Healthcare

National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System Reauthorization Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2022

National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 the National Neurological Conditions Surveillance System. The system, managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tracks the epidemiology of neurological conditions using various data sources, tools, and analytic methods.

A resolution designating the week of September 19 through September 23, 2022, as "Malnutrition Awareness Week".

United States · United States Congress · 21 September 2022

This resolution designates September 19-23, 2022, as Malnutrition Awareness Week.

Helping Families Heal Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

Helping Families Heal Act of 2022 This bill establishes programs and sets out other actions to address mental health impacts of law enforcement personnel violence on those who have experienced, witnessed, or otherwise suffered traumatic experiences due to such violence, with a particular emphasis on communities and schools.

Harm Reduction Through Community Engagement Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

Harm Reduction Through Community Engagement Act of 2022 This bill sets out additional conditions that opioid treatment programs must meet in order to obtain a registration to dispense controlled substances, including by requiring such programs to engage in specified community engagement activities.

Supporting the designation of the week of September 19 through September 23, 2022, as "Malnutrition Awareness Week".

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

This concurrent resolution supports the designation of Malnutrition Awareness Week.

Behavioral Health Integration Awareness Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

Behavioral Health Integration Awareness Act of 2022 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to (1) conduct outreach to providers on the availability of certain behavioral health integration services under Medicare, and (2) report on the utilization of such services.

Designating the week of September 18 through September 24, 2022, as "National Fall Prevention Awareness Week" to raise awareness about, and encourage the prevention of, falls among older adults.

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

This concurrent resolution supports the designation of National Fall Prevention Awareness Week.

Student Loan Reform Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

Student Loan Reform Act of 2022 This bill makes various changes to the federal student loan system, including by imposing a penalty on institutions of higher education for borrowers who default on student loans and prohibiting new Federal Direct PLUS Loans from being made to student loan borrowers (with an exception for parent borrowers and covered health care students) on or after July 1, 2023. The bill also addresses expressive activities (e.g., peacefully assembling, distributing literature, or carrying signs) on campuses.

A resolution designating September 2022 as "National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month."

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

This resolution designates September 2022 as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

A resolution supporting the designation of September 2022 as "National Recovery Month".

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

This resolution supports the designation of September 2022 as National Recovery Month and recognizes the importance of education to prevent substance use disorders.

Improving Medicare Patients with RNHCI Options to Vaccinate Easily Act

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

Improving Medicare Patients with RNHCI Options to Vaccinate Easily Act or the IMPROVE Act This bill specifies that individuals who elect to receive services in religious nonmedical health care institutions (RNHCIs) may receive COVID-19 vaccines under Medicare. Specifically, an individual's receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine does not revoke the individual's election to receive services in RNHCIs under Medicare; an individual who's election was revoked due to the receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine prior to the bill's date of enactment may immediately reelect to receive services in RNHCIs under Medicare.

A resolution recognizing the seriousness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of September 2022 as "PCOS Awareness Month."

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2022

This resolution expresses support for the designation of September 2022 as PCOS Awareness Month. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is caused by a hormone imbalance, which may result in infertility, weight gain, excess hair growth, and other symptoms.

Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027, increases funding for, and modifies the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. This program supports home visits for expectant and new parents who live in communities that are at-risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes. Changes to the program include setting out requirements for allocating program funds; increasing the percentage of funds reserved for tribal entities; establishing a publicly available dashboard that reports program outcomes; requiring activities to reduce unnecessary data collection, reporting, and other administrative requirements of the program; and allowing for virtual home visits (provided certain conditions are met).

A resolution recognizing the seriousness of myotonic dystrophy and expressing support for the designation of September 15, 2022, as "International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day".

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

This resolution designates September 15, 2022, as International Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness Day. Myotonic dystrophy is an inherited disorder characterized by progressive muscle loss and weakness.

Access to Mental Health Services Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

Access to Mental Health Services Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), jointly with other relevant agencies, to conduct outreach about the federal requirements relating to the availability of, and limitations for, coverage of mental health and substance use disorder crisis services under private health insurance plans. HHS also must report about the coverage of such services under private insurance plans, including what services are covered, the types of providers furnishing the services, and common reimbursement approaches.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure adequate coverage of outpatient mental health services under the Medicare program.

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

This bill provides for Medicare coverage of intensive outpatient services that are provided by community mental health centers, rural health clinics, or federally qualified health centers.

Physician Wellness Program Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

Physician Wellness Program Act of 2022 This bill exempts wellness programs that provide certain mental or behavioral health services for physicians from restrictions under the Stark law (i.e., the Physician Self-Referral Law) and federal anti-kickback laws.

Mental Health Transparency Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

Mental Health Transparency Act This bill requires private health insurance plans to publish information about the number and percentage of behavioral health care and substance use disorder treatment providers located in the service area of the plan that are in-network. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must establish designations to reflect the breadth of in-network coverage for each type of provider in a service area.

Medicare Opioid Use Disorder Outreach Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

Medicare Opioid Use Disorder Outreach Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to (1) conduct outreach to providers and beneficiaries about the availability of opioid use disorder treatment services through opioid treatment programs under Medicare, and (2) report on the utilization of such services.

No Surprises for Survivors Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

No Surprises for Survivors Act of 2022 This bill requires health insurance plans to cover, with no cost sharing, medical forensic examinations for sexual assault patients.

Better Health Care Directories Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

Better Health Care Directories Act This bill requires health insurance plans to include additional information in their provider directories, such as whether a provider is accepting new patients.

Promoting Clarity in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

Promoting Clarity in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Act This bill requires health insurance plans to define their coverage of mental health conditions and substance use disorder based on specified external benchmarks.

Supporting the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day.

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

This resolution supports the goals and ideals of National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day.

RICE Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

Readable Insurance Coverage Explanations Act or the RICE Act This bill requires health insurance plans to annually submit, in a machine-readable file, a summary of benefits and coverage under the plan to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS must publish the summaries online.

Supporting the designation of September 19, 2022, as "National Stillbirth Prevention Day", recognizing tens of thousands of American families that have endured a stillbirth, and seizing the opportunity to keep other families from experiencing the same tragedy.

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

This resolution expresses support for National Stillbirth Prevention Day.

Biologics Competition Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

Biologics Competition Act of 2022 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate (1) the differences between the requirements that apply to interchangeable biologics and the requirements that apply to therapeutically equivalent ratings for generic drugs, and (2) the effects of these differences on the approval of interchangeable biologics. The FDA must update the Purple Book with changes that better align the ways these requirements are communicated while still maintaining each distinct approval pathway. The Purple Book is an FDA publication that lists approved biological products, including biosimilars and interchangeable biologics. Interchangeable biologics are biologics that may be substituted for the original product without consulting the prescriber, similar to how generic drugs may be substituted for brand-name drugs based on therapeutic equivalence.

Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Improvement Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to revise payments under the Medicare prospective payment system for psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units based on newly collected data, which may include data on charges, the required intensity of behavioral monitoring, and interventions. Psychiatric hospitals and units must also submit patient assessment data through a standardized instrument developed by the CMS.

A resolution supporting the designation of September 19, 2022, as "National Stillbirth Prevention Day", recognizing tens of thousands of American families that have endured a stillbirth, and seizing the opportunity to keep other families from experiencing the same tragedy.

United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2022

This resolution expresses support for National Stillbirth Prevention Day.

SAFE for Patients Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Saving Abortion Facilities from Extremists for Patients Act or the SAFE for Patients Act This bill establishes a civil action for damaging or destroying a reproductive health care facility or for harassing, injuring, or intimidating a person who provides or obtains reproductive health services.

Words Matter Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Words Matter Act of 2022 This bill removes outdated terminology in specified statutes by replacing references to mentally retarded and mental retardation with intellectual disability .

SHIELD Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Safeguard Healthcare Industry Employees from Litigation and Distress Act or the SHIELD Act This bill establishes a framework to limit interference with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health services at the state level. For the purposes of this summary, interference with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health services includes acts to prevent, restrict, impede, or retaliate against a health care provider who provides reproductive health care services, any person or entity who helps health care providers to provide such services, any person who seeks to access such services, or any person or entity who helps another person to access such services. First, the bill reduces the allocation of funds under certain law enforcement grant programs for a state that has in effect a law authorizing state or local officers or employees to interfere with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health services. Second, the bill prohibits interference with persons seeking to provide or access reproductive health care services by state or local officers or employees acting under color of law in any manner that would have a discriminatory effect on a woman, and by persons who are not state or local officers or employees and are attempting to implement or enforce a state law in circumstances affecting interstate commerce. The bill authorizes civil remedies for a violation, including damages and injunctive relief. Additionally, it authorizes criminal penalties for a violation involving the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or the infliction of bodily injury.

PRO–LIFE Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Providing Real Opportunities and Lifelong Investments For Everyone Act of 2022 or the PRO-LIFE Act of 2022 This bill establishes new, and modifies existing, programs related to maternal and child health, tax credits and other benefits for parents and caregivers, and support for childcare infrastructure. The bill requires multi-agency efforts to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups, veterans, and other vulnerable populations, by addressing both health-related factors and the social determinants of health (i.e., nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, such as housing, food security, transportation, and environmental conditions). Additionally, the bill permanently extends the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and related measures. Further, the bill (1) sets up a family medical leave insurance benefit that entitles employees to a monthly benefit payment for a period of qualified caregiving; and (2) imposes a tax on employers, employees, and self-employed individuals to fund the benefits. The bill also increases the amount of the child tax credit and makes the credit fully refundable and payable in advance on a monthly basis. In addition, the Department of Labor must carry out a program to certify and recognize employers that implement family-friendly workplace programs (e.g., providing paid family and sick leave or subsidizing childcare). The bill also requires support for childcare infrastructure, for example by establishing grants for childcare facilities and scholarship and loan repayment programs for childcare educators.

Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transmit, respectively, certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to ivermectin.

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

This resolution directs the Department of Health and Human Services to provide the House of Representatives with certain information and documents that refer or relate to ivermectin (an antiparasitic drug). The resolution also requests such information and documents from the President.

Improving Access to Advanced Care Planning Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Improving Access to Advanced Care Planning Act This bill provides statutory authority for Medicare coverage of advance care planning services. It also (1) allows such services to be provided by clinical social workers, and (2) waives the coinsurance and deductible for such services (regardless of whether the services are provided as part of an annual wellness visit). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must conduct outreach about Medicare coverage of advance care planning services; the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must study and report on the provision and utilization of such services.

Expressing support for designation of the week of September 18, 2022, through September 24, 2022, as "Balance Awareness Week".

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

This resolution expresses support for the designation of Balance Awareness Week and recognizes the importance of raising public awareness about vestibular (inner ear balance) disorders.

Generic Animal Drug Advancement Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Generic Animal Drug Advancement Act This bill allows for the approval and corresponding labeling of generic animal drugs that are bioequivalent to another approved drug with respect to at least one species, rather than with respect to all of the same species. (Animal drugs are drugs that are intended for animals other than humans (e.g., pets and livestock). Animal drugs must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration before they may be offered on the commercial market.)

LuLu’s Law

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

National Sepsis Data Research, Outcomes, and Innovation Act or LuLu's Law This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address sepsis. (Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.) In particular, HHS must standardize the definition of sepsis; make sepsis a nationally notifiable condition; develop a national strategy for treating and eliminating the burden of sepsis; and establish a national sepsis data trust to improve the collection and sharing of data concerning sepsis cases, including through grants to support state-based data trusts.

FAIR Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Fair Access In Residency Act or the FAIR Act This bill requires hospitals to certify that they accept residency applications from both osteopathic and allopathic medical schools and to disclose the number of applicants and acceptances from each type of program in order to receive graduate medical education payments under Medicare.

Access to Critical Non-Emergency Transportation Services Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Access to Critical Non-Emergency Transportation Services Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to work with state Medicaid programs to assist individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid with accessing non-emergency transportation benefits under Medicaid. The bill applies to dually eligible individuals who are participating in the Repetitive, Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport Prior Authorization Model under Medicare.

To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to ensure nursing facilities report information on medical directors of such facilities.

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to revise regulations so as to specifically require Medicare skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid nursing facilities to report the identity of medical directors and related information.

Protect the UNBORN Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Protect the UNBORN (Undo the Negligent Biden Orders Right Now) Act or the Protect the UNBORN Act This bill prohibits federal implementation of and funding for specified executive orders that address access to reproductive health care services, including services related to pregnancy or the termination of a pregnancy.

EQUIP Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Enhancing Questions to Understand Intentions for Pregnancy Act of 2022 or the EQUIP Act of 2022 This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide eligible health organizations with demonstration program grants to implement routine screenings about people's pregnancy intentions in order to provide better contraceptive and prepregnancy care.

Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants for establishing sickle cell disease treatment centers that operate using a hub-and-spoke framework to provide integrated, longitudinal health care for patients with the disease and individuals with sickle cell trait. Grant recipients must be networks comprised of (1) a hospital, clinic, or university health center; (2) at least one federally qualified health center or other health care organization that incorporates community health workers into the care team; and (3) at least one community-based organization. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can lead to pain, anemia, infections, and stroke.

988 Coordination and Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

988 Coordination and Improvement Act This bill supports efforts related to behavioral health crisis care, with a particular focus on the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (a three-digit number that connects callers in suicidal crisis or mental health distress to a national network of crisis centers).

A resolution designating the week beginning September 11, 2022, as "National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week".

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

This resolution designates the week beginning September 11, 2022, as National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week and commends the contributions of direct support professionals who provide integral services to people with disabilities.

A resolution supporting the designation of September 16, 2022, as "National Concussion Awareness Day".

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

This resolution supports the designation of September 16, 2022, as National Concussion Awareness Day.

Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants for establishing sickle cell disease treatment centers that operate using a hub-and-spoke framework to provide integrated, longitudinal health care for patients with the disease and individuals with sickle cell trait. Grant recipients must be networks comprised of (1) a hospital, clinic, or university health center; (2) at least one federally qualified health center or other health care organization that incorporates community health workers into the care team; and (3) at least one community-based organization. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can lead to pain, anemia, infections, and stroke.

Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 September 2022

Improving Access to Advance Care Planning Act This bill provides statutory authority for Medicare coverage of advance care planning services. It also (1) allows such services to be provided by clinical social workers, and (2) waives the coinsurance and deductible for such services (regardless of whether the services are provided as part of an annual wellness visit). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must conduct outreach about Medicare coverage of advance care planning services; the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must study and report on the provision and utilization of such services.

FLATLINING CARE: WHY IMMIGRANTS ARE CRUCIAL TO BOLSTERING OUR HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE

United States · United States Senate · 14 September 2022

FDA Ethics Act of 2022

United States · United States Congress · 14 September 2022

FDA Ethics Act of 2022 This bill establishes several requirements for entities that contract with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relating to conflicts of interest, including requiring contractors to disclose conflicts of interest on an ongoing basis and prohibiting the FDA from hiring consultants who simultaneously provide services to drug manufacturers or other entities that are regulated by the FDA.