, a state must establish adrenoleukodystrophy testing standards and procedures. These standards and procedures are subject to review and approval by the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children. The committee must establish standards and procedures for states without approved standards and procedures.

Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act This bill requires the market name of genetically modified (commonly called "GMO") salmon to include "Genetically Engineered" or "GE" in front of the existing market name. The Department of Health and Human Services must ensure that an independent scientific organization: (1) reviews and reports on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) environmental assessment of AquAdvantage Salmon, and (2) conducts its own environmental assessment of the salmon. Upon receipt of the report from the independent scientific organization, the FDA must conduct another environmental assessment of the salmon, taking into account the findings in the report.

One Health Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

One Health Act of 2016 This bill requires the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to coordinate and support a One Health Program to: (1) address infectious diseases in animals and the environment, and (2) help prevent the transmission of infectious diseases between animal populations and human populations. The Office of Science and Technology Policy, in cooperation with the NSTC, must develop a framework for federal activities under the program. The framework must: describe the activities of federal agencies and departments under the program, establish goals and priorities for advancing scientific understanding and for workforce development and describe activities to achieve these goals and priorities, identify and expand partnerships among federal agencies and others to develop new approaches for reducing hazards to human health from animal and environmental sources and to promote an integrated approach to addressing public health threats in a manner that prevents duplication, and provide recommendations for additional action or legislation to assist in establishing the program. The program must establish an initiative to coordinate and implement federal research and field activities. Program members must support activities described in the framework, including by awarding grants to establish national centers of excellence to carry out those activities. The President must direct representatives of the United States to advocate that international bodies adopt approaches consistent with the initiative, provide technical assistance to governments to remove unnecessary barriers to investment in similar programs, and use certain targets to measure the effectiveness of such initiatives.

National Biomedical Research Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

National Biomedical Research Act This bill establishes and makes deposits to the Biomedical Innovation Fund for initiatives at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration for advancing medical innovation, including the Precision Medicine Initiative, the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative, and the Cancer Moonshot Initiative.

A resolution designating March 6, 2016, as the first annual "World Lymphedema Day".

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Urges that advocates and health care providers that battle lymphedema be recognized. (Lymphedema is a painful and destructive swelling caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system.) Designates March 6, 2016, as World Lymphedema Day.

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should establish a goal of more than 50 percent clean and carbon-free electricity by 2030 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, grow the economy, increase shared prosperity, improve public health, and preserve the national security of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Urges the United States to: (1) establish a national goal of 50% clean and carbon-free electricity by 2030, and (2) enact legislation to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 March 2016

Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a program to provide former members of the Armed Forces with: (1) an initial mental health assessment; and (2) health care services required to treat the former member's urgent mental health care needs, including risk of suicide or harming others. A former member of the Armed Forces is an individual who meets either of the following criteria: the individual is a former member of the Armed Forces, including the reserve components, who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and was discharged or released under a condition less than honorable (except a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge by reason of a general court martial), has applied for a character of service determination that has not yet been made, and is not otherwise eligible to enroll in the VA health care system by reason of such discharge or release; or the individual is a veteran not otherwise eligible for VA health care. The VA may provide such mental health care services pursuant to a contract with a qualified mental health professional if: (1) the receipt of mental health care services by an individual in VA facilities would be clinically inadvisable, or (2) VA facilities are not capable of furnishing such mental health care services to that individual economically because of geographical inaccessibility. The VA shall seek to enter into a contract with an independent nongovernmental entity to study the effect combat service has had on suicide rates and serious mental health issues among veterans.

EXAMINING THE U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO THE ZIKA VIRUS

United States · United States House of Representatives · 2 March 2016

Advancing Standards in Regenerative Medicine Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2016

Advancing Standards in Regenerative Medicine Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to facilitate the establishment of a public-private Standards Coordinating Body in Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Therapies. The FDA must work with this body to develop standards to support the development and review of regenerative medicine products.

School-Based Asthma Management Program Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2016

School-Based Asthma Management Program Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to add requirements that states must meet to receive a preference for asthma grants. (Currently, the preference is given to states that meet requirements regarding administration of epinephrine to students having severe allergic reactions.) To receive the preference, states must additionally: (1) provide civil liability protection to trained school personnel who administer asthma-related rescue medication to a student with asthma; and (2) require schools to permit trained school personnel to administer asthma-related rescue medication to students with asthma, maintain a supply of asthma-related rescue medication, and have a comprehensive asthma management program.

Biotechnology Food Labeling Uniformity Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2016

Biotechnology Food Labeling Uniformity Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require food that contains an ingredient from a genetically modified organism (GMO) to be labeled as genetically engineered. A food is exempt from this requirement if GMO ingredients account for less than 0.9% of the food's weight. A food is not subject to this requirement solely because: (1) a genetically engineered vaccine was used at any point in the production of the food, or (2) it was produced using a processing aid or enzyme that was produced from a GMO. The labeling requirements of this bill preempt state and local labeling requirements.

Medicaid DOC Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2016

Medicaid Directory of Caregivers Act or the Medicaid DOC Act This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require a state to publish and annually update a directory of providers that participate in the state plan for medical assistance on a fee-for-service basis or through a primary care case-management system. The directory must include each provider's name, specialty, address, and telephone number. In addition, with respect to a provider that participates in a primary care case-management system, the directory must specify: (1) the provider's language capabilities, and (2) whether the provider is accepting new Medicaid patients.

Increasing Competition in Pharmaceuticals Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2016

Increasing Competition in Pharmaceuticals Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise provisions regarding review and approval of generic drug applications or supplements to generic drug applications for drugs: (1) for which there is a shortage, or (2) that have not been recently introduced to the market by more than one manufacturer and for which tentative approval has not been granted to more than two applications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must prioritize the review of such submissions and act on them within 150 days. User fees are waived for such an application unless the drug is under patent. The FDA may expedite the inspection of a facility proposed to manufacture such a drug. The FDA must award a transferrable generic drug priority review voucher to the sponsor of such an application upon approval. A voucher may be used to have the FDA review and take action upon a generic drug application within 150 days of submission. The FDA may revoke a voucher awarded for a drug that is not marketed within one year of approval. This voucher program is terminated at the end of FY2022. The FDA must periodically report on generic drug applications filed before FY2016 that are still pending. For a new drug application to be eligible for a priority review voucher as a tropical disease product application, the application must include new, essential clinical investigations. The Government Accountability Office must study the FDA's program for drug risk evaluation and mitigation strategies.

Supporting the designation of March 2016, as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2016

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Expressing support for the designation of February 29, 2016, as "Rare Disease Day".

United States · United States Congress · 29 February 2016

Expresses support for: (1) the designation of Rare Disease Day; and (2) a national and global commitment to developing new treatments, diagnostics, and cures for rare diseases and disorders.

Preserving Patient Access to Post-Acute Hospital Care Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 29 February 2016

Preserving Patient Access to Post-Acute Hospital Care Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to delay by two additional years the application of negative payment adjustments under the "25-percent rule" to certain long-term care hospitals and satellite facilities. This rule reduces payments to a long-term care facility that admits proportionately more patients from any single hospital.

A resolution designating February 29, 2016 as "Rare Disease Day".

United States · United States Congress · 29 February 2016

Designates February 29, 2016, as Rare Disease Day. Expresses support for a national and global commitment to developing new treatments, diagnostics, and cures for rare diseases and disorders.

Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 February 2016

Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion Act This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow states to provide medical assistance to adults for residential addiction treatment facility services under the Medicaid program. "Residential addiction treatment facility services" are medically necessary inpatient services provided in an accredited, size-limited facility for the purpose of treating a substance use disorder within a specified time period. The provision of medical assistance for such services to an individual shall not prohibit federal financial participation for medical assistance with respect to other services provided to the individual within the same time period. Subject to specified conditions, a woman who is eligible for medical assistance on the basis of being pregnant may remain eligible for residential addiction treatment facility services for specified time periods without regard to eligibility limits that would otherwise apply as a result of her pregnancy ending. In addition, the bill establishes a grant program for states to expand infrastructure and treatment capabilities of existing youth addiction treatment facilities that: (1) provide addiction treatment services to youths under Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and (2) are located in communities with high numbers of medically underserved populations of at-risk youths. At least 15% of grant funds awarded to a state must be used for making payments to rural facilities.

To provide for the establishment of an inter-agency task force to review, modify, and update best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2016

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to convene a Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force to review, modify, and update best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication. The task force must submit a report that includes: (1) a strategy for disseminating such best practices; (2) the feasibility of linking such best practices to Drug Enforcement Administration registration of manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers of controlled substances; and (3) recommendations for effectively applying such best practices at medical facilities.

Diabetic Eye Disease Prevention Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2016

Diabetic Eye Disease Prevention Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare) to establish a demonstration project through which primary care practices may receive incentives for referring diabetic Medicare beneficiaries to local eye doctors for comprehensive dilated eye exams. The project must test the extent to which these incentives: (1) improve early detection and treatment of diabetes-related vision problems, (2) reduce the cost of Medicare services, and (3) achieve beneficiary satisfaction. The project shall identify for participation at least 100 primary care practices in at least 10 states that have high per capita costs of diabetes care for Medicare beneficiaries. Project costs shall be paid from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.

Servicemembers and Veterans Prescription Drug Safety Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2016

S ervicemembers and Veterans Prescription Drug Safety Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to carry out a joint program under which an eligible person who has lawfully obtained a covered controlled substance may deliver it for disposal at a facility to be specified by DOD and DOJ. An eligible person for this purpose shall be: a member of the Armed Forces, an individual receiving or entitled to military retired or retainer pay, a member's dependent-beneficiary who is receiving certain health care services, or any person lawfully entitled to dispose of the property of any of such individuals who dies in lawful possession of a controlled substance for personal use. DOD and DOJ shall develop guidelines and procedures to prevent the diversion, misuse, theft, or loss of such substances delivered under the program. DOJ and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall carry out a similar joint program covering any veteran, veteran's spouse or dependent, a person in receipt of medical services at a VA facility, or any person lawfully entitled to dispose of the property of any of such individuals who dies in lawful possession of a controlled substance for personal use. DOJ and the VA shall also develop guidelines and procedures to prevent the diversion, misuse, theft, or loss of such substances delivered under the program.

A resolution designating the first week of April 2016 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week".

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Designates the first week of April 2016 as National Asbestos Awareness Week. Urges the Surgeon General to warn and educate people about asbestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their health.

CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide Medicare coverage for screening computed tomography colonography (CTC) as a colorectal cancer screening test, and (2) exclude screening CTC from a special Medicare payment rule applicable to certain imaging services.

Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise physician supervision requirements under the Medicare program for radiology services performed by advanced level radiographers. Specifically, with respect to a state that has established such requirements for those services, the bill aligns Medicare's requirements with state requirements. An "advanced level radiographer" is a radiographer who has obtained specified certification from either the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists or the Certification Board for Radiology Practitioner Assistants.

Medicaid Expansion Parity Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Medicaid Expansion Parity 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.

Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Firefighter Cancer Registry Act of 2016 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 type 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.

Hallways to Health Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Hallways to Health Act This bill amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program [CHIP]) of the Social Security Act to: establish a grant program for school-based health centers to, with respect to children who are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP, facilitate access to services and encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors; establish a demonstration program for the provision or expansion of telehealth services in school-based health centers; and require state Medicaid and CHIP programs to cover services furnished by school-based health centers. In addition, the bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize through FY2021 and revise school-based health center programs.  The bill also amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to specify that school-based health centers are essential community providers for purposes of inclusion in a qualified health plan.

Living Donor Protection Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Living Donor Protection Act of 2016 This bill prohibits discrimination based on an individual's status as a living organ donor in the offering, issuance, cancellation, coverage, price, or any other condition of a life insurance policy, disability insurance policy, or long-term care insurance policy. The bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically include living organ donation as a serious health condition that entitles a covered employee to leave under that Act. The Department of Health and Human Services must update public service announcements, websites, and other media regarding live organ donation to educate the public on the benefits of live organ donation and access to insurance for living organ donors.

Expressing support for the designation of February 28, 2016, as "National Rare Eye Disease Awareness Day".

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Expresses support for the designation of National Rare Eye Disease Awareness Day.

Medicare Mental Health Access Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Medicare Mental Health Access Act This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand the definition of "physician," for purposes of the Medicare program, to include a clinical psychologist with respect to the furnishing of qualified psychologist services. The bill excludes a clinical psychologist, in 2017 and 2018, from certain negative payment adjustments for failing to be a meaningful electronic health records user.

Hallways to Health Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Hallways to Health Act This bill amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program [CHIP]) of the Social Security Act to: establish a grant program for school-based health centers to, with respect to children who are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP, facilitate access to services and encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors; establish a demonstration program for the provision or expansion of telehealth services in school-based health centers; and require state Medicaid and CHIP programs to cover services furnished by school-based health centers. In addition, the bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize through FY2021 and revise school-based health center programs.  The bill also amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to specify that school-based health centers are essential community providers for purposes of inclusion in a qualified health plan.

CLEAR Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Copper and Lead Evaluation and Reporting Act of 2016 or the CLEAR Act This bill amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate new lead and copper regulations that would set a health-based, household action level for lead and copper that triggers: (1) a consumer notification of drinking water contamination; (2) a report to the appropriate public health agency; and (3) an examination by the public water system of service line material and, if applicable, the removal of lead portions of the service line. That action level must be based on the amount of lead that would result in a blood lead level greater than five micrograms per deciliter in an average, healthy infant who consumes infant formula made with water. The regulations must also: provide outreach about the health risk and protection available to consumers with known or suspected lead service lines, institutions and facilities that serve other vulnerable populations, and the caregivers and health care providers of those consumers or populations; require reporting by public water systems for each monitoring period to the populations they serve on information concerning lead and copper levels; require public water systems to provide a public statement of lead service line ownership where a community has such lines; modify monitoring requirements to provide for voluntary, consumer-requested tap samples for lead; and provide for utilizing the results of those samples.

TEST KIDS Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Thorough Evaluation of State Testing to Kick-start Investigations before Damage is Suffered Act or the TEST KIDS Act This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to direct states to report the number of residents under two years old who have elevated blood lead levels. The CDC must identify areas where children with high blood lead levels are concentrated and investigate the sources of lead in those areas.

Living Donor Protection Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 February 2016

Living Donor Protection Act of 2016 This bill prohibits discrimination based on an individual's status as a living organ donor in the offering, issuance, cancellation, coverage, price, or any other condition of a life insurance policy, disability insurance policy, or long-term care insurance policy. The bill amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically include living organ donation as a serious health condition that entitles a covered employee to leave under that Act. The Department of Health and Human Services must update public service announcements, websites, and other media regarding live organ donation to educate the public on the benefits of live organ donation and access to insurance for living organ donors.