The world's political record
Records whose title is actually about this topic. Use a country filter if the list is still too broad.
601 records in US in 2020
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
COVID Testing Transparency Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publicly report, within 14 days, information about the results of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) tests that HHS receives from laboratories. HHS must update the information daily thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency Savings Act or the MORE Savings Act This bill modifies coverage of opioid treatments and recovery support services under Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance. Specifically, the bill requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model in which specified opioid treatments and recovery support services are provided under Medicare without cost-sharing (e.g., coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles). The bill also allows state Medicaid programs to cover recovery support services as part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and increases the applicable Federal Medical Assistance Percentage for MAT. Private health insurers must also cover specified opioid treatments and MAT-associated recovery support services without cost-sharing.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Coronavirus Containment Act of 2020 This bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to test an individual for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) before removing or repatriating the individual from the United States. ICE shall also work with the receiving country to ensure the safe receipt of the individual. An individual who tests positive for COVID-19 may not be removed or repatriated until the individual exhibits no symptoms for at least 10 days and tests negative in two COVID-19 tests. These requirements shall be in effect until 180 days after the end of the declared COVID-19 public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
This bill delays until the first calendar year that is 12 months after the end of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency the application of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule dated May 14, 2020. That rule allows private health insurance plans to decide whether support provided by a prescription drug manufacturer to cover a patient's costs for a drug counts toward the patient's annual out-of-pocket limit. The bill requires enforcement of the previous rule, which allows plans to exclude drug manufacturer support from a patient's annual out-of-pocket limit only if a generic version of the drug is available.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Protecting Access to Post-COVID–19 Telehealth Act of 2020 This bill modifies requirements relating to coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill (1) authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to generally waive coverage restrictions during national emergencies, (2) allows rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner), (3) removes restrictions that require the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) to be in a rural area, and (3) allows the home of a beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services (rather than for only certain services). Additionally, the CMS must report on the utilization of telehealth services specifically during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Ensuring Parity in MA for Audio-Only Telehealth Act of 2020 This bill allows audio-only diagnoses that are made via telehealth to be used for purposes of determining risk adjustments to payments under Medicare Advantage. Additionally, the bill requires payments for Medicare telehealth services that are furnished during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) to be made in the same amounts as those for in-person services.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Food and Farm Emergency Assistance Act This bill directs the Agricultural Marketing Service of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide competitive grants to agricultural producers and other agricultural entities to support worker and public health and safety, or to adapt production, processing, distribution, and sales systems, in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). In awarding grants, preference shall be given to applications containing proposals intended to (1) expand access to food for participants in USDA food and nutrition programs; (2) enhance food distribution in high-need or underserved areas; (3) address local agricultural product oversupply issues and reduce food waste; or (4) benefit young, beginning, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. The amount of a grant shall not exceed $15,000 for individual agricultural producers and $35,000 for other agricultural entities. USDA must conduct outreach to states and eligible entities with respect to the availability of grants under the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 2020
Isolate COVID-19 Act of 2020 This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to provide payments to states, tribes, and territories in order to lease hotels to temporarily house individuals with confirmed or presumed cases of COVID-19 who are unable to self-isolate at home and do not need inpatient or outpatient health care.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 2020
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2021 This bill provides FY2021 appropriations to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Wage and Hour Division, the Office of Labor-Management Standards, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Office of Disability Employment Policy, and Departmental Management. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, and the Office of the Secretary. The bill provides appropriations to the Department of Education for Education for the Disadvantaged; Impact Aid; School Improvement Programs; Indian Education; Innovation and Improvement; Safe Schools and Citizenship Education; English Language Acquisition; Special Education; Rehabilitation Services; Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities; Career, Technical, and Adult Education; Student Financial Assistance; Student Aid Administration; Higher Education; Howard University; the College Housing and Academic Facilities Loan Program; the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program Account; the Institute of Education Sciences; and Departmental Management. The bill also provides appropriations to Related Agencies, including the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the National Council on Disability, the National Labor Relations Board, the National Mediation Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the Social Security Administration. The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2020
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2021 This bill provides FY2021 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies. The bill provides appropriations to Interior for the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, the Office of the Special Trustee For American Indians, Departmental Offices, and Department-Wide Programs. The bill also provides appropriations to the EPA and the Forest Service. Within the Department of Health and Human Services, the bill provides appropriations for the Indian Health Service, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The bill provides appropriations to several related agencies, including the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Commission of Fine Arts, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. the National Capital Planning Commission, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Presidio Trust, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission, and the World War I Centennial Commission. The bill also provides additional emergency funding to the Bureau of Indian Education, the EPA, and the Indian Health Service for school construction, infrastructure grants, and the construction of health care facilities. Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2020
Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020 This bill makes changes to the administration and management of the Strategic National Stockpile. Among these changes, the bill authorizes through September 30, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to transfer supplies from the stockpile to any federal departments or agencies under certain conditions. HHS must also ensure the contents of the stockpile remain in working order and may enter into maintenance service contracts to carry out this requirement. Furthermore, as part of its management of the stockpile, HHS must establish and maintain domestic reserves of certain supplies, including through purchases, leases, or joint ventures to access facilities and equipment to produce these supplies. The authority for such purchases, leases, or joint ventures terminates on September 30, 2023. Additionally, the bill temporarily authorizes HHS to award grants to states for maintaining stockpiles of certain equipment and supplies for use during public health emergencies. HHS must also develop transparent processes for the use and distribution of supplies from the stockpile that address, for example, the prioritization of requests. Additionally, during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response must report monthly on requests for supplies from states, tribes, and other jurisdictions. These reports must include the rationale for any partially fulfilled or denied requests. Lastly, the Government Accountability Office must study the feasibility of establishing user fees to offset costs for procuring single-source materials for, and distributing such materials from, the stockpile.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2020
MFAR Transparency Act This bill restricts the implementation of, and requires additional reporting with respect to, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule titled Medicaid Program; Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation , published on November 18, 2019. The proposed rule establishes new reporting requirements for states with respect to supplemental payments and upper payment limits under Medicaid and generally modifies requirements relating to state Medicaid financing. The bill prohibits the CMS from finalizing or otherwise implementing the proposed rule without congressional authorization. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the fiscal impact of the proposed rule on health care facilities and state and local governments.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2020
Masks for All Act of 2020 This bill requires state, tribal, territorial, and local governments to mandate, as a condition of receiving federal COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) relief funds, the use of face coverings in public spaces during the COVID-19 emergency. The bill also provides for exceptions to this requirement, such as for individuals who are under the age of two and those who need assistance removing face coverings. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services may award grants to states, tribes, and territories to promote access to face coverings, including by installing face covering dispensers in public places.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2020
Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services Act or the TREATS Act This bill modifies requirements relating to coverage of certain telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill permanently allows telehealth services for substance-use disorders to be provided via audio-only technology, if a physician or practitioner has already conducted an in-person or video telehealth evaluation. Schedule III or IV controlled substances may also be prescribed online if a practitioner has conducted a telehealth evaluation with video.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2020
Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act This bill authorizes the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, subject to certain limitations, to waive matching funds requirements applicable to certain grants for reducing substance use among youth. Before waiving these requirements, the program must determine that a grantee is unable to raise funds because of the COVID-19 (i.e. coronavirus disease 2019) emergency. Currently, the Office of National Drug Control Policy administers this program, and community coalitions that receive the grants must match a specified percentage of the federal award amount with nonfederal funds, including in-kind contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Facilitating Reforms that Offer Necessary Telehealth In Every Rural (FRONTIER) Community Act This bill modifies requirements relating to coverage of certain telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill removes restrictions that require the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) to be in certain rural areas and to be a specific type of facility, if the services (1) are mental health services furnished in a frontier state, or (2) are furnished in an Indian Health Service facility. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Agriculture must award grants for broadband infrastructure in frontier states to support the provision of mental health services via telehealth under Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Minority Community Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2020 This bill establishes a grant program for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) preparedness and response in medically underserved communities where the disease disproportionally affects racial and ethnic minority groups. It also modifies the scope and administration of demonstration models carried out by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to address health inequity. With respect to the grant program, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must award grants to government entities, giving priority to local governments and county health departments, for contact tracing, other public health activities, and the provision of nutrition assistance and quarantine housing. HHS may also support planning activities for entities that intend to apply for these grants. As a condition for receiving funding, grantees must establish, or designate an existing body as, a COVID-19/infectious disease planning council. The council must reflect the demographics of the populations most impacted by COVID-19, and its responsibilities shall include developing a plan for the delivery of health care and support services to address COVID-19 and establishing priorities for allocating funding. In addition, the CMMI must test a payment model that addresses social determinants of health and health disparities, particularly with respect to minorities, underserved areas, and high-risk individuals. The bill also generally incorporates consideration of such factors into the selection, implementation, and evaluation of other models, including the decision as to whether to expand a model's duration and scope.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Essential Workforce Parity Act This bill limits the liability of health care professionals and related health care entities for certain harm caused in the course of arranging or providing health care services during and shortly after the COVID-19 public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Gabby's Law Act This bill requires hospitals, as a condition of Medicare participation, to adopt sepsis protocols that meet specified standards. Among other requirements, such protocols must include identification and treatment of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock in individuals of all ages in emergency departments and as part of inpatient services.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Infectious Disease Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Act This bill establishes the National Medical Command and a grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to prevent and respond to infectious diseases. It also requires a strategic plan focused on treatments and vaccine development for infectious diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
This bill allows certain small businesses whose gross receipts do not exceed $1 million a refundable portion of the tax credit for increasing research activities if such businesses are engaging in specified medical research. It defines specified medical research as any qualified research with respect to qualified countermeasures. A qualified countermeasure is a drug, biological product, or device that is determined to be a priority (1) to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat harm from any biological agent (including organisms that cause an infectious disease) or toxin, chemical, radiological, or nuclear agent that may cause a public health emergency affecting national security; (2) to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat harm from a condition that may result in adverse health consequences or death and may be caused by administering a drug, biological product, or device; or (3) is a product or technology intended to enhance the use or effect of a drug, biological product, or device.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
This bill allows a new research tax credit amount for 14% of specified medical research expenditures. It defines specified medical research expenditures as amounts paid for any qualified research with respect to any qualified countermeasure. A qualified countermeasure is a drug, biological product, or device that is determined to be a priority (1) to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat harm from any biological agent (including organisms that cause an infectious disease) or toxin, chemical, radiological, or nuclear agent that may cause a public health emergency affecting national security; (2) to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat harm from a condition that may result in adverse health consequences or death and may be caused by administering a drug, biological product, or device; or (3) is a product or technology intended to enhance the use or effect of a drug, biological product, or device. The bill also sets forth a special rule for treatment of specified medical research expenditures paid or incurred in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2021.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
This bill extends through December 30, 2022, the coverage period for the Coronavirus Relief Fund to make payments to tribal governments for necessary expenditures incurred as a result of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Strengthening Behavioral Health Parity Act This bill establishes compliance mechanisms related to the requirements for health insurance plans that cover mental health or substance use disorder services to provide such coverage in a manner consistent with the coverage of other medical and surgical services under their plans.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
VA Clinical Training in Evidence-based treatments And Military Culture Act of 2020 or the VA Clinical TEAM Culture Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish standards and requirements for the provision of mental health care by non-VA providers in the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). The established standards must be the same as the standards applicable to VA employees who provide mental health care. The VA must require non-VA mental health care providers to complete training courses on military culture, core competencies for health care professionals, suicide evaluation and management, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma after the provider becomes approved under the VCCP. The VA must also (1) identify additional training areas for which to develop courses, and (2) require the non-VA providers to complete such courses.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Helping Experts Accelerate Rare Treatments Act of 2020 This bill addresses rare diseases, including by requiring the Food and Drug Administration to ensure the inclusion of rare disease experts and staff members in various parts of the drug review process. The bill also requires certain reports to address issues related to rare diseases and drugs for treating such diseases (sometimes referred to as orphan drugs if the rarity of the disease makes it difficult for the drug to be profitable).
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Protect Access to Birth Control Act This bill nullifies interim final rules issued by the Department of Labor, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Health and Human Services that allow employers with religious or moral objections to be exempt from the requirement that their health insurance plans cover contraceptive services without cost-sharing.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Safer Compounding in Hospitals Act of 2020 This bill temporarily provides an additional payment under Medicare to hospitals that use a specified automated technology to prepare sterile intravenous treatments.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
HIV Epidemic Loan-Repayment Program Act of 2020 or the HELP Act of 2020 This bill directs the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to carry out a loan repayment program for certain health care providers who agree to provide HIV treatment or HIV dental care in (1) a designated health professional shortage area, (2) a clinical site that is funded under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, or (3) an area that meets requirements specified by HRSA. For each qualifying year of service, HRSA pays one-fifth of the principal and interest on any eligible loan, with total loan repayment after five years; repayment is capped at $250,000 per borrower.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
State Stockpile Readiness Act of 2020 This bill temporarily authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to award matching grants to states for expanding or maintaining stockpiles of commercially available medical equipment and supplies for use during public health emergencies.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Reviewing Urban and Rural Adjustments to Level Hospital Expenses and Lopsided Payments Act of 2020 or the RURAL HELP Act of 2020 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to determine whether costs incurred by rural hospitals exceed costs incurred by urban hospitals under the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system and to adjust payments accordingly.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Immigration Enforcement Moratorium Act This bill temporarily limits certain immigration enforcement activities during public health emergencies. During a public health emergency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall, with certain exceptions, suspend all immigration enforcement activities including (1) removals of noncitizens, (2) arrests and apprehensions of noncitizens, and (3) required check-ins by certain noncitizens with immigration enforcement officials. DHS may carry out an enforcement activity if there is credible and individualized evidence that the noncitizen is a threat to another person or the community. During a public health emergency, DHS shall, with certain exceptions, parole a noncitizen into the United States if the noncitizen was (1) denied admission at a port of entry, or (2) apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection within 14 days of entering the United States without authorization. DHS is not required to parole such a noncitizen if there is credible and individualized evidence that the noncitizen is a threat to another person or the community. During this time, the Department of Justice shall (1) suspend all in-person immigration court proceedings, (2) allow for electronic appearances in and the electronic submission of documents for custody proceedings for detained individuals, and (3) suspend deadlines related to various immigration proceedings. DHS may not use federal funds to expel certain noncitizens using legal authority related to the prevention of the spread of communicable diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Missed Opportunities in Public Health and Biomedical Research Act of 2020 This bill requires the National Institutes of Health to annually report on certain unfunded applications for research grants that had potential for improving public health.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Get America Back to Work Act This bill limits civil liability of persons for the spread or transmission of coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19) and exempts employers from certain federal occupational safety and health laws and regulations in relation to the virus. The bill shall be in effect from January 1, 2020, until 18 months after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Generally, a person shall be exempt from liability for the spread or transmission of the virus if the person made reasonable efforts to comply with applicable guidance regarding COVID-19. Further, a health care provider acting in good faith shall be exempt from liability for the spread or transmission of the virus caused by the provider's act or omission if (1) the provider was providing health care services significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) the act or omission occurred while a health professional was performing services within the scope of the professional's license or certification to provide such services, and (3) the act or omission does not exceed the scope of the license or certification of a substantially similar health professional. However, a person (including a health care provider) may still be liable in certain instances, such as if the act or omission in question constitutes willful or criminal misconduct, reckless misconduct, or gross negligence. Additionally, the bill exempts employers from citation and civil and criminal penalties for violating occupational safety and health standards related to the spread or transmission of the virus, if the employer made reasonable efforts to comply with applicable guidance related to the virus.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2020
Assimilating Health and Equity Assessments into Decision-making of 2020 or AHEAD Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) to study, and make certain recommendations concerning, the use of health impact assessments or other tools to evaluate the effect of proposed federal legislation on health and health disparities. When developing recommendations to incorporate these tools into the federal legislative process, the National Academies must consult with the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service.
United States · United States Congress · 6 July 2020
Granny Pods Study Act of 2020 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to study the provision of certain long-term care services for physically or mentally impaired individuals through temporary family health care structures (also known as granny pods ). Specifically, the CMS must (1) identify services that are already covered by Medicare or Medicaid that could be provided in temporary family health care structures by caregivers, (2) determine reasonable reimbursement rates for such services, and (3) provide the cost differential between such rates and the rates for services provided in nursing facilities. The bill defines temporary family health care structure as a transportable residential structure that helps a caregiver (i.e., adult relative) of an individual who is mentally or physically impaired to care for the individual. The structure must have been primarily assembled at a different location from where it is installed, may be no larger than 300 gross square feet, and must be limited to only one occupant (the individual in need of care).
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
PPE Supply Chain Transparency Act of 2020 This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to issue, within 90 days, a public report on the security and resilience of the supply chain for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. This equipment includes face masks, protective clothing, and other supplies designed to protect the wearer from injury or infection.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Securing Healthcare and Response Equipment Act of 2020 or the SHARE Act of 2020 This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to transfer personal protective equipment or medically necessary equipment to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during a declared public health emergency. These transfers must be made at the request of HHS and on a reimbursable basis.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Federal Emergency Pandemic Response Act This bill addresses the issue of national pandemic preparedness and response. It directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to convene an Interagency Task Force to analyze U.S. preparedness for national pandemics. The task force shall, among other things (1) determine the mission of the Strategic National Stockpile and clearly define it, and (2) assess the current and future inventory needs of the stockpile. The bill establishes within (1) the executive branch the Unified Coordination Group led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and (2) FEMA a Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force to address the supply of critical protective and life saving equipment. The National Response Coordination Center, acting through the appropriate FEMA Regional Administrators, shall (1) request voluntary information from states regarding their holdings of equipment and medical supply necessary in the event of a pandemic, and (2) share information with states regarding the federal government's current inventory and plan. FEMA, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), shall monitor the inventory stockpile levels, economic and health care models, and evaluate available data on supply and demand trends to restock and increase the inventory of supplies maintained in the stockpile. The bill authorizes DHS to transfer personal protective equipment or medically necessary equipment to HHS during a declared public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Flexible Financing for Rural America Act of 2020 This bill allows rural utility service providers to submit to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) a request to adjust the interest rate or modify the terms of certain loans. The request shall include a report summarizing how the adjustment or modification will assist the borrower in providing critical utility services to a rural community. Specifically, on receipt of a request, USDA must adjust the interest rate on the loan to match certain interest rates in effect when the bill is enacted for obligations of comparable maturity to the term remaining on the loan (or a higher rate requested by the borrower), and make modifications to the loan terms as necessary to address changes in the financial position of the borrower due to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency and to promote the financial sustainability of the borrower. In carrying out the adjustments or modifications, USDA shall not impose or collect any fee from, or impose any penalty on, a borrower. The bill also provides funding to implement the adjustments and modifications.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
SAFE Workers Act or the Secure And Fair Elections for Workers Act This bill requires the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to provide employees with the ability to vote remotely by telephone or the internet in union representation elections during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. The bill further permits the NLRB's use of appropriations to issue directives or regulations providing for electronic voting methods.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
United States Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Review Act This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission to submit annually to Congress a report on foreign investment in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. The report shall address, among other topics, the effect of the industry's reliance on foreign manufacturing.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
End Surprise Medical Bills for Air Ambulances Act of 2020 This bill establishes an independent dispute resolution process for health insurances costs related to out-of-network air ambulance services. Specifically, this process requires health insurance plans (1) to pay the billed amount to the out-of-network air ambulance provider within 30 days of receipt of a bill for such services, or (2) to notify the provider and the patient who received service that the bill is being disputed and that the patient is not responsible for the disputed amount. The plan and the provider then must agree to an amount to be paid within 90 days, or they must enter into a dispute resolution process with an Independent Dispute Resolution Entity selected at random from the list of such qualified entities established by the Department of Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Emergency Support for Nursing Homes and Elder Justice Reform Act of 2020 This bill establishes a series of requirements relating to the quality of care provided in nursing and long-term care facilities, specifically with respect to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) and elder abuse, and also modifies and extends several elder justice programs and initiatives. Among other things, the bill (1) requires a portion of any funds received through COVID-19 appropriations to be used for personal protective equipment and testing in Medicare skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), Medicaid nursing facilities (NFs), and long-term care facilities, including assisted living facilities, and for specialized strike teams to address outbreaks in SNFs and NFs; (2) requires SNFs, NFs, and long-term care facilities to report COVID-19 cases and deaths, as well as unrelated deaths, from January 1, 2020, onwards and on a continual daily basis; and (3) requires a specified portion of COVID-19 appropriations to be directed to state and tribal agencies responsible for adult protective services. Additionally, the bill reauthorizes through FY2023 (1) grants to support state long-term care ombudsman programs, (2) elder abuse forensic centers, and (3) grants to support state adult protective services.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
SOS: Sustaining Outpatient Services Act This bill allows for payment under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services of certain items and services that are furnished at off-campus outpatient departments. Specifically, the bill allows for payment of items and services for which payments to physician specialists (under the Medicare physician fee schedule) did not exceed $2 million during the previous year.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Emergency Housing Assistance for Older Adults Act of 2020 This bill authorizes additional assistance for supportive housing for the elderly. Among other things, the bill authorizes additional rental assistance for low-income elderly persons and additional grants to certain federally assisted housing projects to provide service coordinators to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
This bill waives certain eligibility requirements for hospitals participating in the 340B drug discount program (i.e., a program that allows entities to receive covered outpatient drugs at reduced prices from manufacturers) during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. Specifically, the bill waives the required minimum proportion of low-income patients served for hospitals that began participating in the program during or prior to the COVID-19 emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Timely and Effective Systematic Testing Act or the TEST Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, the Government Accountability Office, and others to incorporate laboratory data and lessons from recent public health emergencies in grants, reports, and other activities focused on biosurveillance, electronic case reporting, and interoperability of public health and health care data systems.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Flexible Financing for Rural America Act of 2020 This bill allows rural utility service providers to submit to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) a request to adjust the interest rate or modify the terms of certain loans. The request shall include a report summarizing how the adjustment or modification will assist the borrower in providing critical utility services to a rural community. Specifically, on receipt of a request, USDA must adjust the interest rate on the loan to match certain interest rates in effect when the bill is enacted for obligations of comparable maturity to the term remaining on the loan (or a higher rate requested by the borrower), and make modifications to the loan terms as necessary to address changes in the financial position of the borrower due to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency and to promote the financial sustainability of the borrower. In carrying out the adjustments or modifications, USDA shall not impose or collect any fee from, or impose any penalty on, a borrower. The bill also provides funding to implement the adjustments and modifications.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2020
Responding to Epidemic Losses and Investing in the Economic Future for Producers Act of 2020 or the RELIEF for Producers Act of 2020 This bill establishes requirements and provides funding for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make payments to livestock and poultry producers to offset losses related to the intentional depopulation of livestock and poultry due to insufficient access to meat or poultry processing during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The bill also provides additional funding to USDA for animal disease prevention and management programs.