Healthcare

SMASH Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2016

Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act or the SMASH Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend through FY2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants for mosquito control programs. The grant program is expanded so that grants may be used to address emerging, infectious mosquito-borne diseases and to improve existing control programs. The CDC must give preference to applicants that have: (1) a public health emergency due to a mosquito-borne disease, or (2) a control program that is consistent with existing state preparedness plans. The requirement for matching funds may be waived if the area covered by a grant applicant has an extreme need due to the size or density of the human population, the size or density of the mosquito population, or the severity of the mosquito-borne disease.

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a State Medicaid option to enhance administrative matching funds to support statewide behavioral health access program activities for children under 21 years of age, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2016

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow a state Medicaid program to provide, and receive an enhanced federal matching rate for providing, administrative activities carried out with respect to a behavioral health access program for individuals under 21 years of age.

Small Business Health Care Relief Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2016

Small Business Health Care Relief Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and other laws to exempt qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangements (HRA) from certain requirements that apply to group health plans. A qualified small employer HRA is offered by employers that have fewer than 50 full-time employees and do not offer group health plans to any of their employees. A qualified small employer HRA must: be provided on the same terms to all eligible employees of the employer; be funded solely by the employer without salary reduction contributions; provide, after an employee provides proof of coverage, for the payment or reimbursement of medical expenses of the employee and family members; and limit annual payments and reimbursements to specified dollar amounts. HRAs that meet these requirements are not considered group health plans and are exempt from various requirements that apply to group health plans, including coverage and cost-sharing requirements. (Under current law, employers that sponsor group health plans that do not meet specified requirements are subject to an excise tax.) Coverage and payments under a qualified HRA are excluded from gross income, unless the employee does not have minimum essential coverage for the month in which the medical care was provided. Employers offering a qualified HRA must notify employees in advance regarding permitted benefits and report benefit information on W-2 forms and to health exchanges. The bill sets forth requirements for determining whether an employee covered under an HRA is also eligible for premium subsidies under PPACA.

Health Care Security Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the rules for health savings accounts (HSAs) with respect to catch-up contributions for married couples, medical expenses incurred before an HSA is established, and contribution limits. If both spouses of a married couple have family coverage under a high deductible health plan, each spouse may make catch-up contributions to the same HSA. (Catch-up contributions are additional contributions which individuals who are at least 55 years of age may make to an HSA.) If an HSA is established within 60 days of the beginning of coverage under a high deductible health plan, any distribution from the HSA used to pay a qualified medical expense incurred during that 60-day period after the health coverage began is excludible from gross income. (Under current law, the medical expense must be incurred on or after the date that the HSA is established.) The bill increases the maximum contribution limits for HSAs to equal the maximum for the sum of the annual deductible and out-of-pocket expenses that may be required to be paid for covered benefits under a high deductible health plan.

Drug-Free Indian Health Service Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2016

Drug-Free Indian Health Service Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement mandatory random drug testing for Indian Health Service (IHS) employees who provide health care or administrative services to patients at IHS health care facilities. Officers of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service are exempt from this drug testing. Each employee must be tested at least once per year for specified drugs. HHS must notify employees of the implementation of this drug testing. Employees selected for drug testing must be notified of their selection on the same day as the testing. Employees found to have engaged in illegal drug use, through testing, direct observation, evidence from a conviction, or voluntary admission, are prohibited from providing services to patients and referred to the HHS Employee Assistance Program (EAP). At the discretion of HHS, an employee may return to duty after obtaining counseling or rehabilitation through the EAP. HHS may initiate an adverse action, including removal, against an employee engaged in illegal drug use unless the employee voluntarily admits to illegal drug use, ceases such activity, and obtains counseling or rehabilitation through the EAP. Employees who refuse to submit to drug testing are prohibited from providing services to patients and are subject to adverse action.

Expanding Care for Female Veterans Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2016

Expanding Care for Female Veterans Act This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a three-year pilot program to award grants to health care entities to lease, purchase, or build health care facilities for female patients in order to provide hospital care and medical services to female veterans enrolled in the VA's patient enrollment system. For purposes of providing such care and services, a facility leased, purchased, or built under the program shall be deemed to be: (1) a non-VA entity that may provide veterans hospital care and medical services as specified in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014; or (2) if the authority to carry out the program is terminated, an entity otherwise authorized to provide hospital care and medical services pursuant to an agreement entered into by the VA.

STOP OD Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2016

Stem the Tide of Overdose Prevalence from Opiate Drugs Act of 2016 or as the STOP OD Act of 2016 This bill permits the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to award grants: (1) to expand educational efforts to prevent abuse of opioids, which are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin; (2) to promote treatment of persons who abuse opioids; and (3) to promote understanding of addiction. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants to: (1) support first responders carrying and administering naloxone, which is a prescription drug used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose; (2) establish processes for referral to treatment for opioid abuse; and (3) reimburse for testing for fentanyl in opioid overdoses and reporting the results to the CDC. This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to impose a fee on persons convicted of drug offenses. Collected amounts are made available for the HHS grants in this bill. Specified agencies must submit to the Office of E-Government and Information Technology of the Office of Management and Budget an inventory of agency data centers and a strategy to consolidate and optimize the data centers. The bill revises reporting requirements for the Department of Defense (DOD) regarding data centers. DOD and the Director of National Intelligence may waive this bill's data center requirements for any national security system. The bill sets forth requirements for the Office of E-Government and Information Technology, including that the office must publish a goal for cost savings and optimization. The bill's provisions regarding data centers are repealed at the start of FY2021.

Welfare Reform and Upward Mobility Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2016

Welfare Reform and Upward Mobility Act This bill requires the President to include in the annual budget proposal the total level of means-tested welfare spending by the federal, state, and local governments for the most recent fiscal year for which such data is available, and estimated levels for the current and 10 ensuing fiscal years. For each of FY2018-FY2028 each state that receives means-tested welfare spending by the federal government shall report annually to the Congressional Budget Office on the total amount of such spending by the state for the fiscal year. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended to define means-tested welfare spending as spending for any federal program designed specifically to give assistance or benefits exclusively to low-income Americans, including certain targeted community and economic development programs, unless they: are based on earned eligibility, are not need-based, are designed exclusively or primarily for veterans of military service, or offer universal or near universal eligibility to the working population and their dependents. The bill specifies federal cash assistance, medical, food, housing, energy, education training, child care, services, and community development programs deemed means-tested welfare spending, as well as federal programs that are not so deemed, including Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, unemployment insurance, Social Security retirement and survivor benefits, and military service veterans programs. The refundable portion of certain tax credits shall also be means-tested welfare spending, as well as the refundable portion of the premium and out-of-pocket health care subsidies to be paid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 is amended to specify, as an additional purpose for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), promoting prosperous self-sufficiency, which means the ability of households to maintain an income above the poverty-level without services and benefits from the federal government. The bill revises work eligibility requirements under SNAP As a condition of receiving SNAP funds, a state agency shall operate a work activation program for adults with dependent children. Part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act is amended to create the work preparation program for TANF families. The bill eliminates separate participation rate requirements for two-parent families. A family with a child under age 6 shall be deemed to meet work participation requirements if any parent is engaged in work for at least 20 hours per week. No federal funds shall be made available to carry out any means-tested housing program, but states may receive grants to fund their own housing programs. The bill prohibits funding for abortions and for health benefits that cover abortion, including certain tax credits, except where the pregnancy results from rape or incest or in certain other health cases.

Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2016

Puerto Rico Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction Act This bill establishes a Puerto Rico Reconstruction Finance Corporation to accept applications from the government of Puerto Rico or its municipalities to restructure their bond debts through a process under which: (1) the corporation will purchase the bonds from bond holders at the price the holder paid for the bond, and (2) the par value of each bond is reduced to the last price paid for the bond. Impairment of pension benefits is not permitted. The board of the corporation must consist of six members appointed by the President from lists submitted by Puerto Rico's legislature and governor and one member selected in the sole discretion of the President, each of whom must reside in, and have expertise in the economy, history, and government of, Puerto Rico. The corporation may: (1) make expenditures to address Puerto Rico's humanitarian crisis and restore economic growth; (2) authorize lending activities; and (3) negotiate with Puerto Rico or its municipalities that have defaulted on bonds over budgets, revenues, and appropriations. The bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has the authority to provide emergency financing to Puerto Rico to facilitate an orderly restructuring of its debt, (2) the Puerto Rico government should set aside any debt held by Puerto Rico that is found by the Commission for the Comprehensive Audit of Puerto Rico's Public Debt to have been acquired in violation of the Puerto Rico constitution, and (3) Puerto Rico should suggest that debt holders seek redress from investment banks that helped market and sell any unconstitutional instruments. The bill amends the federal bankruptcy code to treat Puerto Rico as a state under chapter 9 (Adjustment of Debts of a Municipality) to permit Puerto Rico to authorize its public corporations to be debtors. The bill amends the Social Security Act to: (1) eliminate certain funding caps under title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, Administrative Simplification) and the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage limitation under title XIX (Medicaid) for Puerto Rico; (2) apply the 100% Federal Poverty Level limitation to Puerto Rico under title XIX; (3) extend application of the Medicare payment rate floor to certain primary care services in Puerto Rico under the Medicaid program; (4) repeal the exclusion of residents of Puerto Rico from deemed enrollment under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits) of title XVIII (Medicare) and, thus, automatically enroll them; and (5) make permanent certain title XVIII part B incentive payments for primary care services in Puerto Rico. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must update the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network to include Puerto Rico, including Vieques. The Department of Health and Human Services must award a grant to an institution of higher education in Puerto Rico to study the environmental and biological health of Vieques residents. The bill establishes grant programs and revises standards for renewable energy and energy efficient commercial buildings and homes in Puerto Rico. It provides additional funding to the Department of Transportation (DOT) through FY2026 for the Puerto Rico Highway Program. Through FY2021 for Puerto Rico, the bill provides additional funding for: DOT infrastructure investments under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grant program, passenger and freight rail projects, the Airport Improvement Program, and ferry boats and terminals; Environmental Protection Agency capitalization grants for Puerto Rico water pollution control revolving funds and drinking water treatment revolving loan funds; Rural Utilities Service programs; Department of Agriculture rural energy programs; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood reduction projects; broadband and telecommunications programs; and housing and community development. The Internal Revenue Code is amended to make citizens of Puerto Rico eligible for the federal earned income tax credit and allow them to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit on the same basis as U.S. taxpayers. Before 2019, the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico must provide for a binding vote or series of votes on whether Puerto Rico should: be admitted as a U.S. state, become a sovereign nation, or continue the status quo as a U.S. commonwealth territory and reform its government. If a majority votes for admission as a U.S. state, the President must issue a proclamation to begin a transition process that will culminate in such admission within four years after the vote is certified.

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017

United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2016

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017 Provides FY2017 appropriations to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and related agencies. Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2017 Provides appropriations to the Department of Labor for: the Employment and Training Administration, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Wage and Hour Division, the Office of Labor-Management Standards, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Office of Disability Employment Policy, and Departmental Management. Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2017 Provides appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for: the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, and the Office of the Secretary. Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2017 Provides appropriations to the Department of Education for: Education for the Disadvantaged; Impact Aid; School Improvement Programs; Indian Education; Innovation and Improvement; Safe Schools and Citizenship Education; English Language Acquisition; Special Education; Rehabilitation Services; Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities; Career, Technical, and Adult Education; Student Financial Assistance; Student Aid Administration; Higher Education; Howard University; the College Housing and Academic Facilities Loan Program; the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program Account; the Institute of Education Sciences; and Departmental Management. Provides appropriations to Related Agencies, including: the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the National Council on Disability, the National Labor Relations Board, the National Mediation Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the Social Security Administration. Sets forth permissible and prohibited uses for funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts.

SMASH Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 June 2016

Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act or the SMASH Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend through FY2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants for mosquito control programs. The grant program is expanded so that grants may be used to address emerging, infectious mosquito-borne diseases and to improve existing control programs. The CDC must give preference to applicants that have: (1) a public health emergency due to a mosquito-borne disease, or (2) a control program that is consistent with existing state preparedness plans. The requirement for matching funds may be waived if the area covered by a grant applicant has an extreme need due to the size or density of the human population, the size or density of the mosquito population, or the severity of the mosquito-borne disease.

HEALTTH Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2016

Helping Ensure Accountability, Leadership, and Trust in Tribal Healthcare Act or the HEALTTH Act This bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act by requiring the Indian Health Service (IHS) to implement a pilot program for testing the use of long-term contracts for the operation of rural IHS hospitals with governance structures that include tribal input. IHS must: (1) establish standards to measure the timeliness of the provision of health care services in IHS facilities, and (2) develop a process for those facilities to report data to the IHS with respect to those standards. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code by excluding from gross income payments under the IHS loan repayment program. The bill expands the IHS loan repayment program by allowing loan repayment awards for: (1) health care management, health care administration, or hospital administration professions; and (2) individuals who work part time if they serve for at least four years. The IHS must implement mandatory training programs for cultural competency for individuals who work at IHS facilities and whose employment requires regular direct patient access. IHS must centralize its credentials system for licensed health professionals who seek to volunteer at IHS facilities. The bill establishes requirements for capping payments to certain non-IHS or non-tribal healthcare providers and suppliers. The IHS must implement within three years a new revised distribution formula for the Purchased/Referred Care program, which was formerly referred to as the contract health services program. The IHS must also implement a system to prioritize any backlog of unpaid balances under the program for each IHS area.

Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2016

Health Coverage State Flexibility Act of 2016 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to revise the grace period that health insurers must provide to recipients of premium subsidies before discontinuing health coverage for nonpayment of premiums. The grace period is shortened from 3 months to 30 days unless state law includes an applicable grace period.

Restoring Rural Residencies Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2016

Restoring Rural Residencies Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reimburse medical residency training programs under Medicare for certain graduate medical education costs associated with resident time spent in rural community hospitals known as "critical access hospitals."

FDA Cross-Center Collaboration Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2016

FDA Cross-Center Collaboration Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish one or more Intercenter Institutes. Each institute must coordinate activities applicable to a major disease area among the FDA centers that review products. Activities may include coordinating staff with relevant expertise, streamlining product review, and enhancing interactions with patients, sponsors, and the biomedical community.

Fair Care for Kids Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2016

Fair Care for Kids Act This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for medical assistance under a state Medicaid program with respect to the full-range of early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services for children in inpatient psychiatric hospitals, whether or not such services are furnished by the child's inpatient psychiatric provider.

SOAR to Health and Wellness Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2016

SOAR to Health and Wellness Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a pilot program, to be known as Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond to Health and Wellness Training (or SOAR to Health and Wellness Training), to train health care providers and other related providers to: identify potential human trafficking victims, work with law enforcement to report and facilitate communication with such victims, refer victims to social or victims service agencies or organizations, provide such victims with coordinated care tailored to their circumstances, and consider integrating this training with existing training programs. The pilot program must include the functions of the training program with the same name that was operating before this bill's enactment and the following initiatives: engaging stakeholders to develop a flexible training module, supporting training in diverse health care sites, providing technical assistance to health education programs, developing a strategy to incentivize the use of training materials developed under this bill and the implementation of a nationwide health care protocol, and developing a methodology for collecting and reporting data on the number of human trafficking victims served in health care settings or other related provider settings. The pilot program is authorized through FY2022. HHS must report on the number of facilities operating under the pilot program, the number of providers trained through the pilot program, and these numbers for the program operating before the pilot program.

Medical Device Guardians Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2016

Medical Device Guardians Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by requiring physicians to report to the Food and Drug Administration about significant adverse experiences caused by medical devices.

Ariel Grace's Law

United States · United States Congress · 8 June 2016

Ariel Grace's Law This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to declare that an action for damages or a person's liability under state law is not affected by the federal prohibition on state or local requirements regarding medical devices. This bill is retroactively effective and applies to pending civil actions.

Ethical Patient Care for Veterans Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2016

Ethical Patient Care for Veterans Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that each VA physician is informed of the duty to report any covered activity committed by another physician that the physician witnesses or otherwise directly discovers to the applicable state licensing authority within five days. "Covered activity" means any activity occurring in a VA medical facility that consists of or causes the provision of impaired, incompetent, or unethical health care that requires direct reporting under the Code of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association.

Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2016

Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of dental, vision, and hearing care. With respect to such care, the bill establishes special payment rules, limitations, and coinsurance requirements.

Special Global Partnership with India Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2016

Special Global Partnership with India Act of 2016 This bill directs the President to take specified actions to advance the U.S.-India relationship, which shall include: (1) strategic, commercial, and defense dialogues; (2) development of advanced technology programs, including cyber security cooperation; and (3) enhanced scientific and military cooperation. The Department of Defense may enter into pilot programs to enhance India's capabilities in: (1) border, maritime, and aviation security; (2) explosives detection; (3) humanitarian and disaster management; and (4) counterterrorism. The President, with prior congressional notice, may make India temporarily eligible for certain defense services and articles under the Arms Export Control Act. The President shall make India eligible for the strategic trade authorization exemption from having to obtain certain export control licensees. The President may provide assistance to India to promote: (1) economic growth, (2) public health, (3) infrastructure development, (4) urban energy infrastructure, (5) military education and training, (6) educational exchanges, (7) joint development initiatives in third countries, and (8) banking access. The bill expresses the sense of Congress regarding: (1) India's entry into the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation regional economic forum, (2) U.S.-India negotiations to finalize a bilateral investment treaty, and (3) India's full implementation of the Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Initiative.

ECHO Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2016

Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes Act or the ECHO Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Health Resources and Services Administration, to study technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models and the ability of those models to improve patient care and provider education. (Such models connect specialists to primary care providers through videoconferencing to facilitate case-based learning, dissemination of best practices, and evaluation of outcomes.) The Government Accountability Office must report on such models and HHS support for such models.

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2016

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 TITLE I--INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES This bill authorizes FY2017 appropriations for the conduct of intelligence and intelligence-related activities of: the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI); the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); the Department of Defense (DOD); the Defense Intelligence Agency; the National Security Agency (NSA); the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force; the U.S. Coast Guard; the Departments of State, the Treasury, Energy, and Justice; the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO); the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It authorizes FY2017 appropriations for the Intelligence Community Management Account. Additional funds identified in a classified schedule for advanced research and development shall remain available until September 30, 2018. TITLE II--CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY SYSTEM This title authorizes FY2017 appropriations for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund. TITLE III--GENERAL INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY MATTERS The ODNI may participate in fundraising events for nonprofit organizations that support: (1) surviving family members of deceased intelligence community employees; or (2) welfare, education, or recreation of intelligence community employees, former employees, or family members. The ODNI must submit a five-year investment strategy for outreach and recruiting efforts in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that includes cybersecurity and computer literacy. Each element of the intelligence community may establish higher minimum rates of pay for positions that require STEM expertise. The ODNI must report annually regarding the intelligence community's engagements with the entertainment industry for theater productions, motion pictures, radio or television broadcasts, podcasts, webcasts, music, dance, books, or other published material. No element of the intelligence community may engage in such activities unless it submits a prior notice to Congress. Inspectors general in the intelligence community must prohibit former employees of their offices from being involved in matters that affect the interests of their element of the intelligence community for at least: (1) two years after the individual leaves a senior level position, or (2) one year after the individual leaves a position that is not a senior level position. The ODNI may not require employees of an inspector general office for an element of the intelligence community to rotate to a position in their element for which such office conducts audits, investigations, or reviews. Inspector general employees are exempt from a rotation that may impact their office's independence. The ODNI must notify Congress of presidential directives or policy guidance that impacts the intelligence community. Elements of the intelligence community must submit to Congress each memorandum of understanding regarding intelligence activities between the intelligence community and other federal entities. The ODNI and DHS must establish a program to provide assistance from the intelligence community to certain critical infrastructure to reduce the risk of harm caused by cyber attack where a cybersecurity incident could reasonably result in catastrophic regional or national effects on public health or safety, economic security, or national security. TITLE IV--MATTERS RELATING TO ELEMENTS OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY The Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive is redesignated as the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, with a director to be appointed by the President. The CIA may: (1) pay death benefits substantially similar to those authorized for Foreign Service members, and (2) adjust eligibility requirements for such benefits. The CIA inspector general may designate officers or employees as law enforcement officers for purposes of pay and retirement benefits if they are appointed to a position that investigates suspected criminal offenses. An individual may not serve simultaneously as the NSA Director and the commander of a unified combatant command. The FBI must submit a strategic workforce report to demonstrate progress in expanding initiatives to integrate information technology expertise in the investigative process. TITLE V--MATTERS RELATING TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES The President must establish a committee to counter active measures by Russia to exert covert influence over peoples and governments. . Accredited diplomatic personnel of the Russian Federation in the United States may not be permitted to travel more than 50 miles from their diplomatic post in the United States in a calendar quarter unless the FBI certifies that all Russian Federation diplomatic personnel complied during the preceding calendar quarter with U.S. notification requirements for such travel. The ODNI must conduct a study to determine the feasibility of creating an intelligence sharing arrangement and database to provide foreign countries that were parties to the Treaty on Open Skies on February 22, 2016 (except for the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus), with aerial imagery of the territories of other parties to the treaty that is comparable, delivered more frequently, and in equal or higher resolution than imagery available through the database established under the treaty. The ODNI must report on: (1) the extent to which Russian flights under the Open Skies Treaty contribute to the Russian Federation's warfighting doctrine; (2) the Russian Federation's capability to exceed the imagery limits set forth in the treaty; and (3) the implications and reactions of state parties if the United States withdraws from the treaty and the information sharing architecture is replaced with another intelligence sharing arrangement. The ODNI and the CIA must submit reports regarding the relationships between the U.S. intelligence community and the intelligence entities of foreign countries, international organizations, nonstate actors, or substate actors. TITLE VI--PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 is amended to require the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) to inform the ODNI, elements of the intelligence community, and the House and Senate intelligence committees about its activities. The scope of the PCLOB's review of executive branch actions, and its policy advice, is restricted to the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. persons, instead of privacy and civil liberties generally. TITLE VII--MATTERS RELATING TO UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION, GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA The ODNI must: (1) complete a declassification review of information on the past terrorist activities of each individual transferred or released from U.S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and (2) describe mitigation measures by countries to which such individuals have been transferred or released to monitor them and prevent them from carrying out terrorist activities. The bill prohibits the transfer or release to a foreign country of an individual detained at Guantanamo as of October 1, 2009, who is not a U.S. national or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and who is in or under DOD custody or control or otherwise detained at Guantanamo until after the ODNI certifies that: (1) an intelligence driven threat monitoring system has been established to mitigate the risk of such individuals reengaging in terrorist activity or posing a threat to U.S. persons or national security, and (2) the intelligence community has the capability to monitor all such individuals. TITLE VIII--REPORTS AND OTHER MATTERS DOD may establish a Cyber Center for Education and Innovation Home of the National Cryptologic Museum. The federal criminal code is amended to: (1) add electronic communication transactional records as a category of information that the FBI may request by certifying to a wire or electronic communication service provider that the records are relevant to an authorized investigation to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities, and (2) prohibit the FBI from requesting the contents of an electronic communication through such process. The NSA Director must serve as the National Manager for National Security Directive 42, signed by the President on July 5, 1990, regarding the national policy for the security of national security telecommunications and information systems. Agencies are prohibited from continuing to operate or control such systems until they register their configurations with the National Manager and the National Manager acknowledges such registration. The National Manager may inspect national security systems and issue binding operational directives. The definition of "national security system" is revised to remove the current exclusion of routine administrative and business applications that contribute to the direct fulfillment of military and intelligence missions. Elements of the intelligence community must certify to the ODNI that all prospective joint facilities in a vicinity have been considered before they purchase, lease, or construct a new facility that is 20,000 square feet or larger. The ODNI must collaborate with DOD and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to update the strategy for an interagency review of policies for planning and acquiring national security satellite systems and architectures consistent with the National Space Policy issued on June 28, 2010. The ODNI must appoint a single official to harmonize the intelligence community's governance, operations, analysis, and collection activities related to space and counterspace. The NRO and the U.S. Strategic Command must submit a concept of operations for the Joint Interagency Combined Space Operations Center. The ODNI must propose a plan to monitor advances in life sciences and biotechnology. The ODNI must submit plans to implement declassification proposals produced in the course of producing the fundamental classification guidance review for FY2017 required by Executive Order 13526. At least every five years, federal agencies must complete a fundamental classification guidance review to: (1) ensure that their guidance reflects current circumstances, and (2) identify classified information that no longer requires protection and may be declassified.

To amend title 5, United States Code, to include guidance documents in the congressional review process of agency rulemaking.

United States · United States Congress · 27 May 2016

This bill requires guidance documents of federal agencies to be considered rules that are subject to the congressional review process, which Congress can use to overturn certain agency actions through a joint resolution of disapproval. "Guidance document" is defined as a statement of general applicability and future effect, other than a regulatory action, issued by a federal agency that sets forth: (1) a policy on a statutory, regulatory, or technical issue; or (2) an interpretation of a statutory or regulatory issue. Significant guidance documents are subject to review as major rules, which delays their effective date and requires the Government Accountability Office to review the agency's compliance with the regulatory process. A "significant guidance document" is a guidance document disseminated to regulated entities or the general public that may reasonably be anticipated to: (1) lead to an annual effect of at least $100 million or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, employment, the environment, public health or safety, or state, local, or tribal governments or communities; (2) create a serious inconsistency, or otherwise interfere, with an action taken or planned by another federal agency; (3) materially alter the budgetary impact of any entitlement, grant, user fees, or loan programs or the rights or obligations of recipients; or (4) raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates. A guidance document is not considered to be significant if it: (1) concerns regulations issued in accordance with administrative procedures for rules required by statute to be made on record after opportunity for an agency hearing; (2) pertains to a U.S. military or foreign affairs function other than procurement regulations and regulations involving the import or export of non-defense articles and services; (3) concerns regulations that are limited to the organization, management, or personnel matters of a federal agency; or (4) belongs to a category of guidance documents exempted by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

Preserving Access to Medicaid for Americans Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 27 May 2016

Preserving Access to Medicaid for Americans Act of 2016 This bill amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP) of the Social Security Act to eliminate: (1) certain Medicaid payment reductions with respect to states that did not implement Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and (2) specified maintenance of effort requirements with respect to CHIP.

CARTELS AND THE U.S. HEROIN EPIDEMIC: COMBATING DRUG VIOLENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

United States · United States Senate · 26 May 2016

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2016 This bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create a master point of contact directory for effective communications between public safety answering points and telecommunications service providers. The FCC must submit a study on the public safety benefits, technical feasibility, and cost of providing the public with access to 9-1-1 services during times of emergency when mobile service is unavailable, through: telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points and other communications technologies operating on unlicensed spectrum, without requiring any login credentials; non-telecommunications service provider-owned WiFi access points; and other alternative means. The types of emergencies subject to this bill are: (1) occasions or instances under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for which the President determines that federal assistance is needed to supplement state and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States; or (2) an emergency declared by the governor of a state or U.S. territory. The Government Accountability Office must report on: (1) how federal agencies can ensure critical telecommunications networks remain operational during emergencies, and (2) whether to add points of contact for local utilities to the master directory. The Stafford Act is amended to include all categories of communications service providers (currently, only telecommunications service providers) among the essential service providers that may access a disaster site to restore and repair essential services in an emergency or major disaster without being denied or impeded by a federal agency. Communications services include wireline and mobile telephone, Internet, radio and television broadcasting, cable, and direct broadcast satellite services. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must encourage the adoption of mutual aid agreements recognizing the credentials of essential service providers issued by all parties to such an agreement. At the direction of the President, federal agencies may provide assistance essential to meeting immediate threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster by establishing temporary, or restoring, communications service.

Securing our Agriculture and Food Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Securing our Agriculture and Food Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs to carry out a program to coordinate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts related to defending the food, agriculture, and veterinary systems against terrorism and other high-consequence events that pose a high risk to homeland security. Such program shall include: (1) providing oversight and integration of DHS activities related to veterinary public health, food defense, and agricultural security; and (2) leading DHS policy initiatives relating to food, animal, and agricultural incidents and to overall domestic preparedness for, and collective response to, agricultural terrorism.

Veteran Prescription Continuity Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Veteran Prescription Continuity Act This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish an individual who is transitioning from Department of Defense (DOD)- to VA-furnished medical treatment any pharmaceutical agent not included in the joint uniform formulary if a DOD health care provider determines that the pharmaceutical agent is critical for the transition. The VA shall furnish an individual with such pharmaceutical agent: (1) beginning when the individual enrolls in the VA health care system, and (2) ending when a DOD health care provider determines that the individual does not require the pharmaceutical agent.

Welfare Reform and Upward Mobility Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Welfare Reform and Upward Mobility Act This bill requires the President to include in the annual budget proposal the total level of means-tested welfare spending by the federal, state, and local governments for the most recent fiscal year for which such data is available, and estimated levels for the current and 10 ensuing fiscal years. For each of FY2018-FY2028 each state that receives means-tested welfare spending by the federal government shall report annually to the Congressional Budget Office on the total amount of such spending by the state for the fiscal year. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is amended to define means-tested welfare spending as spending for any federal program designed specifically to give assistance or benefits exclusively to low-income Americans, including certain targeted community and economic development programs, unless they: are based on earned eligibility, are not need-based, are designed exclusively or primarily for veterans of military service, or offer universal or near universal eligibility to the working population and their dependents. The bill specifies federal cash assistance, medical, food, housing, energy, education training, child care, services, and community development programs deemed means-tested welfare spending, as well as federal programs that are not so deemed, including Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, unemployment insurance, Social Security retirement and survivor benefits, and military service veterans programs. The refundable portion of certain tax credits shall also be means-tested welfare spending, as well as the refundable portion of the premium and out-of-pocket health care subsidies to be paid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 is amended to specify, as an additional purpose for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), promoting prosperous self-sufficiency, which means the ability of households to maintain an income above the poverty-level without services and benefits from the federal government. The bill revises work eligibility requirements under SNAP As a condition of receiving SNAP funds, a state agency shall operate a work activation program for adults with dependent children. Part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act is amended to create the work preparation program for TANF families. The bill eliminates separate participation rate requirements for two-parent families. A family with a child under age 6 shall be deemed to meet work participation requirements if any parent is engaged in work for at least 20 hours per week. No federal funds shall be made available to carry out any means-tested housing program, but states may receive grants to fund their own housing programs. The bill prohibits funding for abortions and for health benefits that cover abortion, including certain tax credits, except where the pregnancy results from rape or incest or in certain other health cases.

Bolster Accountability to Drive Government Efficiency and Reform Washington Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Bolster Accountability to Drive Government Efficiency and Reform Washington Act of 2016 This bill establishes a Federal Real Property Reform Board to reduce the federal government's civilian real property inventory and operating costs by identifying federal land and buildings to dispose of, consolidate, redevelop, or operate more efficiently. A Federal Property Council must ensure implementation of property management strategies. The General Services Administration must establish a database of federal real property. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must submit to the Department Housing and Urban Development information about federal land or buildings that may be suitable for assistance to the homeless. Whistleblower protections are extended to employees of federal personal services contractors. Taxpayers Right-To-Know Act The OMB must publish a federal government program inventory that identifies authorizing statutes, performance assessments, finances, and beneficiaries for each federal government program for which there is more than $1 million in annual budget authority. Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act The bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Benefits) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to require the Social Security Administration (SSA) to: (1) pay state or local governments for transcribing and transmitting death records to the SSA; and (2) provide cooperative arrangements with federal or state agencies for the use of SSA information regarding deceased individuals by agencies administering federally funded benefits, including carrying out tax administration or debt collection or investigating crimes. The bill amends the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 to require the OMB to issue guidance to improve death record data matching among federal, state, and local governments. The SSA must submit a plan to improve the accuracy and completeness of its death data. Fraud Reduction and Data Analytics Act of 2016 The OMB must establish: (1) guidelines for federal agencies to establish financial and administrative controls to detect fraud and prevent improper payments, and (2) a working group to submit a plan for a federal interagency library of data analytics to facilitate fraud prevention and recovery. Getting Results through Enhanced Accountability and Transparency Act of 2016 The Government Accountability Office's (GAO's) annual report on its routine investigations to identify duplicative programs, agencies, offices, and initiatives must aggregate separately GAO estimates of related costs for instances of actual and potential unnecessary duplication and other potential cost savings and revenue collection. Chief operating officers, agencies' systemic operations reviews, and performance plans must consider improvements to coordination within and among agencies. The OMB's: (1) federal government performance plan must address management challenges concerning unnecessary duplication; and (2) priority goals for the government must include mission support for financial, human capital, information technology, procurement, and real estate management. Performance improvement officers must advise agencies on performance evaluation and risk management. The Performance Improvement Council must work to: (1) resolve government-wide issues relating to coordination and unnecessary duplication; (2) facilitate exchanges of performance improvement practices with states, local governments, and other nonfederal stakeholders; and (3) coordinate with interagency mission support councils. Administrative Leave Act of 2016 Agencies are: (1) prohibited from placing an employee in administrative leave for more than five consecutive days, and (2) required to record administrative leave separately from other types of leave. In lieu of administrative leave, agencies may place an employee in investigative or notice leave if the employee is under investigation or the target of an adverse action and if the continued presence of the employee in the workplace may pose a threat or cause loss of, or damage to, government property. An agency must consider other options, including reassigning the employee, allowing the employee to telework or take available leave, or treating the employee as absent without leave. Agencies may grant leave to employees who cannot report to work due to an act of God, a terrorist attack, or another condition that prevents them from safely traveling to or performing work at an approved location. Inspector General Empowerment Act of 2016 The Inspector General Act of 1978 is amended to establish procedures for: (1) the President to place inspectors general in a paid or unpaid nonduty status if their presence may pose a threat to others, result in damage to federal property, or jeopardize government interests; (2) inspectors general to subpoena the attendance and testimony of federal government contractors and grantees; (3) inspectors general to be exempt from procedures that require agreements between agencies for computerized comparisons of automated federal records systems; (4) the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) to mediate disputes involving multiple federal agencies; and (5) the CIGIE's Integrity Committee to consider allegations of wrongdoing against a Special Counsel or Deputy Special Counsel. The Attorney General or the Secretaries of Defense, the Treasury, Homeland Security, or Energy may prohibit inspectors general from accessing certain sensitive or national security information. Inspector General Mandates Reporting Act of 2016 The CIGIE must recommend modifications or repeals of inspectors general reporting requirements. GAO Mandates Revision Act of 2016 The bill eliminates or modifies various GAO reporting requirements. GAO Access and Oversight Act of 2016 The GAO may obtain federal agency records required to discharge its audit, evaluation, and investigative duties, including through bringing civil actions to require an agency to produce a record. Agency statements on actions taken or planned in response to GAO recommendations must be submitted to Congress and the GAO. Stop Wasteful Federal Bonuses Act of 2016 The bill prohibits a federal agency from awarding a bonus to any employee for five years after the end of a fiscal year in which the agency makes an adverse finding that the employee's conduct violated: (1) an agency policy for which the employee may be removed or suspended for at least 14 days, or (2) a law for which the employee may be imprisoned for more than one year. An agency must order an employee to repay a bonus awarded in any year in which such a finding is made. Eliminating Government-funded Oil-painting Act or the EGO Act The bill prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for an official portrait of a federal officer or employee, including the President, the Vice President, or a Member of Congress. Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of 2016 The bill allows former Presidents a lifetime annual annuity of $200,000 and an additional annual monetary allowance of $200,000, with annual cost-of-living increases, and reduces such allowance by the amount by which the former President's adjusted gross income in a taxable year exceeds $400,000. The annuity and allowance shall not be payable for any period during which a former President holds an appointive or elective federal position that pays more than a nominal rate. The annuity of a surviving spouse of a former President is increased to $100,000. Making Electronic Government Accountable By Yielding Tangible Efficiencies Act of 2016 or the MEGABYTE Act of 2016 The OMB must require the chief information officer of each executive agency to develop a comprehensive software licensing policy for software inventories, tracking, costs, management training, and life-cycle phases. Construction Consensus Procurement Improvement Act of 2016 Federal contracting officers soliciting civilian contract offers for the design and construction of public buildings, facilities, or works must use two-phase selection procedures when a project has a value of $750,000 or greater. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council must amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to prohibit, as part of the two-phase selection procedure for awarding contracts for construction and design services, the use of a reverse auction, which is defined as a real-time auction conducted through an electronic medium among at least two offerors who compete by submitting bids with the ability to submit revised lower bids before the auction closes. Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2016 The bill directs federal agencies to give priority to a request for a transfer submitted by an employee if the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) grants a stay of a personnel action at the request of: (1) the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) if it determines the personnel action was a result of a prohibited personnel practice; or (2) an employee in probationary status who seeks corrective action. Federal employees with authority over personnel actions are prohibited from accessing the medical records of another employee or applicant in retaliation for protected disclosures or exercise of whistleblower rights. The bill establishes a process for the suspension or removal of federal supervisors who commit certain prohibited personnel actions against whistleblowers. Supervisors must be trained to respond to complaints alleging a violation of whistleblower protections. Agencies must refer employee suicides to the OSC if the employee made certain whistleblower disclosuresand a personnel action was taken against the employee. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must submit a plan to prevent unauthorized access to the medical records of VA employees. Office of Special Counsel Reauthorization Act of 2016 The bill amends the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 to reauthorize the OSC through FY2021. The bill extends to 45 days the period for the OSC to determine whether information it receives from an employee or applicant discloses: (1) a violation of a law, rule, or regulation; or (2) gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or substantial and specific danger to public health and safety. The OSC may petition the MSPB to order corrective action if an agency's investigation was in retaliation for certain employee disclosures or protected activities, even if no personnel action is taken. The MSPB may review appeals from a determination that an employee or applicant is ineligible for a sensitive position if the sensitive position does not require a security clearance or access to classified information. Whistleblower protections must be incorporated into: (1) supervisory employee job requirements, and (2) performance appraisals in the Senior Executive Service. The OSC must provide for inspectors general from other agencies to receive and investigate allegations of OSC wrongdoings.

John Thomas Decker Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

John Thomas Decker Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to report on the availability of information regarding prescription of opioids after youth sports injury, including information on opioid use and misuse, injury treatments that do not involve opioids, and treatment for opioid addiction. (Opioids are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as heroin and certain pain medications.) The report must determine the extent this information is available to teenagers and adolescents who play youth sports, their families, youth sports groups, and health care providers. Taking into consideration the findings of the report, HHS must develop and disseminate such information.

Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2016 This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to modify provisions related to coverage and payment for certain breakthrough medical devices under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Specifically, with respect to such devices, the bill: (1) provides for transitional coverage; (2) establishes accelerated processes for determining regular coverage and payment; and (3) modifies provisions related to specified payment adjustments, cost thresholds, and classification.

DXM Abuse Prevention Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

DXM Abuse Prevention Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit the sale of a drug containing dextromethorphan (DXM) to an individual under age 18 unless the individual has a prescription or is actively enrolled in the military. Civil monetary penalties that escalate upon repeated violation are imposed. To possess or receive unfinished DXM, a person must be registered with the Department of Health and Human Services as a producer of a drug or medical device or otherwise allowed to engage in the practice of pharmacy, pharmaceutical production, or manufacture or distribution of drug ingredients. Unfinished DXM may be distributed only to these authorized persons. Common carriers distributing unfinished DXM between authorized persons are exempted. Civil monetary penalties are imposed for possession and distribution violations.

A resolution supporting the designation of May 2016 as "Mental Health Month".

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Expresses support for: (1) the designation of Mental Health Month to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and encourage individuals to seek care, and (2) the integration of national and local efforts to promote awareness of mental health and to support individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Healthy Start for Infants program for FY2017-FY2022. (The purpose of this program is to reduce infant mortality and improve perinatal outcomes.)

Mental and Behavioral Health Care Bump Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Mental and Behavioral Health Care Bump Act of 2016 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to 90% with respect to increased state Medicaid program expenditures for mental and behavioral health services. In general, a state's FMAP may range from 50% to 83% under current law.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the tax-exempt financing of certain government-owned buildings.

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 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.

Organ Donation Clarification Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 May 2016

Organ Donation Clarification Act of 2016 This bill allows the exchange of human organs for valuable consideration (anything of value) under pilot programs approved by the Department of Health and Human Services to measure the effect of removing disincentives or providing a noncash benefit that may increase organ availability. (Currently, exchanging human organs for valuable consideration is prohibited by the National Organ Transplant Act.) In addition to reimbursements permitted in the National Organ Transplant Act, this bill declares that valuable consideration does not include: dependent care needs related to organ donation, medical expenses related to donation and all related follow-up care including preventive follow-up care and medication, paperwork or legal costs related to donation, or an insurance policy against the risk of death or disability as a result of donating an organ or the longer-term health effects of having donated an organ.

Condemning the Dog Meat Festival in Yulin, China, and urging China to end the dog meat trade.

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

Condemns the Dog Meat Festival in Yulin, China, because it: (1) is a spectacle of extreme animal cruelty, (2) is a commercial activity not grounded in Chinese history, (3) is opposed by a majority of the Chinese people, and (4) threatens global public health. Urges: the government of China and the Yulin authorities to ban the killing and eating of dogs as part of Yulin's festival and to enforce China's food safety laws regulating the processing and sale of animal products and the 2011 Agriculture Ministry of China Regulation on the Quarantine of Dogs at the Place of Origin requiring one certificate for one dog on trans-provincial transport trucks, and the National People's Congress of China to enact an animal anticruelty law that bans the dog meat trade. Affirms the commitment of the United States to the protection of animals and to the progress of animal protection.

A bill to prohibit the President from preventing foreign air carriers traveling to or from Cuba from making transit stops in the United States for refueling and other technical services based on the Cuban Assets Control Regulations.

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

This bill prohibits the President from prohibiting the provision of technical services permitted under an international air transportation agreement in the United States for an aircraft of a foreign air carrier that is en route to or from Cuba based on the restrictions set forth in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations. This prohibition shall not apply: if the United States is at war with Cuba, armed hostilities between the United States and Cuba are in progress, or there is imminent danger to the public health or physical safety of U.S. citizens; or to foreign air carriers that are owned by the government of Cuba or based in Cuba.

World's Greatest Healthcare Plan Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

World's Greatest Healthcare Plan Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the requirements for individuals to maintain minimum essential coverage and for large employers to offer affordable coverage to full time employees. Health insurance is no longer required to cover preventive care at no cost or include the essential health benefits. Individuals enrolling in health insurance who have not maintained continuous coverage over the previous 12 months are charged an extra 20% on premiums for each consecutive year without coverage, unless the individual is subject to similar state incentives to maintain coverage. States may enroll uninsured residents in high deductible health plans. Individuals must be permitted to opt-out of this coverage. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must develop a risk adjustment mechanism for health insurance in the individual market. For residents of a state to qualify for premium subsidies or the health insurance tax credit in this bill, the state must permit health insurance with an annual limit on benefits to be sold on its exchange. The bill establishes an advanceable, refundable health insurance tax credit for taxpayers enrolled in health coverage. States may: (1) apply to HHS to use unclaimed health insurance tax credits for indigent health care; and (2) enroll Medicaid-eligible individuals in health insurance that qualifies for the tax credit instead of in Medicaid, at the individual's option. The bill establishes Roth HSAs (health savings accounts) for paying certain medical expenses and health insurance premiums. The tax deduction for medical expenses is eliminated. This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) and title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, including to turn federal Medicaid payments into block grants.

CRIB Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

Caring Recovery for Infants and Babies Act or the CRIB Act This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow a state Medicaid program to cover inpatient or outpatient services at a residential pediatric recovery center for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (a postnatal drug withdrawal syndrome) and their families.

A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to add standards for drug compendia for physician use for purposes of Medicaid payment for certain drugs, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to add standards for drug compendia used by physicians with respect to payment for certain drugs under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Specifically, such compendia shall include compendia that, as determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: (1) are used by health care providers and utilized nationwide by the health insurance industry; (2) have a publicly available policy on disclosures of conflicts of interest; (3) use an international, widely recognized standard to evaluate clinical evidence for inclusion; and (4) are accepted by at least one state board of pharmacy or equivalent licensing body.

Health Savings Account Expansion Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

Health Savings Account Expansion Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the requirements for health savings accounts (HSAs). The bill modifies the requirements to: increase the maximum contribution amounts, permit the use of HSAs to pay health insurance premiums and direct primary care expenses, repeal the restriction on using HSAs for over-the-counter medications, eliminate the requirement that a participant in an HSA be enrolled in a high deductible health care plan, and decrease the additional tax for HSA distributions not used for qualified medical expenses.

Protect Continuing Physician Education and Patient Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

Protecting Continuing Physical Education and Patient Care Act This bill amends title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to exempt from required manufacturer transparency reporting to the Department of Health and Human Services any transfer of value to a covered recipient of peer-reviewed journals, journal reprints, journal supplements, conference reports, and medical textbooks that directly benefit patients or are intended for patient use. The bill also excludes from such mandatory reporting any indirect payment or transfer of value to a covered recipient who is a physician: for speaking at, or preparing educational materials for, an educational event for physicians or other health care professionals that does not commercially promote a covered drug, device, biological, or medical supply; or that serves the sole purpose of providing the physician with medical education, such as the tuition required to attend an educational event or any materials given physicians at such an event.

A resolution promoting minority health awareness and supporting the goals and ideals of National Minority Health Month in April 2016, which include bringing attention to the health disparities faced by minority populations of the United States such as American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asian Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans, and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders.

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Minority Health Month, which include bringing attention to the severe health disparities faced by minority populations in the United States.

A resolution designating the month of May 2016 as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

Designates May 2016 as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. (Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time.) Congratulates the individuals who care for patients with cystic fibrosis for their dedication. Recognizes that the care delivery system for cystic fibrosis can be a model for care coordination. Acknowledges the investments and scientific achievements that have improved the lives of individuals with cystic fibrosis. Urges researchers, developers, patients, and providers to work together to find a cure for this deadly disease.

Behavioral Health Infrastructure Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 May 2016

Behavioral Health Infrastructure Improvement Act This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to temporarily increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for behavioral health infrastructure and systems improvements under a state medical assistance program. For a period of five years, a state's FMAP for such improvements shall equal 90%. (Generally, a state's FMAP under Medicaid may range from 50% to 83%.) The bill also establishes a grant program for states to establish or support a behavioral health assistance office or ombudsman to coordinate behavioral health and other assistance for Medicaid beneficiaries. The office or ombudsman shall: (1) track, quantify, and report on problems and inquiries encountered by Medicaid beneficiaries with respect to access to behavioral health services; (2) educate Medicaid beneficiaries on their rights and responsibilities to such access; and (3) assist Medicaid beneficiaries in the enforcement of those rights and in accessing services.