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251 records in US in 2016
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Commends the officers of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service who participated in the effort to prevent an Ebola outbreak in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Designates September 2016 as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. Expresses support for: (1) research to find better treatments and therapies and a cure for spinal cord injuries, and (2) clinical trials for new therapies for individuals living with paralysis. Commends the dedication of organizations, researchers, doctors, and people across the United States that are working to improve the quality of life of individuals living with spinal cord injuries and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Proclaims the week of October 30-November 5, 2016, as National Obesity Care Week. Encourages open communication to break barriers of misunderstanding and stigma regarding obesity and to improve the lives of individuals affected by obesity and their families.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Taxpayers Before Insurers Act This bill rescinds specified departmental management funds from the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) unless HHS deposits into the Treasury specified funds derived from contributions collected under the Transitional Reinsurance Program. The rescission is required unless HHS deposits into the Treasury: (1) $2 billion for each of calendar years 2014 and 2015 within 45 days of enactment of this bill, and (2) $1 billion for 2016 by March 1, 2017. (The Transitional Reinsurance Program was created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [PPACA] to stabilize premiums in the individual health insurance market by partially reimbursing insurers for high-cost enrollees. Health insurance issuers and certain group health plans make contributions to the program, and reinsurance payments are made to issuers for enrollees in certain individual market plans with claim costs within a specified level. Portions of the reinsurance contributions are allocated for the reinsurance payment pool, administrative expenses, and the Treasury.)
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Transition to Independence Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a demonstration program over five fiscal years, beginning with FY2018, under which a Medicaid Buy-In State meeting certain criteria may receive bonus payments for: meeting specific measurable benchmarks in expanding individual integrated employment and reducing subminimum wage work, congregate setting work, or facility-based day habilitation placements for working-age individuals with a disability receiving Medicaid-funded home or community-based services; and taking other actions conducive to expanding employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities within the state.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Disability Community Act of 2016 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to temporarily establish a higher federal matching rate with respect to Medicaid expenditures for certain services furnished to individuals with developmental disabilities if such expenditures are attributable to compliance with specified regulations. In the case of a state Medicaid program that does not require the use of an electronic visit verification system for personal care services and home health services, the federal matching rate for medical assistance expended on such services shall be incrementally reduced.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Stop Obamacare Spam Act of 2016 This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from using collected fees to advertise health insurance exchanges.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity for Children Act or the RACE for Children Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to expand requirements for assessing the use of medications in pediatric populations. Applications and supplements to applications for certain drugs and biological products, including orphan drugs, that could be used to treat pediatric cancer must include an assessment of pediatric use. Upon request, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must meet with the sponsor of such a medication to discuss the plan for pediatric studies. The FDA may require the sponsor of an approved medication that could be used to treat pediatric cancer to complete a pediatric assessment if: (1) the medication is used for a substantial number of pediatric cancer patients, or (2) there is reason to believe the medication would have a meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing therapies for pediatric cancer patients. The bill limits waivers of pediatric assessment requirements for certain medications that could be used to treat a pediatric cancer for which there is a need for additional treatment options. The FDA must meet with medication sponsors to discuss a deferral or waiver of the pediatric assessment requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Mom and Pop SHOP Act of 2016 or the Mom and Mom SHOP Act of 2016 or the Pop and Pop SHOP Act of 2016 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to make eligible for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP health insurance exchange) an individual (and his or her spouse or domestic partner) who owns, or is a partner in, a business that has no employees.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
LGBT Pride Act This bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take measures to increase the frequency of collection of information on the sexual orientation and gender identity of deceased individuals through the National Violent Death Reporting System. The bill authorizes appropriations to expand participation in the National Violent Death Reporting System to all states.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: develop a national policy to encourage the development of tools for consumers to learn and protect their assets in a way that maximizes the promise customized, connected devices hold to empower consumers, foster future economic growth, and create new commerce and markets; prioritize accelerating the development of alternative technologies that support transparency, security, and authentication in a way that recognizes their benefits, allows for future innovation, and responsibly protects consumers' personal information; recognize that technology experts can play an important role in the future development of consumer-facing technology applications for manufacturing, automobiles, telecommunications, tourism, health care, energy, and general commerce; and support further innovation and economic growth and ensure cybersecurity and the protection of consumer privacy. Calls for innovators in technology, manufacturing, automobiles, telecommunications, tourism, health care, and energy industries to commit to improving the quality of life for future generations by developing new technology that is safe and consumer protective and that is aimed at improving consumers' access to commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish a five-year, population-based payment demonstration project through which provider networks are prospectively paid monthly capitated payments for coordinated care furnished to Medicare beneficiaries. To be eligible to participate in the project, a provider network must: be an integrated care system that provides Medicare services directly; include physicians in group practice arrangements, a federally qualified health center, and at least one hospital; enter into, and be responsible for making payments to providers under, appropriate contractual arrangements; be accountable for the quality, cost, and overall care of the network's participating beneficiaries; enter into a participation agreement with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); and meet other specified requirements. CMS shall establish a process for prospectively assigning Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries to a participating provider network. This process must allow beneficiaries to opt out of such assignment. The bill limits Medicare payment for out-of-network services furnished to a participating beneficiary. To calculate payments to participating networks, CMS shall: (1) determine a base annual prospective population health budget, (2) adjust such budget to account for the number and characteristics of participating beneficiaries with respect to each network, and (3) annually update the budget to account for population changes and Medicare program growth. The bill establishes certain limits on total program expenditures for the program's initial three years. CMS may expand the project's duration and scope under specified circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Rural Access to Hospice Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow payment under Medicare for certain services furnished to hospice patients by rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). With respect to a patient who elects to receive hospice care under Medicare, current law generally limits payment for services that are either duplicative of such care or related to the treatment of the individual's terminal illness. However, current law exempts from this limitation: (1) physicians' services furnished by the individual's attending physician, if not an employee of the hospice program; and (2) services provided or arranged by the hospice program. The bill expands this exemption with regard to rural health clinic and FQHC services. Specifically, the Medicare payment limitation shall not apply to such services that: (1) would otherwise be physicians' services if furnished by an individual unaffiliated with a rural health clinic or FQHC; and (2) are either arranged by the hospice program or furnished by the individual's attending physician, if not an employee of the hospice program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a one cent per milligram excise tax on the sale of active opioids by the manufacturer, producer, or importer. The tax excludes prescription drugs used exclusively for the treatment of opioid addiction as part of a medically assisted treatment effort. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a program to provide rebates or discounts to cancer and hospice patients to ensure that they do not pay the tax. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require any increase in federal revenues from the tax after rebates and discounts are subtracted to be distributed to states under the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program to be used exclusively for substance abuse (including opioid abuse) efforts in the states, including specified treatment programs. HHS must report to Congress on the impact of this bill on the retail cost of opioids and patient access to opioid medication, the effectiveness of the discount or rebate for cancer and hospice patients, how the funds are being used to improve substance abuse treatment efforts, and suggestions for improving access to opioids for cancer and hospice patients and substance abuse treatment efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Helping Our Veterans with Chronic Pain and Opioid Addiction Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a three-year pilot program to provide health and social services and coordination of care and case management to covered veterans in need of treatment for opioid addiction and chronic pain through VA facilities and through qualified non-VA health care providers. A "covered veteran" is a veteran who is enrolled in the veterans' health care system and eligible for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care under such system. The pilot program shall be carried out in at least five different states with VA medical facilities that demonstrate: (1) the need for additional resources to provide health care services to veterans for opioid abuse, (2) the highest rates per capita of opioid addiction in the United States, and (3) a lack of sufficient VA capacity to meet the demand for such treatment. Under such program, the VA: (1) may enter into contracts with non-VA providers to provide health care services to veterans, and (2) shall provide for the exchange of medical information between the VA and any such provider. The VA shall conduct concurrent assessments of its capabilities and the capabilities of community providers to provide health care services for the treatment of veterans with opioid dependency abuse or chronic pain. The VA shall: (1) require all appropriate VA health care facilities and all VA facilities providing mental health and social services to veterans to have a supply of naloxone or other medication for reversing opioid overdose, and (2) ensure that all appropriate employees at such facilities receive training on the administration of such medication.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow medical assistance under the Medicaid program to include payment for inpatient, nonhospital, residential substance use disorder treatment for individuals over age 21.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2016
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day. Encourages: (1) primary care physicians and other clinicians to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services; (2) the media to observe this Awareness Day by educating clinicians about the important role they play in providing access to HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services and by educating clinicians and the public about the benefits of HIV testing; and (3) individuals to get tested for HIV and educate themselves about the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 13 July 2016
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act of 2016 or the BENES Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to: establish requirements for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to notify individuals of their potential eligibility for Medicare; require the Internal Revenue Service to disclose to CMS specified taxpayer information for the purpose of establishing individuals' potential Medicare eligibility; restructure Medicare enrollment periods; and expand Medicare beneficiaries' rights to appeal certain enrollment errors.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Prostate Cancer Misdiagnosis Elimination Act of 2016 This bill specifies that, unless the physician ordering a DNA Specimen Provenance Assay (DSPA) test recommends otherwise, a DSPA test furnished with respect to a positive prostate cancer biopsy shall be deemed to be medically necessary for purposes of Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Fairness for Our Hospitals Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow a hospital that meets specified criteria and is located in a state with no rural areas to be considered a Medicare-dependent hospital. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall establish and implement a process for reimbursing impacted hospitals for any underpayments resulting from this bill's implementation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Prescription Drug Monitoring Act of 2016 This bill requires a state that receives grant funds under the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) or the controlled substance monitoring program to comply with specified requirements. The Department of Justice (DOJ) or Department of Health and Human Services may withhold grant funds from a state that fails to comply. Additionally, the bill requires a state to share its PDMP data with other states through a data-sharing hub established by DOJ.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
State Veterans Home Adult Day Health Care Improvement Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into an agreement or a contract with each state home to pay for medical supervision model adult day health care for a veteran for whom the home is not receiving VA nursing home care payments. The veteran must need such care either specifically for a service-connected disability, or, if not specifically for one, the veteran must have a service-connected disability rated 70% or more. Payment under each agreement or contract between the VA and a state home must equal 65% of the payment that the VA would otherwise pay to the state home if the veteran were receiving nursing home care. "Medical supervision model adult day health care" means adult day health care that includes the coordination of physician services, dental services, the administration of drugs, and such other requirements as the VA may determine.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Beneficiary Respiratory Equipment Access and Transparency to Home Ventilator Care Act of 2016 or the BREATH Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish policies and standards for determining the appropriate use of certain ventilators under the Medicare program. Subject to budget neutrality requirements, the bill: (1) increases the Medicare payment rate for such ventilators for 2017; and (2) for subsequent years, establishes a new base payment rate based on the percentage change, between 2015 and 2017, in the total number of beneficiaries receiving such ventilators under Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administration for Children and Families, to award grants to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children under six years old in early care and education settings. HHS must track the obesity prevention policies and practices of early care and education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Rural Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to: establish certain health care quality measures with respect to rural providers; include such measures within specified Medicare payment models; revise certain requirements related to specified Medicare grants for rural emergency medical services and critical access hospitals; require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a hospital readmissions reduction program for rural hospitals, a model for incentivizing rural providers to submit data on applicable quality measures, and value-based payment models for services furnished by rural providers; and require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to allow rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers to participate in the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus test model.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Strengthening Our Rural Health Workforce Act of 2016 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to reauthorize the National Health Care Workforce Commission. The commission must track information on the career paths of medical school and residency program graduates and make such information publicly available. The Department of Health and Human Services must revise the definition of medical residency training programs (rural track training programs) in rural areas so that more health care facilities are able to participate. The Government Accountability Office must: (1) study and report on graduate medical education funding structures and their success in bringing physicians to practice in rural communities, and (2) report on improving data collection on emerging health care professions. The bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to redistribute unused residency positions to rural hospitals. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to (1) reauthorize the Primary Care Residency Expansion Program and Area Health Education Centers, and (2) authorize appropriations through FY2021 for the Quentin N. Burdick Program for Rural Interdisciplinary Training to provide access to health care in rural areas. The bill incorporates emerging health professionals, such as dental therapists and community paramedics, into existing loan forgiveness programs and other training programs for allied health professionals. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to establish mental health and substance use disorder training programs for schools of medicine or nursing, physician assistants, pharmacy, social work, and other allied health professions to ensure that health care providers are able to recognize, diagnose, and treat mental health and substance use disorders. The bill also funds essential mental and behavioral health education and training grants that are used to recruit and train graduate students in mental and behavioral health fields who practice in rural and other high need areas.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Connecting Rural Americans to Care Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to publish an interim final rule to revise certain Medicaid transportation regulations to allow states to reimburse drivers for costs attributable to providing no-load volunteer travel services to Medicaid-eligible individuals who require transportation to receive non-emergency medical treatment. The Department of Transportation may prioritize and carry out projects within the Rural Transportation Assistance Program to increase access to health care services in rural areas. The bill establishes the Interagency Task Force on Rural Health Information Technology to coordinate delivery of financial and technical assistance to rural providers and provide leadership and recommendations on best practices to increase internet access in rural areas. The bill also requires the Federal Communications Commission to simplify the process for submitting a request for services under the Healthcare Connect Fund, which expands access to broadband services for health care providers in rural areas.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Fairness for Our Hospitals Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow a hospital that meets specified criteria and is located in a state with no rural areas to be considered a Medicare-dependent hospital. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall establish and implement a process for reimbursing impacted hospitals for any underpayments resulting from this bill's implementation.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Public Buildings Renewal Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the tax-exempt financing of certain government-owned buildings by expanding the definition of "exempt facility bond" to include bonds used for qualified government buildings. A qualified government building is a government-owned building or facility that consists of one or more of the following: an elementary or secondary school; facilities of a state college or university used for educational purposes; a public library; a court; hospital, health care, laboratory, or research facilities; public safety facilities; or offices for government employees. The bill excludes buildings or facilities that include specified recreational equipment or are used for the primary purpose of providing retail food and beverage services, recreation, or entertainment. The bill establishes: (1) a $5 billion limit on the amount of tax-exempt financing which may be provided for government buildings, and (2) procedures for allocating and applying for the financing. The bill exempts the bonds for government buildings from the volume cap on private activity bonds.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Strategies to Address Antibiotic Resistance Act or the STAAR Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise provisions regarding the Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force. The Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria must provide advice, information, and recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must carry out activities to collect data on antibiotic resistance, including assessing conditions and outcomes related to antibacterial resistance and working with others to obtain human antibiotic drug consumption data. The CDC must establish Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance and Laboratory Network sites, including to monitor antibiotic-resistant bacteria, describe and respond to outbreaks, and evaluate resistance testing methods. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases must maintain: (1) a Clinical Trials Network on Antibacterial Resistance, and (2) a leadership group to advance a clinical research agenda to address antibacterial resistance. The CDC must work with state and local health departments to support efforts by groups of health care facilities to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The CDC and the epicenters participating in the Prevention Epicenters Program must work with others to: (1) evaluate prevention programs and interventions to limit infections in health care facilities, and (2) facilitate research on the prevention and control of resistant organisms. The CDC must use research from the epicenters to create and disseminate educational materials for use in health care facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
EHR Regulatory Relief Act This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: establish a 90-day reporting period with respect to determining whether an eligible professional or hospital is a meaningful electronic health record (EHR) user, allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine that an eligible professional or hospital is a meaningful EHR user if the professional or hospital meets a specified percentage of the applicable measures established by CMS, and extend the applicability of the hardship exception with respect to meaningful EHR use.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2016
Birth Control Privacy Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit wellness programs from sharing with an employer information related to an individual's use of contraceptives.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 12 July 2016
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2016
Veterans Transplant Coverage Act of 2016 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) provide for an operation on a live donor to carry out a transplant procedure for an eligible veteran notwithstanding that the live donor may not be eligible for VA health care, and (2) provide for such an operation at a VA or a non-VA facility. The VA shall furnish to such a donor any care or services that may be required before and after conducting with such procedure.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2016
Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study access by underserved populations to general surgeons, including whether the health professional shortage area designation under the National Health Service Corps program accurately assesses adequacy of access or whether another measure or designation would be more appropriate. HHS must consider potential methodologies for designating surgical health professional shortage areas.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2016
Alternatives to Licensing that Lower Obstacles to Work Act of 2016 or the ALLOW Act This bill declares, for purposes of establishing an individual's authorization to engage in an occupation on a military installation located on federally-owned land, that the federal government endorses occupational licenses and certifications granted by a state (including the District of Columbia [DC]), regardless of whether the installation is located in the issuing state or DC, provided that: the license or certification is not expired, revoked, or suspended by the issuing state; and there are no outstanding enforcement actions against the individual brought by the licensing board or certifying authority for that occupation in the issuing state. District of Columbia Occupational Licensing Reform Act The bill declares DC policy regarding occupational licensing laws. The bill establishes an Office of Supervision of Occupational Boards in the office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, or another appropriate DC government agency, to be responsible for exercising active supervision over each occupational licensing board to ensure compliance with occupational licensing policy. The bill prescribes procedures for the Office's review, approval, or rejection of occupational licensure actions before their adoption. The DC Council shall establish a legislative committee to analyze occupational regulations and review any proposed legislation to impose or modify an occupational regulation to ensure compliance. An individual may engage in a lawful occupation without being subject to occupational regulations that are arbitrary or unnecessary and substantially burdensome. The DC government and its boards may not require an occupational license, certification, or registration for a person, or impose any other occupational regulation that imposes a substantial burden on a person, unless: the government has an important interest in protecting against present and recognizable harm to public health, safety, or welfare; and the regulation is substantially related to achievement of that interest. Any person providing tour guide services for a fee at certain national parks and memorials shall not be required to obtain a license, certification, or permit to provide those services.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2016
Supports the designation of National Dance Day to celebrate and encourage the national commitment to dance and dance education. Acknowledges that dance is making an important contribution to health by encouraging physical fitness and reducing overweight and obesity. Commends Nigel Lythgoe for his leadership in promoting National Dance Day.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2016
Sustaining Healthcare Integrity and Fair Treatment Act of 2016 This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, among other Acts, to modify provisions related to long-term care hospital (LTCH) payments under Medicare. The bill amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 to revise the applicability of certain Medicare payment rules exempting LTCHs from negative payment adjustments for admissions from certain co-located hospitals beyond specified thresholds. These rules shall apply for an additional period beginning on October 1, 2016. In addition, the bill amends the Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013 to expand to all LTCHs the application of a payment rule that requires the exclusion of certain patients for purposes of calculating length of stay. Under current law, the payment rule applies only to a hospital that was classified as an LTCH as of a specified date. With specified exceptions, current law applies certain payment limits to inpatient services for LTCHs that do not meet specified discharge requirements. The bill: (1) establishes a new temporary exception to these limits for certain spinal cord specialty hospitals, and (2) expands an existing temporary exception with respect to certain discharges involving severe wounds. Current law allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to impose a temporary moratorium on the enrollment of new providers under Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) if necessary to combat fraud, waste, or abuse. With specified exceptions, the bill prohibits payment under these programs to new providers in areas subject to such temporary moratorium.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2016
Better Informing Veterans' Healthcare Decisions Act This bill urges the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that preventing veteran suicide and providing veterans access to mental health care is its top reform priority. The VA shall, every 30 days, determine and provide to the Department of Defense, with respect to the previous year: the average national wait times (in days) for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system to receive appointments for mental health care and primary health care at VA medical facilities, the average time for the VA to process a claim for disability compensation, and the average time for the VA to decide an appeal of such a claim. The VA shall place a sign displaying the most current such times in a conspicuous location at each career counselor or career assistance advisor office.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2016
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to, with respect to certain discharges involving severe wounds, extend and expand a temporary exception from certain Medicare payment limits for long-term care hospital (LTCH) inpatient services. Current law generally applies payment limits to inpatient services for LTCHs that do not meet specified discharge requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2016
Local Coverage Determination Clarification Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the process by which Medicare administrative contractors (MACs) issue and reconsider local coverage determinations (LCDs) that: (1) are new, (2) restrict or substantively revise existing LCDs, or (3) are otherwise specified in regulation. (MACs are private insurers that process Medicare claims within specified geographic areas.) Before such an LCD may take effect, the MAC issuing the determination must, with respect to each geographic area to which the determination applies: publish online a proposed version of the determination and other specified, related information; convene one or more public meetings to review the draft determination, receive comments, and secure the advice of an expert panel; post online a record of the minutes from each such meeting; provide a period for submission of written public comments; and post online specified information related to the rationale for the final determination. Upon the filing of an applicable request by an interested party with regard to the reconsideration of a specified LCD, the MAC that issued the determination shall: provide specified information related to whether the determination failed to correctly apply qualifying relevant evidence, exceeds the scope of its intended purpose, fails to apply as intended, or is otherwise erroneous; preserve the determination, modify the determination, or rescind the determination in part; and make publicly available a written description of such action. An interested party may appeal a reconsideration decision to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS shall appoint a Medicare Reviews and Appeals Ombudsman to carry out specified duties with regard to LCDs.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2016
Medicaid Data and Benefit Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to: (1) extend Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation services for pregnant women through the first full year after giving birth, and (2) add requirements related to the collection of specified Medicaid data from states.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2016
GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016 This bill eliminates provisions that require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to: review reported legislation that requires financial audits of nonfederal entities receiving federal awards; evaluate the extent to which premium levels for Medicare supplemental policies reflect reductions in coinsurance for hospital outpatient services made by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for Aged and Disabled) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct); report on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) pilot program under the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 for alternative resolution for major disaster assistance disputes involving amounts of at least $1 million; and conduct a biennial satisfaction survey of recipients of transportation intelligence reports under the Department of Homeland Security's transportation security information sharing plan. The GAO must report annually (currently, every 60 days) on its oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is amended to terminate the GAO's annual reporting after 2020, but require GAO reports in 2022 and 2024, about the effectiveness of disclosures relating to conflict minerals originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or adjoining countries on the rate of sexual- and gender-based violence and the promotion of peace and security in such areas. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 is amended to extend until December 31, 2023, the GAO's deadline for updating a report under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with an analysis of how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has addressed GAO recommendations for the implementation of payment for oral-only ESRD (end-stage renal disease)-related drugs in the bundled prospective payment system under SSAct title XVIII provisions regarding Medicare coverage for ESRD patients. The Public Health Service Act is amended to transfer from the GAO to HHS the responsibility to provide information, personnel, and administrative assistance to the review panel that consults with HHS about applications for demonstration grants that HHS awards to states for the development of alternatives to tort litigation for resolving disputes over injuries allegedly caused by health care providers or organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 2016
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish, with respect to certain spinal cord specialty hospitals, a temporary exemption from specified Medicare payment limits applicable to long-term care hospital (LTCH) inpatient services. Current law generally applies payment limits to inpatient services for LTCHs that do not meet certain discharge requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2016
Expanding Seniors Receiving Dialysis Choice Act of 2016 or the ESRD Choice Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to be eligible for Medicare Advantage (MA). Under current law, only individuals who develop ESRD while already enrolled in an MA plan may be considered eligible. With respect to payment, the bill: (1) shifts responsibility for the cost of kidney acquisitions from MA plans to Medicare's fee-for-service program, and (2) excludes such costs from the calculation of certain benchmarks that form the basis for payment under MA plans.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2016
Addiction Prevention and Responsible Opioid Practices Act This bill addresses prescription opioid misuse. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must: (1) seek recommendations concerning opioid drugs from an FDA advisory committee relating to the approval of a new drug that is an opioid, and the labeling of opioid drugs for pediatric prescriptions; (2) develop recommendations for education programs for prescribers of opioids; and (3) issue guidance for labeling that deters opioid abuse. The bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by requiring manufacturers of opioid drugs to ensure that certain information about the risk factors associated with opioid drugs are included on the drug labels. The bill amends the Controlled Substances Act by: (1) addressing annual narcotic manufacturing quotas with respect to fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, and hydromorphone; and (2) directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to require medical practitioners to complete a training program on prescribing opioids for chronic pain before they are certified to prescribe controlled substances in schedule II, III, or IV. The bill establishes requirements for prescription drug monitoring systems to prevent over-prescribing controlled substances. The Department of Health and Human Services must: (1) submit a plan of action for addressing outliers in opioid prescribing practices and ensuring an adequate response to protect the public health, and (2) study the expansion of Medicare coverage for alternatives to opioid treatments. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on manufacturers or producers of opioid pain relievers. A portion of the amount generated from the tax must be used for substance abuse treatment programs. DOJ must establish a take-back program for the safe and environmentally responsible disposal of controlled substances.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2016
Alzheimer's Beneficiary and Caregiver Support Act This bill amends title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test the efficacy of coverage and payment for Alzheimer's Disease caregiver support services in delaying or reducing the use of institutionalized care for Medicare beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall establish payment amounts for such services.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2016
Rural ACO Provider Equity Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish additional requirements for assigning Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries to accountable care organizations (ACOs) under the Medicare shared savings program. (The program enables ACOs to receive payments for savings stemming from care coordination and management.) Specifically, the bill requires the basis for assignment to reflect beneficiaries' utilization of not only primary care services provided by ACO physicians, but also those furnished in federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 2016
Designates September 2016 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.