The world's political record
Records whose title is actually about this topic. Use a country filter if the list is still too broad.
151 records in US in 2019
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 2019
This resolution expresses support for the recognition of Prematurity Awareness Month and for efforts to improve the care and treatment of infants born preterm.
United States · United States Senate · 20 November 2019
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Telemental Health Expansion Act of 2019 This bill modifies requirements relating to coverage of mental health telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill removes restrictions that require the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) to be in a rural area, and allows the home of a beneficiary to serve as the originating site for such services.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men Act or the PSA Screening for HIM Act This bill requires group health insurance plans to cover preventive prostate cancer screenings that are not already covered under the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for men with a family history of prostate cancer, without imposing any cost-sharing requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes Act of 2019 or the ECHO 2019 Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a grant program that supports specified health care services in rural or medically underserved areas. Specifically, HHS must award grants to health care entities serving rural areas, health-professional shortage areas, medically underserved populations, or Native Americans for (1) specified videoconferencing technology that connects health professionals with specialists (e.g., chronic-disease, mental-health, and substance-use disorder specialists), (2) retaining health care providers, and (3) increasing access to health care services.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Patients' Right to Know Their Medication Act of 2019 This bill directs the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the authorship, content, format, color, printing, and dissemination of patient medication information that is required to be in the labeling of prescription drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Know Where to Go in an Emergency Act of 2019 This bill requires private health insurance plans to identify on insurance membership cards the in-network hospital or urgent care facility nearest to the primary residence of the plan holder.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Specialty Treatment to Access and Referrals Act of 2019 or the STAR Act This bill authorizes grants for health centers and rural health clinics to conduct pilot programs providing electronic consultations with specialists and related telehealth services.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Birth Access Benefiting Improved Essential Facility Services Act or the BABIES Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a Medicaid demonstration program to improve freestanding birth center services for women with low-risk pregnancies. Among other things, the CMS must (1) publish criteria for freestanding birth centers to participate in the program, including specified accreditation, licensure, and service requirements; (2) publish guidance for states to establish prospective payment systems under Medicaid for program participants; and (3) award planning grants for states to develop program proposals. The CMS may choose up to six states to participate in the program.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
This resolution expresses support for National Rural Health Day.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Acupuncture for Our Heroes Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide qualified acupuncturist services to veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. A qualified acupuncturist is an individual who is licensed, certified, or otherwise accredited and may be appointed as an employee of the VA or as a contractor. The VA shall carry out such program in at least one VA facility in each Veterans Integrated Service Network (regional VA health care administrative areas) in both urban and rural areas. The bill requires the VA to establish the Advisory Committee on Acupuncturist Services, which must advise the VA on governing protocols and review and evaluate the ability of a veteran to access an acupuncturist at VA facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Seniors Prescription Drug Relief Act of 2019 This bill allows beneficiaries whose monthly costs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit equal or exceed a significant percentage of the annual out-of-pocket spending threshold to pay down such costs in installments over the course of the remaining plan year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must determine what constitutes a significant percentage; however, such percentage must be between 50% and 100%.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders Act of 2019 or the Nutrition CARE Act of 2019 This bill provides for Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for individuals with eating disorders. Such services must be furnished by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional pursuant to a referral from a physician, psychologist, or other authorized mental health professional.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Preventing Diabetes in Medicare Act of 2019 This bill extends Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy services to beneficiaries with pre-diabetes or risk factors for developing type-2 diabetes.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 2019
Strengthening Our Rural Health Workforce Act of 2019 This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Primary Care Training and Enhancement program and the Area Health Education Centers program; it also establishes a National Rural Health Care Workforce Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction In the Nation Act or the NOPAIN Act This bill temporarily establishes separate payments for certain non-opioid treatments under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services and the payment system for ambulatory surgical center services. The bill applies to pain management treatments that are able to replace or reduce opioid consumption, as shown through clinical trials or data.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
This resolution recognizes addiction as a treatable, chronic medical disease and supports evidence-based treatment for substance use disorder and efforts to prevent and destigmatize addiction.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Sets forth the rule for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1309) to direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard that requires covered employers within the health care and social service industries to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan, and for other purposes; providing for proceedings during the period from November 22, 2019, through December 2, 2019; and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
TRICARE Fairness for National Guard and Reserve Retirees Act This bill provides that personnel of the Retired Reserve (comprising former National Guard and Reserve members) who are not yet age 60 but are receiving their retirement pay may purchase TRICARE health coverage for retired military personnel, rather than the presently allowed TRICARE Retired Reserve (which may have higher costs). The bill generally aligns the age for TRICARE health care benefits with the age at which retired National Guard and Reserve personnel begin receiving their retired pay. Under current law, Reserve Component personnel may retire below age 60, but not below 50, based on active duty performance.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
This resolution recognizes Survivors Victory Day to celebrate and honor the victims and survivors of trauma.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Improving Medicare Beneficiary Access to Innovative Diabetes Technologies Act of 2019 This bill establishes the Task Force on Innovative Diabetes Technologies and Services to address the accessibility of innovative diabetes technologies and services to Medicare beneficiaries. The bill defines innovative diabetes technologies and services as medical technologies and services for diabetes treatment that are not covered under Medicare. Among other activities, the task force must (1) recommend ways to improve access to innovative diabetes technologies and services through new or alternative payment models and existing policies, and (2) propose changes to foster collaboration between the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to streamline approval and coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Reauthorization Act This bill reauthorizes, and extends funding for, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) through FY2029. The bill also makes other changes related to the institute, such as (1) requiring health insurance plans to cover routine costs for items and services furnished in connection with certain PCORI-funded clinical trials, and (2) directing the Government Accountability Office to review barriers experienced by PCORI researchers when conducting studies or clinical trials.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
Opioid Workforce Act of 2019 This bill increases the number of residency positions eligible for graduate medical education payments under Medicare for hospitals that have addiction or pain medicine programs, with an aggregate increase of 1,000 positions over a five-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 2019
This resolution expresses support for (1) the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month, including encouraging individuals to fight diabetes through public awareness about prevention and treatment options and enhancing education about the disease; and (2) decreasing the prevalence of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes in the United States through increased research, treatment, and prevention.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
I nsurance Accountability and Transparency Act This bill requires private health insurance plans to periodically contact providers listed in publicly available directories to verify those providers' contact information and status within the network of such plans.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Humane Cosmetics Act of 2019 This bill generally prohibits animal testing in the evaluation of cosmetic products, and it prohibits the sale or transport of cosmetics developed using animal testing. These prohibitions begin one year after enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Humane Cosmetics Act of 2019 This bill generally prohibits animal testing in the evaluation of cosmetic products, and it prohibits the sale or transport of cosmetics developed using animal testing. These prohibitions begin one year after enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Stop Marketing And Revealing The Wearables And Trackers Consumer Health Data Act or the SMARTWATCH Data Act This bill prohibits entities that collect personal health information from consumer devices (e.g., smart watches) from transferring, selling, sharing, or allowing access to individually identifiable consumer health information from such devices for commercial purposes, subject to certain exceptions such as if an entity obtains informed consent from the consumer or sends such information to a health plan or health provider.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2019
Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act This bill reestablishes and expands programs for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The Department of Health and Human Services must establish a research agenda on FASD, facilitate and disseminate findings on public health surveillance and research to prevent FASD, and establish multiple grant programs. Depending on the specific grant program, eligible grantees may include states, tribes and tribal organizations, public and private nonprofits, and educational institutions. Among other purposes, the grants support research on the diagnosis, intervention, and prevention of FASD; expand and coordinate surveillance; and foster collaboration to provide integrated services to individuals with FASD. The bill also directs the Department of Education and the Department of Justice to develop and disseminate trainings and best practices related to FASD.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2019
Healthcare Cost Transparency Act This bill requires health insurance issuers, including those issuing plans to federal employees, to make price comparison guidance available to plan holders. Specifically, issuers must employ staff or provide an online tool to compare a plan holder's cost-sharing responsibility between in-network providers for specific items or services.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 November 2019
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
More Opportunities for Veterans to Exercise Act or the MOVE Act This bill requires the General Services Administration to delegate authority to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for leasing space for preventive health fitness programs and counseling. The bill also expands the definition of preventive health services (in relation to VA health care programs) to include (1) physical activity counseling, and (2) weight management services and physical activity programs.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
K–9 Hero Act of 2019 This bill establishes a program for the Department of Justice to award grants to assist nonprofit organizations with the medical expenses of retired government working dogs.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that public health professionals are to be celebrated, commended, and thanked on Public Health Thank You Day for their profoundly important contributions to the nation.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Rural Hospital Frontier Workforce Fairness Act This bill alters the Medicare prospective payment system for inpatient hospital services furnished at sole community hospitals (i.e., rural hospitals or hospitals that are the sole source of inpatient care in a certain geographic area). Specifically, the bill applies a minimum area wage adjustment to payments to sole community hospitals that are located up to 75 miles from the closest frontier (i.e., predominantly rural) state. Currently, the minimum area wage adjustment applies only to hospitals in frontier states.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
This resolution expresses support for policies that provide necessary resources to maintain a robust Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and create integrated veterans health care networks. The resolution also expresses opposition to policies that would move resources from the VHA to the private sector. Additionally, the resolution supports the right to form, join, and operate independent labor unions in the government and private sector and opposes efforts against unionizing and collective bargaining procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2019 This bill repeals specified limitations, for purposes of Medicare participation, on self-referrals by newly constructed or expanded physician-owned hospitals.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2019 This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to study access by underserved populations to general surgeons, including (1) whether the health professional shortage area designation under the National Health Service Corps program accurately assesses adequacy of access, (2) whether another measure would be more accurate, and (3) potential methodologies for designating general surgery shortage areas. HRSA must publish data comparing the availability and need of general surgery services in urban, suburban, and rural areas. HRSA may establish a methodology for designating general surgery shortage areas and make such designations. HRSA must publish a list of general surgery shortage areas.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
Insulin Affordability Data Collection Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study evaluating the impact of insulin affordability on the health outcomes of individuals who are reliant on insulin.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 2019
This bill (1) designates October 2019 as National Down Syndrome Awareness Month; (2) supports the health, well-being, and dignity of all people with Down syndrome; (3) encourages the advancement of research about Down syndrome; and (4) acknowledges the contributions that people with Down syndrome and their families make in their communities.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2019
Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2019 This bill specifies that certain deductible, coinsurance, initial coverage limit, and cost-sharing requirements that apply under the Medicare prescription drug benefit shall not apply with respect to vaccines that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must provide to Medicare beneficiaries specified information regarding (1) coverage of vaccines for seniors, and (2) access to recommended vaccines without cost-sharing.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2019
Protecting Patients Transportation to Care Act This bill provides statutory authority for the requirement that state Medicaid programs cover nonemergency transportation to medically necessary items and services. The bill also requires programs, as a condition of federal payment for such services, to have transportation coordination plans and utilization management guidelines.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 2019
Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2019 This bill accelerates and expands certain changes that are scheduled to take effect relating to the coverage of cardiac, intensive cardiac, and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under Medicare. Currently, such programs require physician supervision. Effective January 1, 2024, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists may also supervise these programs. The bill expedites the effective date of these changes to January 1, 2021, and also allows these practitioners to administer programs in their offices, prepare and sign treatment plans, and prescribe exercise.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Put Patients First Act This bill prohibits the application of the rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on May 21, 2019, that strengthens the enforcement of conscience and anti-discrimination laws related to the rights of covered health care providers to refuse to participate in certain procedures, such as abortions, sterilization, or assisted suicide.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Full Choice for Veterans Act This bill removes existing requirements and authorizes covered veterans to receive hospital care, medical services, or extended care services through the Veterans Community Care Program if they notify the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Covered veterans are those who are enrolled in the VA health care system or are not enrolled but otherwise eligible for care.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Recruiting in Underserved Rural Areas and Localities for Veterans Act or the RURAL Veterans Act This bill addresses the recruitment of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care professionals in rural areas. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to establish the Office of Rural Recruitment to improve the recruitment of health care professionals for rural and highly rural community-based outpatient clinics and medical centers of the VA. The bill also requires the director of each Veterans Integrated Service Network that contains at least one rural or highly rural community-based outpatient clinic to annually develop and maintain a strategy to recruit health care professionals. The Office of Rural Recruitment shall conduct a study on the feasibility of a scholarship program for health care professionals to attend the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in exchange for service as full-time employees at a rural or highly rural community-based outpatient clinic or medical center of the VA for a specified period of time. The VA shall establish the Rural Health Quality and Access Fellowship program to provide fellowships to health care professionals at the graduate or post-graduate level who serve on a short-term basis as full-time employees at a rural or highly rural community-based outpatient clinic or medical center of the VA and conduct research on (1) improving the quality of rural health care, (2) access to health care in rural areas, and (3) recruitment and retention of health care professionals in rural areas.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Life-Sustaining Prescription Drug Price Relief Act of 2019 This bill establishes a series of oversight and disclosure requirements relating to the prices of life-sustaining prescription drugs. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review at least annually all life-sustaining drugs for excessive pricing; HHS must also review prices upon petition. HHS must create a public database with its determinations for each drug and report its overall findings and related activities. Under the bill, a price is considered excessive if the domestic average manufacturing price exceeds 110% of the average price for the drug in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan. If a price does not meet this criteria, or if pricing information is unavailable in at least three of the aforementioned countries, the price is still considered excessive if it is higher than reasonable in light of specified factors, including cost, revenue, and the size of the affected patient population. The bill also requires drug manufacturers, subject to civil penalties, to (1) report specified financial information for life-sustaining drugs, including research and advertising expenditures; and (2) negotiate the prices of excessively priced life-sustaining drugs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit with HHS.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Pass-Through Technical Corrections Act This bill specifically extends the duration of pass-through status (i.e., additional payment) for certain radiopharmaceuticals under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services. In particular, the bill provides that a radiopharmaceutical with an indication for certain PET imaging that is covered in relation to clinical studies (i.e., coverage with evidence development) continues to receive pass-through status until the applicable coverage review is complete, if such status initially expired on either December 31, 2017, or December 31, 2018.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 2019
Put Patients First Act This bill prohibits the application of the rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on May 21, 2019, that strengthens the enforcement of conscience and anti-discrimination laws related to the rights of covered health care providers to refuse to participate in certain procedures, such as abortions, sterilization, or assisted suicide.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2019
Helping Medicaid Offer Maternity Services Act of 2019 or the Helping MOMS Act of 2019 This bill allows states to provide one year of postpartum coverage under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). (Current law requires 60 days of postpartum coverage.) Additionally, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission must report on specified information relating to coverage of doula services under state Medicaid programs, including coverage barriers and recommendations for improvement.