Healthcare

Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 various programs and activities that support public health preparedness and response. This includes the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program, which provides funding for health departments to build their capacity to respond to public health threats; the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Program, which supports the ability of health departments to prevent and address infectious disease outbreaks; and the Epidemic Intelligence Service, an applied epidemiology training program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on data collection and sharing by the federal government during public health emergencies that involve infectious disease outbreaks or biological threats (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic).

PHEMCE Advisory Committee Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

PHEMCE Advisory Committee Act of 2023 This bill establishes an advisory committee for the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE). (The PHEMCE identifies national health security needs and recommends related countermeasures and strategies to address those needs.) The committee must support the PHEMCE by soliciting stakeholder input, coordinating with other government entities, helping to communicate decisions, and generally providing advice regarding the PHEMCE's duties.  

Pharmaceutical Security Production Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Pharmaceutical Security Production Act This bill establishes the Commission on Strengthening the Domestic Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. The commission must assess the security and vulnerabilities of the domestic pharmaceutical supply chain in the United States and recommend improvements, including by developing metrics for domestic manufacturing programs, proposing solutions to strengthen the domestic manufacturing workforce, and evaluating ways to support a financial market for domestically manufactured products. The commission terminates four years after the bill is enacted.

Supporting the goals and ideals of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month.

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

This resolutions supports the goals and ideals of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month (Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that results in a loss of memory and other cognitive functions and death).

States Choose Life Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

States Choose Life Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from requiring recipients of Title X Family Planning Grants to provide (1) referrals for pregnancy termination, or (2) information or counseling on options for pregnancy termination that are unlawful in the state where the family planning services are offered.

Tick Identification Pilot Program Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Tick Identification Pilot Program Act of 2023 This bill authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award grants to states to implement tick-identification programs, which must allow individuals to electronically report tick incidents and receive feedback from experts as to the appropriate follow-up action.

Stamp Out Lyme Disease Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Stamp Out Lyme Disease Act This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Lyme Disease Research Semipostal Stamp, with all proceeds being transferred to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Fairness in Medicare Savings Program Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Fairness in Medicare Savings Program Act of 2023 This bill requires Medicaid programs in U.S. territories to offer Medicare cost-sharing assistance for qualifying beneficiaries. Amounts expended for this purpose are excluded from Medicaid funding caps.

Promising Pathway Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 June 2023

Promising Pathway Act This bill provides for expedited, provisional approval of drugs for serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions. Specifically, the bill allows for provisional approval of drugs that are used to treat, prevent, or diagnose a serious or life-threatening disease or condition for which premature death is likely without early medical intervention. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must evaluate applications within 90 days of receipt. The FDA may approve applications if there is early evidence, including real-world and real-time evidence, of the drug's efficacy, as well as substantial evidence of the drug's safety. Provisional approval is valid for two years and may be renewed for up to eight years. The FDA may withdraw provisional approval in the event of serious adverse health effects.  Drug sponsors that receive provisional approval must require all patients receiving the drug to participate in an observational registry, through which the drug sponsor may collect and submit data relating to the drug until it is fully approved. Registries may be operated by the drug sponsor or another entity. The FDA must annually review these registries; sponsors of registries that fail to meet the bill's requirements are subject to civil penalties.   

PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2023 This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover prescription drugs that prevent HIV, including related screenings, diagnostic procedures, administrative fees, and clinical follow-ups, without any cost-sharing obligation for the plan holder. Further, insurance plans must not impose any preauthorization requirement for this coverage. These coverage requirements also apply to public health insurance programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Additionally, the bill prohibits denying, limiting, or qualifying coverage or increasing premiums for disability insurance, long-term care insurance, or life insurance policies based on an individual taking medication for HIV prevention. The bill further requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states, or directly to eligible local organizations, to provide uninsured individuals and underinsured individuals access to prescription drugs and related services that prevent HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also must develop a public awareness campaign that focuses efforts in communities with a high need for HIV prevention treatment. HHS, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Treasury must enforce and report on private insurers' compliance with the bill's requirements.

Survival Aid For Emergencies through Medicare Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

Survival Aid For Emergencies through Medicare Act or the SAFE through Medicare Act This bill provides for Medicare coverage of medically necessary services for beneficiaries who are determined to be medically at-risk during a climate or manmade disaster (i.e., home resiliency services), such as heat pumps, batteries for medical equipment, and energy efficient storage for medical supplies.

Agricultural Access to Addiction and Mental Health Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

Agricultural Access to Addiction and Mental Health Care Act This bill directs the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to study the accessibility of addiction and mental health care providers and services for farmers and ranchers impacted by severe and persistent drought, extreme weather events, instability in the commodities market, and misinformation targeting consumers. For example, the study must examine (1) best practices and successful programs at the state and local level that can be replicated at the federal level to address addiction and mental health care needs in agricultural communities, and (2) recommendations for improving the accessibility of care. In conducting the study, NIFA must collaborate and consult with relevant federal agencies, state departments of agriculture, and mental health and agricultural organizations.

PHE Congressional Review Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

PHE Congressional Review Act This bill requires Congress to regularly review whether to continue or end a declared public health emergency.  Specifically, each chamber of Congress must meet within six months of a declaration of a national public health emergency, and every six months thereafter until the emergency ends, to consider a vote on a joint resolution as to whether to end the emergency.

Expressing opposition to the use of State power against people in the United States seeking essential health care, including criminalization of the full range of sexual and reproductive health care such as abortion, gender-affirming care, and contraceptive care, and disapproving of State punishment of people for their pregnancy outcomes.

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

This resolution expresses condemnation for criminalizing the provision of and access to reproductive health care services, including abortion, contraception, and gender-affirming care. It further expresses support for efforts to expand access to such services.

School Sports Safety Study Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

School Sports Safety Study Act This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study and recommend ways to prevent deaths and catastrophic injuries in high school and collegiate sports.

Military Families Mental Health Services Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2023

Military Families Mental Health Services Act This bill authorizes the Department of Defense to waive cost-sharing requirements for the first three outpatient mental health visits for certain beneficiaries of TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime each year. Under the bill, active-duty family members are eligible for such waiver of cost-sharing requirements under both TRICARE Select and TRICARE Prime. Active-duty family members are dependents (e.g., spouses and children who are under the age of 21) of members of the uniformed services who are on active duty for a period of more than 30 days. Additionally, children who are under the age of 26 and are not eligible for an employer-sponsored health care plan are also eligible for such waiver under TRICARE Select. 

Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act This bill prohibits payment under Medicare for a prosthesis, custom-fabricated orthosis, or off-the-shelf orthotics that is delivered via a drop shipment (i.e., shipped to an individual who does not have training in how to properly fit or care for the device). It also specifically allows for payment of replacements of custom-fitted devices.

Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act This bill establishes programs and requirements to support the provision of services for cancer survivors, including health care, employment, and supportive services. For example, the bill provides for Medicare coverage of cancer care planning and coordination services (i.e., treatment plans that are developed by physicians or other providers). It also establishes grant programs for navigation services for cancer survivors with respect to follow-up services (e.g., screenings) and other support. Additionally, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation must test a model to provide cancer survivorship care planning for children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill also provides for other services and support for cancer survivors, including (1) a grant program to provide employment assistance for cancer survivors, including trainings, transportation, and childcare; and (2) Medicaid and CHIP coverage of fertility services for those with cancer and for cancer survivors.

Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act of 2023 This bill establishes an alternative manure management program for eligible dairy and livestock producers and provides specified funds to the program for FY2024 through FY2028. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an alternative manure management program to award producers contracts to support carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Producers must implement management measures that include adopting   pasture-based management; alternative manure treatment and storage practices; a solid separation system (or installing a new, higher efficiency solid separation system); or scrape technologies, including vacuum technologies. The federal cost share may not exceed 90%. Further, the bill caps the maximum payment to a person or legal entity in any five-year period at $825,000. USDA must prioritize contracts to entities that address public health concerns (e.g., air quality and water quality) associated with dairy and livestock operations located near low-income or underserved communities. Further, USDA must ensure geographical diversity when awarding contracts. USDA must also reserve a majority of the program's funds for beginning, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, as well as farmers and ranchers that continue to transition towards enhanced methods of sequestering carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions. The bill also includes composting practices as eligible projects under USDA's Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program. Finally, USDA must review practice standards for composting facilities and soil carbon amendments (e.g., compost) and develop and implement a new conservation practice standard for the on-farm production of compost. 

Organ Donation Clarification Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Dignity for Aborted Children Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Dignity for Aborted Children Act This bill sets out requirements for the disposition of human fetal tissue from an abortion. Specifically, it requires abortion providers to obtain a patient's informed consent for one of two specified methods of disposition. First, patients may choose to retain possession of the tissue. A patient may choose to transfer the tissue to an entity that provides interment or cremation services. Second, the patient may elect to release the tissue to the provider. Providers must ensure any tissue released to them is interred or cremated within seven days of the procedure in a manner consistent with state law regarding the disposal of human remains. Abortion providers must report annually about these requirements and other specified information. The bill provides civil or criminal penalties for violations of disposal, informed consent, and reporting requirements.

National Nursing Shortage Task Force Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

National Nursing Shortage Task Force Act of 2023 This bill establishes a National Nursing Shortage Task Force to recommend policies for addressing the nursing shortage in the United States, particularly in designated health professional shortage areas. The task force terminates 90 days after it submits its recommendations.

Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act This bill allows state Medicaid programs to cover intensive community-based services for adults with serious mental illnesses. Specifically, states may provide for coverage of services that include (1) treatment services that are available 24/7, involve multidisciplinary care teams, and that are designed to improve outcomes for adults with mental illnesses who are at high risk of homelessness, psychiatric crisis, or hospitalization or who are involved in the criminal justice system (i.e., assertive community treatment); (2) employment support; (3) peer support; (4) community-based mobile crisis intervention services; (5) intensive case management; and (6) housing support. The bill provides funds for state planning grants with respect to such coverage. It also provides for an enhanced federal matching rate, also known as the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), for such services.

Expanding Access to Family Planning Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Expanding Access to Family Planning Act This bill provides, subject to specified conditions, funding through FY2033 for federally funded family planning services and clinics. In particular, the funds must be used for (1) grants and contracts that support the provision of family planning services, and (2) clinic infrastructure (e.g., construction and renovation of clinics). Clinics that receive funding to provide family planning services must offer each patient with a positive pregnancy test the opportunity for nondirective counseling on (1) prenatal care and delivery; (2) infant care, foster care, and adoption; and (3) pregnancy termination. This counseling must include referrals if requested by a patient. Additionally, if a funding recipient makes subawards for the provision of family planning services, the recipient may not prohibit an entity from participating in a subaward program for reasons other than the entity's inability to provide family planning services.

Preserving Local Medicaid Access Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Preserving Local Medicaid Access Act of 2023 This bill specifies that, in order to receive certain Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increases under Medicaid, states with a local share requirement must agree to distribute funds to each locality in an amount that is proportional to the locality's Medicaid contributions.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services developing a mobility metric to guide providers in preventing mobility loss among hospitalized older adults.

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should develop quality measures to prevent mobility loss among hospitalized patients.

Healthcare Equality and Rights for Our Heroes Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 June 2023

Healthcare Equality and Rights for Our Heroes Act or the HERO Act This bill allows claims to be brought against the United States for damages relating to the personal injury or death of a member of the Armed Forces arising out of a negligent or wrongful act or omission in providing medical, dental, or related health care functions at a military medical treatment facility. However, the bill does not apply to care provided at a medical treatment location deployed in an area of armed combat.

Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act This bill authorizes actions to facilitate trade in medical goods (i.e., medical devices, pharmaceutical goods, or inputs for such devices or goods). Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to (1) negotiate, enter into, and enforce a trusted trade partner agreement with a country or countries with respect to medical goods; and (2) proclaim a modification of any existing duty, a continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or additional duties to carry out the trade agreement. These actions may only be taken if the President determines, based on specified considerations, that the reciprocal elimination of existing duties or other import restrictions with respect to medical goods would contribute to U.S. national security and public health.  A trusted trade partner agreement may include certain provisions, such as those to (1) reduce or eliminate duties, quotas, or other trade barriers; (2) diversify and expand supplier networks to secure a reliable supply of medical goods; and (3) harmonize regulatory procedures. Not later than 60 days before initiating negotiations with a trusted trade partner, the President must submit written notice to Congress. The bill requires congressional consultation and review of these trade agreements. A trade agreement shall not take effect if, during the required review period, Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative must monitor compliance by a trusted trade partner with the trade agreement's commitments and obligations. Further, the President may take certain actions in response to a failure to comply.

Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act This bill establishes a presumption of service-connection for specified diseases becoming manifest in certain veterans to a degree of disability of 10% or more within 15 years of the veteran's separation from active military, naval, or air service. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific diseases or disabilities diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. Veterans addressed by this bill are those who (1) are trained in fire suppression, and (2) served on active duty in a military occupational specialty or career field with a primary responsibility of firefighting or damage control for at least five years in the aggregate.

HERO Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act or the HERO Act This bill establishes a series of programs relating to the behavioral health of law enforcement officers, first responders, 9-1-1 operators, and other public safety officers and health care providers. The programs include a public safety officer suicide-reporting system at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a grant program for peer-support behavioral health and wellness programs within fire departments and emergency medical services agencies, and a grant program for behavioral health and wellness programs for health care providers.

Abortion Justice Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Abortion Justice Act of 2023 This bill establishes rights, requirements, and programs with the purpose of increasing access to abortion care. The bill specifies that all persons have a fundamental right to make decisions regarding abortions and miscarriages and prohibits federal, state, and local governments from denying, or otherwise penalizing an individual for exercising, that right. Aggrieved individuals may sue governments for violating these prohibitions. Additionally, the bill eliminates language that allows health care entities to decline to offer training related to, performance of, or referrals for abortion care, and generally requires that all federally funded health care providers offer patients all medically appropriate reproductive care, including abortion care. It also (1) requires public and private health insurance plans to cover abortion services, (2) prohibits immigration enforcement actions within 2,000 feet of any health care facility, and (3) establishes a grant program to increase access to abortion services.

Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act This bill provides for coverage without prior authorization requirements of annual lung cancer screenings under Medicaid, Medicare, and private health insurance for individuals for whom screenings are recommended under U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. It also expands Medicaid coverage of counseling and pharmacotherapy for cessation of tobacco use to all individuals, rather than only pregnant women. The Department of Health and Human Services must conduct outreach on the importance of lung cancer screenings and who should be screened, and the Government Accountability Office must report on the demographics of those diagnosed with lung cancer and recommend ways the federal government can improve screenings.

Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2023 This bill requires certain entities that acquire human bodies and sell for profit a whole human body or human body part to register with the Department of Health and Human Services. Registered entities must comply with record-keeping, labeling, packaging, and disposition requirements. The registration and related requirements do not apply to the Organ Transplantation Network (a public-private partnership that links the professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system) or its members; the preparation, transportation, and final disposition of human bodies or body parts by funeral service professionals; and schools of medicine, dentistry, and mortuary science and other research and training entities that do not sell whole human bodies or body parts for profit.

Protect Sexual and Reproductive Health Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Protect Sexual and Reproductive Health Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to undertake activities to promote access to sexual and reproductive health and well-being. The bill renames HHS's Office of Population Affairs as the Office of Sexual and Reproductive Health and modifies its responsibilities. Among other activities, the office must develop and implement a strategy to promote sexual and reproductive health and well-being. This strategy must include recommendations to integrate sexual and reproductive health equity and reproductive justice into federal programs. HHS must also award grants for improving access to sexual and reproductive health care to nonprofit or community-based organizations that assist individuals seeking abortion services through programs that are unbiased and medically and factually accurate. Additionally, HHS and the Director of the White House Gender Policy Council must jointly establish an interagency task force to coordinate and promote federal programs and activities related to sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

ISLET Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Increase Support for Life-saving Endocrine Transplantation Act or the ISLET Act This bill removes pancreatic islets that are donated from human cadavers from regulation as a drug or biological product by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (Islets are groups of cells, including those that make insulin, in the pancreas, and islet transplantation is an experimental treatment for certain conditions, such as type 1 diabetes.) Current FDA guidance treats pancreatic islets as a biological product, which makes them subject to the biological license application process and related standards for manufacturing practices, safety, identity, purity, and potency. The bill, instead, treats human cadaveric islets as organs, which makes them subject to the regulatory framework that governs the allocation, safety, and efficacy of organ donation and transplantation. That framework, developed by the Health Resources and Services Administration, is carried out by contract through the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. (The network is a public-private partnership that links the professionals involved in the U.S. donation and transplantation system.) Specifically, the bill defines human cadaveric islets as organs and excludes them from definitions related to the regulation of drugs and biological products.

Accountability for Long Term Medicare Solvency Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Accountability for Long Term Medicare Solvency Act This bill requires the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services to report on the processes for adding, modifying, and removing billing codes under Medicare. The report must include recommendations for administrative and legislative changes that may improve the transparency and oversight of these processes. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must annually publish on its website a list of billing codes that were added under Medicare during the previous year, as well as the associated volume and expenditures for such codes.  

Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act This bill allows state Medicaid programs to cover intensive community-based services for adults with serious mental illnesses. Specifically, states may provide for coverage of services that include (1) treatment services that are available 24/7, involve multidisciplinary care teams, and that are designed to improve outcomes for adults with mental illnesses who are at high risk of homelessness, psychiatric crisis, or hospitalization or who are involved in the criminal justice system (i.e., assertive community treatment); (2) employment support; (3) peer support; (4) community-based mobile crisis intervention services; (5) intensive case management; and (6) housing support. The bill provides funds for state planning grants with respect to such coverage. It also provides for an enhanced federal matching rate, also known as the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), for such services.

A resolution designating July 15, 2023, as "National Leiomyosarcoma Awareness Day".

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

This resolution designates July 15, 2023, as National Leiomyosarcoma Awareness Day. Leiomyosarcoma is a rare cancer that grows in the smooth muscles of the hollow organs (e.g., intestines, stomach, and bladder) of the body.

A resolution recognizing June 28, 2023, as the 125th anniversary of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and commending the work of the association to improve the health of the people of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

This resolution recognizes the 125th anniversary of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and the work of osteopathic medical students and doctors.

PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2023 This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover prescription drugs that prevent HIV, including related screenings, diagnostic procedures, administrative fees, and clinical follow-ups, without any cost-sharing obligation for the plan holder. Further, insurance plans must not impose any preauthorization requirement for this coverage. These coverage requirements also apply to public health insurance programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Additionally, the bill prohibits denying, limiting, or qualifying coverage or increasing premiums for disability insurance, long-term care insurance, or life insurance policies based on an individual taking medication for HIV prevention. The bill further requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states, or directly to eligible local organizations, to provide uninsured individuals and underinsured individuals access to prescription drugs and related services that prevent HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also must develop a public awareness campaign that focuses efforts in communities with a high need for HIV prevention treatment. HHS, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Treasury must enforce and report on private insurers' compliance with the bill's requirements.

Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Act This bill establishes a Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Program for certain Medicare beneficiaries after they are discharged from a hospital. Specifically, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must establish a four-year demonstration program under which hospitals provide medically tailored, home-delivered meals and associated nutrition therapy for beneficiaries who have a diet-impacted disease (e.g., kidney disease) after they are discharged from the hospital. Hospitals must screen individuals to determine if they qualify for the program as part of the discharge planning process and continue to screen these individuals as part of program participation. Qualifying individuals must live at home, be limited with respect to at least two activities of daily living, and not be eligible for certain other home services (e.g., home health services), along with other specified criteria. The CMS must report on the impact of the program with respect to clinical outcomes and costs, particularly with respect to hospital admissions.

Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act This bill allows an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending disposition of charges (i.e., pretrial detainees) to receive health care benefits through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Ryan White PrEP Availability Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Ryan White PrEP Availability Act This bill expands the use of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grants for providing medical care and services to low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS. Recipients may use the grants to provide pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and related preventive services for individuals who are at risk of contracting HIV.

Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act of 2023 This bill excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, payments received under the federally-funded student loan repayment program for full-time faculty members of dental schools with programs in general pediatric or public health dentistry.  The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on the participation of dental providers and faculty in areas and schools receiving funding under the program.

SEE Care Compare Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Search Engines Examine Care Compare Act or the SEE Care Compare Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to take certain actions to optimize the ability of beneficiaries to find the Medicare Care Compare website. (The website allows Medicare beneficiaries to find and compare health care providers, such as physicians, hospitals, and nursing homes.) The CMS must use search engine optimization practices to make it easier for beneficiaries to find the website, including best practices for indexing and searching, recommendations from search engines, and research-based website designs. The CMS must report on website analytics (e.g., internet traffic) and recommend appropriate legislative and administrative action.

A resolution expressing opposition to the use of State power against people in the United States seeking essential health care, including criminalization of the full range of sexual and reproductive health care such as abortion, gender-affirming care, and contraceptive care, and disapproving of State punishment of people for their pregnancy outcomes.

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

This resolution expresses condemnation for criminalizing the provision of and access to reproductive health care services, including abortion, contraception, and gender-affirming care. It further expresses support for efforts to expand access to such services.

Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Improving Access to Transfusion Care for Hospice Patients Act of 2023 This bill requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to test a model under which blood transfusions furnished to an individual receiving hospice care are paid separately from the hospice all-inclusive per diem payment under Medicare. The CMMI must evaluate the model by comparing patients participating in the model with those outside of the model in relation to specified metrics, such as hospital utilization and days of hospice care before the end of life.

Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act This bill establishes programs and requirements to support the provision of services for cancer survivors, including health care, employment, and supportive services. For example, the bill provides for Medicare coverage of cancer care planning and coordination services (i.e., treatment plans that are developed by physicians or other providers). It also establishes grant programs for navigation services for cancer survivors with respect to follow-up services (e.g., screenings) and other support. Additionally, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation must test a model to provide cancer survivorship care planning for children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill also provides for other services and support for cancer survivors, including (1) a grant program to provide employment assistance for cancer survivors, including trainings, transportation, and childcare; and (2) Medicaid and CHIP coverage of fertility services for those with cancer and for cancer survivors.

Protect Drug Innovation Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Protect Drug Innovation Act This bill repeals several programs and requirements that were enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 relating to the prices of prescription drugs, including (1) the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, (2) provisions that require drug manufacturers to issue rebates for certain drugs under Medicare for which prices increase faster than inflation, and (3) provisions that cap annual out-of-pocket spending under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2023

United States · United States Congress · 22 June 2023

Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2023 This bill authorizes a grant program to provide assistance with travel-related expenses for those seeking an abortion. Specifically, the Department of Treasury may award grants to nonprofit or community-based organizations to provide assistance to those seeking abortions with round-trip travel, lodging, meals, and other travel-related expenses. Priority must be given to organizations that serve individuals who are in jurisdictions that have banned or severely restricted abortion access or who travel to another jurisdiction for an abortion, or organizations that have or plan to have programs in place that help individuals access abortion services. In order to qualify for a grant, organizations must assist individuals seeking abortions through unbiased and medically and factually accurate programs, services, or activities. Organizations may not discourage individuals from seeking abortions. Additionally, federal entities that implement the grant program may not participate in any state, tribal, or local antiabortion proceedings (e.g., prosecutions) in connection with grant services.