Healthcare

Opioid Prescription Verification Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2018

Opioid Prescription Verification Act of 2018 This bill requires retail distributors of opioids in states with prescription drug monitoring programs, for each opioid sale, to (1) verify the identity of the purchaser; and (2) enter into the program's system the name and address of the purchaser, the name and address of the patient for whom the opioid is prescribed, the name of the opioid, the quantity sold, and the date and time of the sale.

First Amendment Defense Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2018

First Amendment Defense Act This bill prohibits the federal government from taking discriminatory action against a person on the basis that such person speaks or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that: (1) marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman or two individuals as recognized under federal law, or (2) sexual relations outside marriage are improper. The bill defines "person" as any person regardless of religious affiliation, except publicly traded for-profit entities; federal employees acting within the scope of their employment; federal for-profit contractors acting within the scope of their contract; or hospitals and other health care entities with respect to visitation, recognition of a designated representative for health care decisions, or refusal to provide medical treatment necessary to cure an illness or injury.

Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2018

Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to create a loan repayment program for individuals who complete a period of service in a substance use disorder treatment job in a mental health professional shortage area or a county where the drug overdose death rate is higher than the national average. The substance use disorder treatment job must be a full-time position where the primary intent and function is the direct care of patients with or in recovery from a substance use disorder. Individuals must enter into an agreement of service of up to six years with the Health Resources and Services Administration. The repayment program shall pay one-sixth of the principal and interest on any eligible loan for each year of service; the maximum total amount of repayment by the program is $250,000 per individual.

Colorectal Cancer Detection Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 8 March 2018

Colorectal Cancer Detection Act of 2018 This bill provides for Medicare coverage and payment, subject to specified frequency limits, of certain colorectal cancer screening blood-based tests.

ALTO Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018

Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a three-year demonstration program awarding grants to hospitals and emergency departments to develop, implement, enhance, or study alternative pain management protocols and treatments that promote limited use of opioids in emergency departments.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish Alzheimer's Disease research, education, and clinical centers.

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate and operate centers of Alzheimer's disease research, education, and clinical activities in at least three VA health care facilities.

Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018

Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) in the Emergency Department Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a three-year demonstration program awarding grants to hospitals and emergency departments to develop, implement, enhance, or study alternative pain management protocols and treatments that promote limited use of opioids in emergency departments.

School Safety and Mental Health Services Improvement Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018

School Safety and Mental Health Services Improvement Act of 2018 This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow state and local educational agencies to use certain federal funds for activities related to school safety, including: (1) infrastructure improvements to prevent, mitigate, or respond to incidents of school violence; and (2) professional development for school personnel in mental-health awareness, crisis response, and other programs designed to reduce and prevent school violence. The bill also amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the programs for which the Department of Health and Human Services may provide financial support to assist local communities in helping children deal with violence. Such programs may include those designed to provide mental-health and substance-use disorder assessments, crisis-intervention training, counseling, treatment, and referral. The President must convene an interagency task force to address school safety.

Improving Choices in Health Care Coverage Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018

Improving Choices in Health Care Coverage Act This bill requires a health insurance issuer that offers short-term, limited-duration insurance to renew the coverage at the option of the individual.

A resolution supporting the designation of March 2018 as "National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2018

Expresses support for the designation of March 2018 as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Preventing Overdoses While in Emergency Rooms Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 6 March 2018

Preventing Overdoses While in Emergency Rooms Act of 2018 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program to: (1) develop protocols for discharging patients who are treated for a drug overdose, and (2) enhance the integration and coordination of postdischarge care and treatment options for individuals with a substance use disorder.

Urban Progress Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2018

Urban Progress Act of 2018 This bill amends various provisions of law and sets forth new provisions to promote economic development, expand employment opportunities, reduce gun violence, and limit the impact of poverty. Among other things, it: makes permanent the work opportunity tax credit and increases it for employers who hire ex-felons; establishes grants to promote commercial development in underserved communities, to provide career training programs, and to support summer employment opportunities for youth; increases tax deductions for business start-up expenditures and for corporations' organizational expenditures; establishes a working group to develop a national plan to reduce child poverty; increases Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, when school is not in session, for households with minor children; increases the child tax credit for low-income taxpayers; creates a process to expunge and seal certain youth criminal records; authorizes grants to prevent juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity; makes trafficking in firearms a stand-alone criminal offense; requires annual reports on the public health effects of gun violence; broadens the categories of prohibited persons who are barred from receiving or possessing firearms; requires states to submit mental health and criminal history records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System; requires federal agencies and departments, including courts, to certify whether they provided disqualifying records of prohibited persons; prohibits firearm transfers between private parties unless a licensed dealer first conducts a background check; requires gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms; and prohibits licensed gun dealers from transferring firearms to unlicensed persons prior to background check completion.

Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2018

Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act of 2018 This bill provides for Medicare coverage and payment of cancer care planning and coordination services.

Undo Sabotage and Expand Affordability of Health Insurance Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2018

Undo Sabotage and Expand Affordability of Health Insurance Act of 2018 This bill makes a series of changes relating to health insurance coverage, costs, and funding mechanisms. Among other things, the bill expands requirements relating to coverage of preexisting conditions to include short-term, limited-duration insurance and also establishes a national reinsurance program.

To require the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service to submit to Congress an annual report on the effects of gun violence on public health.

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2018

This bill requires the Surgeon General to report annually to Congress on the effects of gun violence on public health and the status of actions taken to address those effects.

Fair Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2018

Fair Care Act This bill prohibits implementation of the rule titled "Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance," which lengthened the maximum period of coverage for such insurance. The bill specifies that such insurance policies must (1) have a specified, limited duration not to exceed 93 days; (2) be nonrenewable; (3) prominently display certain information about coverage limitations in marketing materials; (4) cover essential health benefits; and (5) meet other specified requirements.

DEA Enforcement and Authority Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 2018

DEA Enforcement and Authority Act of 2018 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to modify enforcement authorities of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The bill modifies the required elements of an order to show cause issued by the DEA before it denies, revokes, or suspends a registration for a CSA violation. Specifically, it eliminates the requirement for an order to show cause to notify the registrant of the opportunity to submit a corrective action plan. Additionally, the bill modifies the standard of review for an immediate suspension order. Currently, the DEA may immediately suspend the registration of a controlled substances manufacturer, distributor, or dispenser to prevent imminent danger to the public health and safety. This bill lowers the standard for determining imminent danger to the public health and safety—from substantial likelihood of an immediate threat of harm to probable cause that harm will occur.

Protecting Medicare from Excessive Price Increases Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018

Protecting Medicare from Excessive Price Increases Act of 2018 This bill requires a drug manufacturer to pay a Medicare rebate on a single-source drug or biological in accordance with the extent to which the manufacturer's average sales price for the drug or biological increases faster than inflation.

Supporting the designation of March 2018 as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018

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

To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a grant program improving treatment for pregnant and postpartum women.

United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to extend through FY2023 a grant program for public and nonprofit private entities that provide residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women being treated for substance use disorders.

TARA Act

United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018

Tribal Addiction and Recovery Act of 2018 or the TARA Act This bill amends the 21st Century Cures Act to give Indian tribes and tribal organizations access to the opioid grant program designated for the state response to the opioid crisis.

A resolution designating February 28, 2018, as "Rare Disease Day".

United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018

Designates February 28, 2018, as Rare Disease Day. Expresses support for a national and global commitment to developing new treatments, diagnostics, and cures for rare diseases and disorders.

A resolution designating the week of February 26 through March 4, 2018, as "National Eating Disorders Awareness Week" and supporting the goals and ideals of raising awareness and understanding of eating disorders.

United States · United States Congress · 1 March 2018

Designates February 26-March 4, 2018, as National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Recognizes the need for treatment of individuals with eating disorders and for further research.

Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2018

Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to government, educational, and nonprofit entities for the purpose of supporting data collection and public health activities regarding sickle cell disease. Additionally, the bill reauthorizes through FY2022 and revises the sickle cell disease grant program for federally-qualified health centers, nonprofit hospitals or clinics, and university health centers.

Expanding Access to Low Cost Generic Drugs Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2018

Expanding Access to Low Cost Generic Drugs Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to disqualify from receiving market exclusivity a generic drug manufacturer who enters into an agreement with the patent holder for a brand name drug to delay getting the generic drug approved or to delay marketing it.

VICTOR Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2018

Veterans Increased Choice for Transplanted Organs and Recovery Act of 2018 or the VICTOR Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish organ transplant (including bone marrow transplant) care at eligible non-VA facilities to electing veterans who are enrolled in the VA medical care system and who received VA hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary care within the 24-month period preceding such transplant care. The VA shall enter into provider payment agreements with non-VA facilities for such care in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (regional VA health care administrative areas). The VA shall not pay a veteran's travel and lodging costs outside the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network region in which the veteran resides unless the VA authorizes such outside care. (The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network is a public-private partnership that links all professionals and donors involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system.)

STAAR Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 February 2018

Strategies To Address Antibiotic Resistance Act or the STAAR Act This bill expands various initiatives to address antibiotic resistance. The bill reestablishes the interagency Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force to coordinate and develop efforts addressing antibiotic resistance. The Department of Health and Human Services must encourage health care facilities to implement antimicrobial stewardship programs to evaluate and improve the use of antimicrobial drugs. The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to use the National Healthcare Safety Network to collect and report data about the usage of antibiotic drugs, changes in resistance to such drugs, and other trends impacting patient outcomes. Additionally, the bill increases nationwide efforts to monitor, research, and prevent the spread of infection from resistant organisms by establishing the Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance and Laboratory Network in at least seven geographic regions, establishing the Clinical Trials Network on Antibacterial Resistance to conduct clinical research, and requiring the CDC to collaborate with state and local agencies to support health care facilities that focus on preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act of 2018 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to create a loan repayment program for individuals who complete a period of service in a substance use disorder treatment job in a mental health professional shortage area or a county where the drug overdose death rate is higher than the national average. The substance use disorder treatment job must be a full-time position where the primary intent and function is the direct care of patients with or in recovery from a substance use disorder. Individuals must enter into an agreement of service of up to six years with the Health Resources and Services Administration. The repayment program shall pay one-sixth of the principal and interest on any eligible loan for each year of service; the maximum total amount of repayment by the program is $250,000 per individual.

CARA 2.0 Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

CARA 2.0 Act of 2018 This bill reauthorizes through FY2023 and revises several programs relating to opioid- and substance-use disorder prevention and treatment, including awareness campaigns and training programs for first responders; the bill also establishes several requirements relating to opioid prescribing practices, such as an initial three-day supply limit for certain opioids.

Recovery Home Certification Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Recovery Home Certification Act of 2018 This bill requires the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery to establish model criteria for recovery homes and award grants to states that establish and operate recovery homes based on such model criteria. The bill also makes it unlawful to make or receive payments for referrals to recovery homes or clinical treatment facilities.

Medicare Enrollment Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Medicare Enrollment Protection Act This bill creates a special Medicare enrollment period for individuals enrolled in, or transitioning out of, continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The bill exempts such individuals from certain monthly premium increases associated with delaying Medicare coverage.

Eliminating the HHS Discrimination Division Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Eliminating the HHS Discrimination Division Act of 2018 This bill eliminates the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and prohibits the use of federal funds to establish or operate a similar entity with respect to HHS programs and activities.

RARE Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Rare disease Advancement, Research, and Education Act of 2018 or the RARE Act of 2018 This bill reauthorizes through FY2023 the Office of Rare Diseases in the National Institutes of Health. The bill requires (1) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand infrastructure and activities to track the epidemiology of rare diseases and conditions and to incorporate this information into a National Rare Disease or Condition Surveillance System, and (2) the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to expand its activities to increase providers' awareness of rare diseases and conditions.

Federal Opioid Response Fairness Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Federal Opioid Response Fairness Act of 2018 This bill amends the 21st Century Cures Act to alter the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration opioid grant program for states. Specifically, the bill alters the criteria for the award of grants by prioritizing states with a comparatively high prevalence of opioid-disorder adverse health effects and per capita overdose mortality rates. The bill also establishes a minimum amount for each grant.

Expressing support for the designation of October 17 as "National Vitiligo Awareness Day".

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Expresses support for the designation of National Vitiligo Awareness Day. (Vitiligo is a condition in which skin color is lost in patches.) Recognizes the importance of providing support for individuals diagnosed with vitiligo.

Recognizing the rise of cardiovascular disease as the world's leading cause of preventable death and disability and as the global public health crisis of our generation and recognizing February 2018 as "American Heart Month".

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Expresses support for the recognition of American Heart Month to bring awareness to the cardiovascular disease public health crisis in the United States and abroad.

Community Action Opioid Response Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Community Action Opioid Response Act of 2018 This bill requires the Office of Community Services within the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program that helps low-income individuals, families, and communities affected by the national opioid epidemic. Grants must be awarded to Community Action Agencies (local organizations that work to reduce poverty in low-income communities) for specified activities relating to opioid misuse and abuse, including education, outreach, prevention, and treatment services.

Every Prescription Conveyed Securely Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Every Prescription Conveyed Securely Act This bill generally requires, with specified exceptions, electronic prescribing under the Medicare prescription drug benefit with respect to covered drugs that are controlled substances.

Ensuring the Value of the 340B Program Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 27 February 2018

Ensuring the Value of the 340B Program Act of 2018 This bill requires a hospital participating in the 340B drug discount program to include, in any Medicare cost report to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, information on: (1) the aggregate acquisition costs of the hospital for drugs acquired under the program; and (2) the aggregate revenues the hospital received from all payors for such drugs, disaggregated by insurance status.

Flu Vaccine Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2018

Flu Vaccine Act This bill requires the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to conduct or support research for a universal influenza vaccine.

Protection from Overprescribing Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 February 2018

Protection from Overprescribing Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to consider when awarding a grant to a state to support the state's prescription drug monitoring program whether the state's program provides reports to law enforcement agencies, licensing boards, and other agencies describing any prescribers who repeatedly fall outside of expected norms or standard practices.

Expanding Access to Evidence-Based Opioid Treatment for Seniors Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 23 February 2018

Expanding Access to Evidence-Based Opioid Treatment for Seniors Act of 2018 This bill extends Medicare coverage to opioid-use disorder treatment services and programs.

COMBAT Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 23 February 2018

Comprehensive Opioid Management and Bundled Addiction Treatment Act of 2018 or the COMBAT Act of 2018 This bill provides for coverage and payment of specified opioid-treatment program services under the Medicare program.

PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2019 HEALTH CARE PROPOSALS

United States · United States Senate · 15 February 2018

Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018

Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2018 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to reauthorize through FY2023 the collection of animal drug user fees.

Safe Staffing for Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018

Safe Staffing for Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2018 This bill requires hospitals, as a condition of Medicare participation, to develop staffing plans for nursing services in accordance with specified criteria.

Expressing support for the designation of March 3, 2018, as World Hearing Day.

United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018

Expresses support for the designation of World Hearing Day. Recognizes the importance of preventing hearing loss through self-protective behavior and the importance of patient access to early detection and intervention by health care professionals in the process of identification, treatment, and rehabilitation of hearing loss.

Advancing Access to Precision Medicine Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018

Advancing Access to Precision Medicine Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Medicine for the academy to study usage of genetic and genomic testing, including how to reduce barriers to the utilization of such testing. The bill allows states to apply for an exception to Medicaid's federal medical assistance percentage rate to provide whole genome sequencing clinical services to certain children, including those admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit for a chronic or undiagnosed disease and those suspected to have a pediatric-onset genetic disease.

Safe Staffing for Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018

Safe Staffing for Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2018 This bill requires hospitals, as a condition of Medicare participation, to develop staffing plans for nursing services in accordance with specified criteria.

Flu Vaccine Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2018

Flu Vaccine Act This bill requires the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to conduct or support research for a universal influenza vaccine.