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Bill· HRH.R. 2069 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Medicare Clinical Practice Patterns Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish: (1) clinical profiles of the practice patterns of health care providers providing items and services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to determine how their practice patterns compare to each other; and (2) a method for public dissemination of summary information on such profiles without identifying the patient involved. Permits the Secretary, for certain such items and services, to adjust the amount of Medicare payments made to health care providers to encourage their provision of services in a medically appropriate manner and to discourage significant deviations in underservice or in overservice from generally acceptable medical norms.
Bill· HRH.R. 2070 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Medicare Post-Acute Care Payment Reform Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) develop and transmit to Congress a plan to provide for a single, unified system, with appropriate adjustments for area variations in costs and for outliers, under a prospective payment system (superseding current payment methodologies) for post-acute care hospital services within a course of treatment under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act; and (2) implement such system for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2010.
Bill· HRH.R. 2068 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Expansion Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the sunset date for, and numerical limitation on, Medicare participation in Medicare+Choice medical savings account (MSA) plans under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice).
Bill· HRH.R. 2047 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Small Business Access and Choice for Entrepreneurs Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish rules governing health plans sponsored by certain associations, including requirements for: (1) certification; (2) sponsors and boards of trustees, and treatment of franchised networks and collectively bargained plans; (3) participation and coverage of employers and individuals and of previously uninsured employees; (4) plan documents, contribution rates, and benefit options; (5) maintenance of reserves, excess-stop loss insurance, and solvency indemnification for plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage; (6) applications and related reporting; (7) notice for voluntary termination; and (8) corrective actions and mandatory termination. (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Labor to apply, to the appropriate Federal district court, to be appointed trustee of certain insolvent association health plans which provide health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage. Allows a State to impose a contribution tax on an association health plan that begins operations in such State after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the effect association health plans have had, if any, on reducing the number of uninsured individuals. (Sec. 3) Revises requirements for treatment of single employer arrangements. (Sec. 4) Revises requirements for certain collectively bargained arrangements. (Sec. 5) Sets forth enforcement requirements relating to association health plans. (Sec. 6) Sets forth State responsibilities, and requirements for cooperation between Federal and State authorities, with respect to association health plans. (Sec. 7) Prescribes special rules for certain existing health benefits programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 2043 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Patient Right to Unrestricted Medical Advice Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to prohibit a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group coverage, from imposing on a health professional any restriction on advice provided to a participant or beneficiary.
Bill· HRH.R. 2045 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Patient Right to Emergency Medical Care Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require a group health plan or issuer, if it provides benefits for emergencies, to provide benefits (without preauthorization and without regard to network limitations) for emergency medical screening examinations if a prudent lay person would determine them necessary.
Bill· HRH.R. 2041 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Patient Right to Obstetric and Gynecological Care Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require a group health plan or issuer, if it provides benefits for routine gynecological or obstetric specialist care benefits, to: (1) provide those benefits from a participating specialist without authorization or referral by a primary care provider; and (2) treat the ordering of other routine care by such participating specialist as an authorization by a primary care provider.
Bill· HRH.R. 2046 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Patient Access to Information Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require plan administrators to include specified information on plan coverage, managed care procedures, health care providers, and quality of medical care in summary plan descriptions, and to provide certain other information upon request of the participant or beneficiary. Requires advance notice of exclusion from a drug formulary of a drug or biological that is used in the treatment of a chronic illness or disease.
Bill· HRH.R. 2042 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Health Care Access, Affordability, and Quality Advisory Commission Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish the Health Care Access, Affordability, and Quality Commission to establish model guidelines in: (1) independent expert external review programs; (2) consumer friendly information programs; (3) systems for measuring patient satisfaction and patient outcomes; and (4) systems to ensure the timely processing of claims. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 2044 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Patient Right to Pediatric Care Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require a group health plan or issuer, if it provides benefits for routine pediatric specialist care benefits, to allow designation of a participating pediatric specialist as the primary care provider for any beneficiary under 18 years of age.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 201 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1999
Declares that the House of Representatives recognizes the importance of: (1) families pledging to each other to share their lives as organ and tissue donors; and (2) discussing organ and tissue donation as a family.
Bill· HRH.R. 2030 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1999
Medicare Patient Access to Technology Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for: (1) establishment of the Medicare Payment and Coding Advisory Committee and the Medicare Access to Technology Advisory Committee; and (2) annual adjustments to Medicare payment systems for changes in technology and medical practice. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) accept recommendations for Health Care Financing Administration Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) level II code modifications yearly from the public; (2) cause determinations on recommendations received during the three months immediately preceding the last month of a calendar quarter to be made not later than the first day of the following calendar quarter; and (3) incorporate approved modifications to HCPCS level II codes into the payment systems established under Medicare not later than 180 days after the determination approving a modification was made. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring a minimum period of marketing experience with respect to a drug or device as a condition of consideration or approval of a recommendation for a HCPCS level II modification for such drug or device. Directs the Secretary to maintain and continue the use of HCPCS level III codes (as in effect on June 1, 1999), and to make them available to the public.
Bill· HRH.R. 2021 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1999
Bone Marrow Blood Testing Coverage Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to provide coverage of human (leukocyte) antigen (bone marrow blood) testing under specified conditions. Gives the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services oversight authority under the respective Acts with regard to the administration and enforcement of this Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 2012 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1999
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of certain covered outpatient prescription drugs (including insulin) and biological products, including those that are also prescribable but are available over-the-counter, under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) for enrolled part B beneficiaries. (Sec. 3) Establishes and outlines the administrative structure for implementing such new Medicare part B coverage, including requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish: (1) competitive bidding procedures for contracting with appropriate private sector service providers meeting specified requirements (including requirements to use cost-containment mechanisms such as formularies) to furnish such new Medicare part B benefits, which consist of a basic benefit package; and (2) a process for providing payments to eligible group health plans on behalf of such enrolled beneficiaries. Imposes certain cost-sharing requirements, and provides for appropriate outreach activities as well as protection of patient confidentiality. (Sec. 4) Permits the Secretary to make payments, subject to specified requirements, to enrollee group health insurance retiree plans providing drug coverage that is equivalent to or greater than the new Medicare part B coverage provided for by this Act while also permitting such enrollees receiving group coverage to continue to receive such coverage under the plan. (Sec. 5) Revises Medicare supplemental health insurance (Medigap) policy requirements with regard to this Act's mandated coverage of certain covered outpatient prescription drugs and biological products to require that an appropriate number of Medigap policies provide complementary, non-duplicative coverage in line with such mandated coverage. (Sec. 6) Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) with regard to Medicaid assistance for low-income individuals to modify State Medicaid plan requirements to: (1) increase (from 120 percent to 135 percent of the poverty level) the income eligibility level to qualify for certain Medicare cost-sharing with regard to monthly Medicare part B premiums; and (2) provide for Medicaid prescription drug benefits for qualified Medicare beneficiaries and others as a wrap- around benefit. (Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to provide for waiver of the additional portion of the Medicare part B premium attributable to the prescription drug coverage mandate of this Act for certain Medicare beneficiaries already having actuarially equivalent drug coverage. Excludes from such waiver a group health plan enrollee if the plan receives payments for such enrollee under this Act. (Sec. 8) Amends SSA title XVIII to: (1) eliminate the time limitation on Medicare benefits for immunosuppressive drugs; (2) require Medicare secondary payer provisions with regard to individuals with end stage renal disease be applied without regard to any time limitation with regard to immunosuppressive drugs furnished on or after this Act's enactment; and (3) increase the membership of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission by two members, with their initial terms staggered, as well as add to the qualifications for membership. (Sec. 10) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress with regard to the competitive bidding process for selecting service providers to furnish certain covered outpatient prescription drugs and biological products, including an analysis of any savings to Medicare as a result of this new Medicare part B benefit.
Bill· SS. 1163 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Research on Lupus Title II: Delivery of Services Regarding Lupus Lupus Research and Care Amendments of 1999 - Title I: Research on Lupus - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to expand and intensify research and related activities of the Institute regarding lupus. Requires the Director to: (1) coordinate such activities with similar activities conducted by other national research institutes and agencies of the National Institutes of Health; and (2) conduct or support research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, lupus, including research to determine the reasons underlying the elevated prevalence of the disease among African-American and other women. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Delivery of Services Regarding Lupus - Mandates grants for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with lupus and their families. Regulates charges (whether they are characterized as enrollment fees, premiums, deductibles, cost sharing, copayments, coinsurance, or other charges) imposed by grantees on service recipients. Authorizes technical assistance. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1149 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Drinking Water Right-to-Know Act of 1999 - Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require a national primary drinking water regulation for radionuclides to require the testing of drinking water for the presence of radium 224 no later than 48 hours after taking a sample. Requires annual consumer confidence reports by community water systems to include a report on the level of each contaminant that may be difficult to detect in finished water and present at levels that present a public health concern in such water. Requires regulations regarding such reports to direct public water systems to mail such reports to residential consumers and such reports suitable for posting to customers providing water to non-residential consumers. Provides that certain procedures for systems serving smaller communities that are not required to mail such report to consumers shall require such systems to notify consumers of new contamination or a significant increase in contamination by a regulated contaminant that is above the maximum contaminant level goal for the contaminant or of such contamination or increase by an unregulated contaminant. Requires State source water assessment programs to assess the susceptibility of each public water system in the delineated areas to any contaminant that is: (1) subject to a national primary drinking water regulation; (2) included on a specified list of unregulated contaminants; (3) the subject of a health advisory published by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; (4) monitored under such programs; (5) known or suspected to be from a pollution source; or (6) monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey under the National Water Quality Assessment program. Requires such programs to: (1) identify contaminants described in the preceding paragraph that the State determines present a public health threat; (2) require monitoring for such contaminants if a contaminant may have been released by a potentially significant source; (3) identify known or suspected sources of pollution that may threaten public health; (4) apply to wellheads, groundwater recharge areas, watersheds and other areas determined to be appropriate; and (5) be developed, updated, and implemented in cooperation with the public served by the source water assessment areas included in such programs. Directs States to submit plans for such programs to the Administrator. Provides for plan updates every five years.
Bill· SS. 1146 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Veterans' Access to Emergency Care Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract for emergency health care in non-Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for veterans enrolled in the Department's annual patient enrollment system. Includes such contracted emergency care within the definition of authorized Department medical services. Authorizes the reimbursement of enrolled veterans for expenses incurred in the treatment of any emergency medical condition which results in: (1) placing the health of the individual in serious jeopardy; or (2) serious impairment to bodily functions or serious dysfunction of a body organ or part. Directs the Secretary to require in such a contract that payment by the Secretary for treatment of enrolled veterans at the non-Department facility be made only after any payment that may be made with respect to such treatment: (1) under part A or part B of the Medicare program (title XVIII of the Social Security Act); and (2) by a third-party insurance provider.
Bill· SS. 1142 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Seniors' Access to Continuing Care Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to prohibit health insurance provided through a managed care organization under a group health plan (and, for the PHSA, health insurance in the individual market) from denying coverage with regard to a continuing care retirement community or other qualified facility concerning: (1) post-hospitalization services in the same community or facility as in pre-hospitalization; (2) skilled nursing services without a preceding hospitalization; and (3) the same facility the participant's or beneficiary's spouse already resides in. Makes the prohibition: (1) depend on whether such services are otherwise covered; and (2) regardless of whether the organization is under contract with the community or facility. Prohibits related denial of enrollment or renewal, incentives to enrollees, and penalties or incentives to physicians. Declares that this Act does not preempt State laws meeting certain requirements, including requirements more protective of participants or beneficiaries than requirements under this Act. Provides for enforcement.
Bill· HRH.R. 1999 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Medicare Community Nursing Demonstration Extension Act of 1999 - Grants an additional three-year extension for demonstration projects under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 that provide payment on a prepaid, capitated basis for community nursing and ambulatory care furnished to beneficiaries under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 1977 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Harold Hughes-Bill Emerson Substance Abuse Treatment Parity Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for parity in the application of treatment limitations and financial requirements to substance abuse treatment benefits under group health plans and individual health insurance coverage.
Bill· HRH.R. 2002 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Anesthesia Outcomes Study Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to Congress on mortality and adverse outcome rates of Medicare patients with respect to anesthesia services by providers of such services.
Bill· HRH.R. 1998 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Medicare's Elderly Receiving Innovative Treatments (MERIT) Act of 1999 - Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with regard to the frail elderly, modifying: (1) payment rules (including requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a new payment system); (2) eligibility, election, and enrollment provisions (adding special rules for frail elderly Medicare+Choice beneficiaries enrolling in specialized programs for the frail elderly that establish a continuous open enrollment period for such individuals); and (3) benefits and beneficiary protections provisions (requiring the Secretary to develop and implement a program to measure the quality of care provided in specialized programs for the frail elderly). Exempts Medicare+Choice beneficiaries in a specialized program for the frail elderly from any risk adjustment system until the Secretary certifies to Congress that a comprehensive risk adjustment methodology taking certain factors into account is being fully implemented.
Bill· HRH.R. 1996 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Children's Lead Screening Accountability For Early-Intervention Act of 1999 or Children's Lead SAFE Act- Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require State Medicaid plans to provide for reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the number of children who: (1) are under age three and enrolled in the State plan; and (2) have received a blood lead screening test. Requires each contract between the State and an entity responsible for provision of medical assistance under the State plan to provide for: (1) compliance with mandatory blood lead screening requirements consistent with prevailing guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for such screening; and (2) coverage of qualified lead treatment services. Allows reimbursement for qualified lead treatment services for children with elevated blood lead levels. Provides for enhanced Federal matching contributions for an information retrieval system that determines whether a child is enrolled under a State plan and whether an enrolled child has received mandatory early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Head Start Act to mandate blood lead poisoning screening tests for an infant or child to be eligible to participate in either the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC) or early Head Start and Head Start programs. Amends SSA title XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP) to mandate CHIP coverage for blood lead poisoning screening tests for children Amends the Public Health Service Act and SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) with regard to grants for lead poisoning related activities. Authorizes appropriations. Imposes specified requirements on the CDC Director, including that the Director offer various assistance to the States with regard to children and lead poisoning. Authorizes appropriations. Outlines provisions for training and congressional reports with regard to HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration and childhood lead poisoning and blood lead screening tests. Mandates a CDC bonus program to improve the blood lead screening rates of States for children under age three enrolled in Medicaid. Details program particulars. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 1984 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Elderly Protection Act - Title I: Federal Prohibition of Violence Against the Elderly and Additional Assistance for Programs to Combat That Violence - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties, including ten years' imprisonment, for willful bodily or psychological injury (or its attempt) to a senior (age 62 or older) because of the individual's age. Prescribes up to life imprisonment in the case of kidnaping, aggravated sexual abuse, or homicide. (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations for additional enforcement personnel and resources. Title II: Domestic Violence Prevention - Increases the authorization of appropriations for assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937. (Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make such amounts available only to public housing agencies and qualified nonprofit organizations only for use for providing tenant-based rental assistance on behalf of families victimized by domestic violence who have left or are leaving a residence as a result of the domestic violence. (Sec. 203) Revises Federal law with respect to payment of monthly transitional compensation to dependents or former dependents of armed forces members convicted of a dependent-abuse offense. Allows resumption, on a case-by-case basis, of any such payments terminated, after execution of a punitive or adverse action, because the convicted former member again resides in the same household as the spouse or former spouse receiving such payments, if the former member subsequently ceases such residence, and it is determined there was ongoing abuse. (Sec. 204) Adds mental health services to the medical care to which the abused dependent receiving such transitional compensation is entitled. (Sec. 205) Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Aging, in making demonstration project grants and contracts, to give special consideration to projects designed to: (1) expand access to domestic violence shelters and programs for older individuals; and (2) promote research on legal, organizational, or training impediments to providing services to older individuals through such shelters, especially impediments to provision of services in coordination with delivery of health care or senior services. (Sec. 206) Makes permanent the authorization of appropriations for the ombudsman program and the elder abuse prevention program, without fiscal year limitation. (Sec. 207) Directs the Secretary to make grants to: (1) nonprofit private organizations to support community initiatives to coordinate activities concerning intervention in and prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, and sexual assault, against older individuals; and (2) develop and implement outreach programs directed toward assisting older individuals who are victims of such abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 208) Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 and the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary, in making awards of grants or contracts under this title, to give preference to any qualified health professions school or training program that requires, as a condition of receiving a degree or certificate, each student to have had significant training in identifying, examining, treating, and referring to service providers any victims of elder abuse and neglect, including domestic violence, and sexual assault. Title III: Elderly and Disabled Protection - Elderly and Disabled Protection Act of 1999 - Declares that a nursing facility (including a skilled nursing facility), home health agency, or hospice program (covered facility) under the Medicare and Medicaid programs of titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act may not: (1) employ an individual as a direct care employee unless the facility has requested from the State direct care employee registry a background check (including a criminal as well as an abusive work history background check); or (2) continue to employ such an individual if the background check report reveals a conviction of a disqualifying crime. Requires the covered facility to report to such registry documented findings of patient abuse by a direct care employee. Imposes civil penalties upon covered facilities that violate such requirements. (Sec. 303) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish methods by which State direct care registries can pool and share criminal background check summaries and documented findings of patient abuse (national registry coordination system). Requires each State to expand its direct care employee registry in order to carry out such background checks and other related functions, including reporting of summary information to the national registry coordination system. Sets forth procedures for criminal and abusive work history background checks. (Sec. 304) Defines "direct care employee" as a paid, nonvolunteer nurse aide, home health care aide, personal care assistant, private duty nurse aide, day attendant, housekeeper, library attendant, laundry assistant, or similar worker who performs nursing or related tasks involving direct patient care in a covered facility.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 197 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1999
Sets forth the rule (open ) for the consideration of H.R. 358 (protection of consumers in managed care plans and other health coverage).
Bill· SS. 1134 (106th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
Affordable Education Act of 1999 - Title I: Education Savings Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the maximum annual contribution allowed to an education individual retirement account. Permits eligible educational institutions to maintain qualified tuition programs. Title II: Educational Assistance - Extends the termination date for the exclusion of employer provided educational assistance provisions. Eliminates the 60 month limit on the student loan interest deduction. Excludes from gross income certain amounts received under the National Public Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and Financial Assistance Program. Title III: Liberalization of Tax-Exempt Financing Rules for Public School Construction - Increases the amount by which certain governmental bonds used to finance public school capital expenditures may be exempted from specified arbitrage bond provisions. Provides for the treatment of qualified public educational facility bonds as exempt facility bonds. Permits aggregate Federal guarantees of up to $500 million in school construction bonds by the Federal Housing Finance Board. Title IV: Revenue Provisions - Modifies the foreign tax credit carryback and carryover periods. Limits the use of the non-accrual experience method of accounting under provisions relating to special rules for services. Amends provisions involving returns relating to the cancellation of indebtedness by certain entities to include within the definition of "applicable financial entity" any organization a significant trade or business of which is the lending of money. Directs the Secretary to establish a program requiring the payment of user fees for requests to the IRS for ruling letters, opinion letters, determination letters, and other similar requests (terminates fees October 1, 2009). Revises provisions concerning a corporation, its shareholders, and the transferring of certain assets and liabilities. Disallows a deduction for the transfer of a charitable contribution to or for the use of a State or charitable tax-exempt organization or trust if in connection with such transfer: (1) the organization directly or indirectly pays, or has previously paid, any premium on any personal benefit contract (life insurance, annuity, or endowment contract, also known as charitable split-dollar life insurance) with respect to the transferor; or (2) there is an understanding (side agreement) that any person will directly or indirectly pay any premium on such contract with respect to such transferor. Prohibits transfers of excess pension assets to retiree health account made after September 30, 2009 (currently, after December 31, 2000), from being treated as qualified transfers. Modifies rules relating to the exemption of certain ten or more employer plans from welfare benefit fund provisions. Prohibits, in general, the use of the installment method of accounting for accrual method dispositions. Adds to the list of taxable vaccines any conjugate vaccine of streptococcus pneumoniae.
Bill· SS. 1140 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
Health Care Worker Needlestick Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to amend the bloodborne pathogens standard to require that: (1) employers utilize needleless systems and sharps with engineered sharps injury protections in their work sites to prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens; and (2) non-managerial direct care health care workers of employers participate in the identification and evaluation of such systems and sharps. Provides an exemption where an employer demonstrates that needleless systems and sharps: (1) do not promote employee safety, interfere with patient safety, or interfere with the success of a medical procedure under certain circumstances in the employer's work facility; or (2) are not commercially available to the employer. (Sec. 2) Includes under such revised standard requirements relating to: (1) exposure control plans; (2) sharps injury logs; and (3) worker training in the use of such systems and sharps. (Sec. 3) Requires the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to establish and maintain a national database on existing needleless systems and sharps with engineered sharps injury protections. Requires the Director to: (1) develop a set of evaluation criteria for use by employers, employees, and other persons in evaluating and selecting such systems and sharps; (2) develop a model training curriculum to train employers, employees, and other persons in such evaluation process, and provide requested technical assistance to the extent feasible; and (3) establish a national system to collect comprehensive data on needlestick injuries to healthcare workers, including data on mechanisms to analyze and evaluate prevention. Authorizes NIOSH access to information recorded by employers in sharps injury logs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require hospitals, as a condition of their Medicare program participation, to comply with the bloodborne pathogen standard as amended under this Act with respect to hospital employees, even if they are not otherwise subject to such standard because they are exempt from OSHA regulation.
Bill· SS. 1131 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
Fragile X Research Breakthrough Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to: (1) expand, intensify, and coordinate the Institute's activities respecting research on the disease known as Fragile X; and (2) make grants to, and enter into contracts with, public or nonprofit private entities for the development and operation of at least three centers to conduct research for improving the diagnosis and treatment of, and finding the cure for, Fragile X. Requires each such center assisted to conduct basic and clinical research, which may include clinical trials of new or improved diagnostic methods and drugs or other treatment approaches. Allows such centers to use grant funds provided under this Act to provide fees to individuals serving as subjects in clinical trials. Requires the Director to provide for the coordination of the centers' activities, including the exchange of information. Requires each center to use the facilities of a single institution, or be formed from a consortium of cooperating institutions. Allows support to be provided to a center for a period not exceeding five years with authorized extensions. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program under which the Federal Government enters into contracts with qualified health professionals who agree to conduct research on Fragile X in consideration of the Government's agreement to repay, for each year of such service, no more than $35,000 of the principal and interest of the educational loans owed by such health professionals. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1126 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improvements to the Food Safety Import System Title II: Enforcement and Penalties for Importing Contaminated Food Title III: Improvements to Public Health Infrastructure and Awareness Imported Food Safety Improvement Act of 1999 - Title I: Improvements to the Food Safety Import System - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require imported food to be prepared, packed, and held under a system meeting the requirements of such Act, or determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to be equivalent to domestic requirements. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop an implementation plan; and (2) conduct overseas food system evaluations. Directs the Secretary to establish, for use by the Secretary of the Treasury, a system to deny the entry of imported food from a specific area, producer, manufacturer, or transporter into the United States that: (1) has been repeatedly adulterated or associated with repeated outbreaks of foodborne disease, presents a health danger, and is likely without systematic changes to cause disease or be adulterated again; or (2) in an emergency determination, has been strongly associated with a serious outbreak of foodborne disease. Makes a conforming amendment to the Public Health Service Act. (Sec. 102) Deems as adulterated an imported (or offered for import) food: (1) withheld for review that is distributed prior to the Secretary's authorization of distribution; (2) ordered to be held in secure storage prior to distribution that is not so held; (3) required to be destroyed that is not so destroyed; (4) previously denied admission that is subsequently offered for admission without a showing of appropriate compliance (port shopping); or (5) owned or consigned by a debarred person. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) prohibit distribution of an imported food until the Secretary so authorizes; (2) prohibit distribution and require the secure storage of an imported food if the importer, owner, or consignee of such food is a person against whom the Secretary of the Treasury has assessed certain liquidated damages for failure to redeliver food subject to a bond; (3) order dangerous imported food to be destroyed; and (4) require marking of refused entry (but not ordered destroyed) food until brought into appropriate compliance. Deems as misbranded a refused entry food not so marked. (Sec. 108) Shortens the period before a refused entry article which is not exported shall be destroyed. (Sec. 109) Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the collection and analysis of imported food by entities other than the Food and Drug Administration. Title II: Enforcement and Penalties for Importing Contaminated Food - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish increased bonding requirements for persons involved in prior importing of adulterated or misbranded food. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to debar a person from importing food into the United States for food import-related repeat or felony activities. (Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations for additional Food and Drug Administration laboratory, inspection, and compliance personnel. Title III: Improvements to Public Health Infrastructure and Awareness - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to make grants to, enter into contracts with, and provide technical assistance to State and local health entities for enhanced surveillance and prevention of foodborne disease, particularly related to imported food. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary, with respect to foodborne disease, to: (1) conduct pathogen detection research and development; and (2) provide for training, education, and public information. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to provide related international public health training and technical assistance. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 1965 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
Asthma Act - Authorizes appropriations to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for FY 2000 through 2004 to expand the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Directs the coordinating committee for such Program to report to Congress: (1) a determination of the scope of asthma problems in the United States; (2) an identification of all Federal programs that carry out asthma-related activities; and (3) recommendations for strengthening and better coordinating Federal asthma-related activities. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collaborate with the States to expand the scope of activities: (1) for determining the incidence and prevalence of asthma; and (2) carried out to prevent its health consequences. Directs the Secretary to conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the prevalence and severity of asthma and the quality of asthma management. Authorizes appropriations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for such activities. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to nonprofit private entities to carry out outreach activities in applicant communities which provide: (1) information and education on asthma; and (2) referrals to health programs of public and private nonprofit entities that provide asthma-related services, including services for low- income individuals. Gives grant priorities to communities disproportionately affected by asthma or underserved by such health programs and in which a significant number of low-income individuals reside. Authorizes appropriations for the grant program. Directs the Secretary to encourage the States to carry out activities to assist children with respect to asthma, in accordance with Institute guidelines. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for such purpose to those States with a State plan under title XXI (Children's Health Insurance) of the Social Security Act which provides for such activities, with a matching funds requirement of 50 percent of the Federal funds provided. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to States to develop plans that will provide for such activities. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to local educational agencies to carry out, in communities with a significant number of low-income or underserved individuals, a program in elementary and secondary schools of such communities for conducting asthma-related activities for children who attend such schools. Authorizes appropriations. Expresses the sense of Congress that hospitals and managed care plans should undertake certain efforts to increase asthma-related education and training, asthma information and data, and asthma clinical practice guidelines. Expresses the sense of Congress that all Federal, State, and local asthma-related activities should: (1) promote the guidelines and other recommendations of the Public Health Service on asthma diagnosis and management; and (2) be designed in consultation with national and local organizations representing the medical, educational, and environmental communities, as well as advocates representing those affected by asthma.
Bill· HRH.R. 1966 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
Asthma Awareness, Education and Treatment Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to public and nonprofit private entities for carrying out projects to provide for individuals in low-income communities: (1) screenings and referrals regarding asthma, allergies, and related respiratory problems; (2) information and education regarding such conditions; and (3) workshops regarding such conditions for specified individuals who serve in supervisory roles of children in such communities. Outlines requirements for such projects. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. Authorizes the Secretary to award contracts for a national media campaign to provide to the public and health care providers information on such conditions, with priority given to the occurrence of such conditions in children. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a tax credit, effective as of January 1, 2000, to providers of pest control or climate control services who donate such services in any public housing or low-income multifamily residential rental property. Directs the Secretary to conduct research to determine whether and to what extent there is a causal relationship between air pollutants and the occurrence of such conditions, requiring priority to be given to clinical evaluations of low-income individuals. Requires the Director of the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute to: (1) identify all Federal programs that carry out asthma-related activities; (2) develop a Federal plan for responding to asthma; and (3) submit recommendations to Congress on strengthening the coordination of Federal asthma-related activities. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to: (1) conduct local asthma surveillance activities in order to collect asthma prevalence, severity, and management data; and (2) compile and annually publish data on the prevalence of children suffering from asthma in each State, as well as the childhood asthma mortality rate nationally and in each State.
Bill· HRH.R. 1968 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1999
Medicare Preventive Care Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of qualified preventive services. Provides for an alternative payment method for specified preventive services currently covered (including the new qualified preventive services benefit), a method that permits waiver of any applicable co-payments and mandates waiver of any applicable deductibles.
Bill· SS. 1122 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Military Personnel Title II: Operation and Maintenance Title III: Procurement Title IV: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Title V: Revolving and Management Funds Title VI: Other Department of Defense Programs Title VII: Related Agencies Central Intelligence Agency Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 - Title I: Military Personnel - Appropriates funds for FY 2000 for active-duty and reserve personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force and for National Guard personnel in the Army and Air Force. Title II: Operation and Maintenance - Appropriates funds for FY 2000 for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Army, Navy, and Air Force (including a transfer of funds in each case), the Marine Corps, the defense agencies, the reserve components, and the Army and Air National Guards. Appropriates funds for: (1) overseas contingency operations (including a transfer of funds); (2) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; (3) environmental restoration for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and defense-wide (including a transfer of funds in each case); (4) environmental restoration at former defense sites (including a transfer of funds); (5) overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid; (6) nuclear threat reduction programs with respect to republics of the former Soviet Union; and (7) renovation of the Pentagon. Title III: Procurement - Appropriates funds for FY 2000 for procurement by the armed forces and its reserve components of aircraft, missiles, weapons, tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, and shipbuilding and conversion and for other procurement. Appropriates funds for defense-wide procurement and for National Guard and reserve equipment. Title IV: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Appropriates funds for FY 2000 for research, development, test, and evaluation by the armed forces and defense agencies. Appropriates funds for the Directors of Test and Evaluation and Operational Test and Evaluation. Title V: Revolving and Management Funds - Appropriates funds for: (1) the defense working capital funds; and (2) programs under the National Defense Sealift Fund (including a transfer of funds). Title VI: Other Department of Defense Programs - Appropriates funds for: (1) the Department of Defense (DOD) medical and health care programs; (2) the Armed Forces Retirement Home; (3) the destruction of lethal chemical agents and munitions; (4) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, defense (including a transfer of funds); and (5) expenses and activities of the Office of Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978. Title VII: Related Agencies Central Intelligence Agency - Appropriates funds for: (1) the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System Fund; (2) expenses of the Intelligence Community Management Account (including a transfer of funds); (3) authorized payments to the Kaho'olawe Island Conveyance, Remediation, and Environmental Restoration Fund; and (4) national security scholarships, fellowships, and grants (using funds derived from the National Security Education Trust Fund). Title VIII: General Provisions - Department of Defense - Specifies authorized, restricted, and prohibited uses of appropriated funds. (Sec. 8008) Authorizes procurement funds appropriated under this Act to be used for multiyear procurement contracts for the Longbow Apache helicopter, MLRS Rocket Launcher, Abrams M1A2 upgrade, Bradley M2A3 vehicle, F-A 18E-F aircraft, C-17 aircraft, and F-16 aircraft. (Sec. 8010) Prohibits during FY 2000 the management by end strengths of DOD civilian personnel. (Sec. 8019) Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (Secretary) to establish with host governments of NATO-member countries an account for the deposit of residual value amounts negotiated in the return of U.S. military installations to such countries. (Sec. 8032) Authorizes DOD to incur up to $350 million in obligations for DOD personnel compensation, military construction projects, and supplies and services in anticipation of receipts of contributions from the Government of Kuwait. (Sec. 8033) Earmarks funds from this Act for the Civil Air Patrol Corporation. (Sec. 8034) Prohibits the use of funds from this Act to establish a new DOD federally funded research and development center (FFRDC). Limits the Federal compensation to be paid to FFRDC members or consultants. Prohibits the use of FY 2000 FFRDC funds for new building construction, cost-sharing payments for projects funded by Government grants, absorption of cost overruns, or certain charitable contributions. Limits the staff years of technical effort that may be funded for FFRDCs from FY 2000 funds. (Sec. 8042) Directs the President to include within each fiscal year budget the amounts requested for administrative activities of DOD, the military departments, and the defense agencies. (Sec. 8053) Prohibits the use of funds: (1) by a DOD entity without compliance with the Buy American Act; (2) for assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea unless specifically appropriated for such purpose; (3) to reduce the civilian medical and medical support personnel assigned to military treatment facilities below the September 30, 1999, level; and (4) to transport chemical munitions to the Johnston Atoll for storage or demilitarization (with an exception and an authorized wartime waiver by the President). (Sec. 8050) Earmarks funds appropriated under this Act for the mitigation of adverse environmental impacts on Indian lands resulting from DOD activities. (Sec. 8057) Authorizes DOD to lease real and personal property at the Adak Naval Air Facility, Alaska. (Sec. 8058) Rescinds specified funds from various accounts under prior defense appropriations Acts. (Sec. 8065) Prohibits the transfer to any other department or agency, except as specifically provided in an appropriations law, of funds available to DOD or the Central Intelligence Agency in any fiscal year for drug interdiction and counter-drug activities. (Sec. 8072) Directs the Secretary to report quarterly to specified congressional committees setting forth all costs incurred by DOD in implementing or supporting United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions. (Sec. 8073) Prohibits current fiscal year DOD funds from being obligated or expended to transfer to another nation or international organization defense articles or services for use in any UN peacekeeping or peace enforcement operation, or for any other international peacekeeping, peace enforcement, or humanitarian assistance operation, unless specified congressional committees are given 15 days' advance notice. (Sec. 8074) Directs the Secretary, to the extent authorized by law, to issue loan guarantees in support of U.S. defense exports not otherwise provided for, with a contingent liability limit of $15 billion. Requires quarterly reports to specified congressional committees on such loan guarantees. (Sec. 8078) Authorizes the use of DOD O&M funds in support of U.S. missions and with eligible organizations and activities outside of DOD. (Sec. 8081) Directs the Secretary, upon the enactment of this Act, to make specified transfers between various DOD accounts. (Sec. 8083) Authorizes the Secretary, during the current fiscal year, to waive reimbursement of certain educational costs of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies for military officers and civilian officials of foreign countries if determined to be in the national security interest. (Sec. 8088) Authorizes the Secretary, on a case-by-case basis, to waive limitations on the procurement of defense items from a foreign country if: (1) the Secretary determines that such limitation would invalidate cooperative programs or reciprocal trade agreements for the procurement of defense items; and (2) such country does not discriminate against the same or similar defense items produced in the United States for that country. Provides exceptions. (Sec. 8091) Reduces by $452.1 million the total amount appropriated in this Act to reflect savings from revised economic assumptions, to be allocated among various DOD accounts. (Sec. 8092) Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to support any training program involving security forces of a foreign country if credible information exists that such country has committed a gross violation of human rights, unless all necessary corrective steps have been taken. Requires the monitoring of such information. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such prohibition under extraordinary circumstances. (Sec. 8093) Authorizes the Secretary to distribute surplus DOD dental equipment to Indian health service facilities and federally- qualified health centers. (Sec. 8094) Reduces the total amount appropriated in this Act by: (1) $209.3 million, to reflect savings from the pay of civilian personnel; (2) $206.6 million, to reflect savings from favorable foreign currency fluctuations; and (3) $250.3 million, to reflect savings from reductions in the price of bulk fuel. Allocates such savings among various DOD O&M accounts. (Sec. 8098) Makes Navy-appropriated funds available for the replacement of certain lost and canceled checks. (Sec. 8099) Authorizes the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to waive payments for the lease of personal property to Federal, State, or local governments or youth or charitable organizations. (Sec. 8100) Provides authorized uses of funds appropriated for the Pacific Disaster Center. Authorizes the Secretary to enable the Center and its derivatives to enter into cooperative agreements for the delegation or implementation of all of its missions and to accept grants to carry out its activities. Prohibits the Center from accepting any remuneration or services that compromise national security. (Sec. 8101) Reduces by over $1.8 billion the total amount appropriated under this Act for military personnel, to reflect amounts appropriated in H.R. 1141, as enacted. (Sec. 8104) Earmarks specified O&M funds for combating terrorism inside and outside the United States. Requires each budget to separately state the amount requested for such activities. (Sec. 8106) Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to negotiate leases for operational support aircraft. (Sec. 8107) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to repeal a requirement that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not begin to commence bidding for commercial licenses for certain reallocated frequency spectrum until after January 1, 2001. Directs the FCC to initiate such bidding during FY 1999 and to ensure that all proceeds of such bidding are deposited no later than September 30, 2000. Provides for the expedited assignment of such frequencies. Requires at least seven days' public notice prior to the granting of an application for an instrument of authorization for any such frequency. (Sec. 8108) Reduces by $3.1 billion the total amount appropriated under titles II and III of this Act, to reflect certain supplemental appropriations provided under Public Law 106-31.
Bill· SS. 1120 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
Children's Lead Screening Accountability For Early-Intervention Act of 1999 or Children's Lead SAFE Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require State Medicaid plans to provide for reporting to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the number of children who: (1) are under age three and enrolled in the State plan; and (2) have received a blood lead screening test. Requires each contract between the State and an entity responsible for provision of medical assistance under the State plan to provide for: (1) compliance with mandatory blood lead screening requirements consistent with prevailing guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for such screening; and (2) coverage of qualified lead treatment services. Allows reimbursement for qualified lead treatment services for children with elevated blood lead levels. Provides for enhanced Federal matching contributions for an information retrieval system that determines whether a child is enrolled under a State plan and whether an enrolled child has received mandatory early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Head Start Act to mandate blood lead poisoning screening tests for an infant or child to be eligible to participate in either the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC) or early Head Start and Head Start programs. Amends SSA title XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP) to mandate CHIP coverage for blood lead poisoning screening tests for children Amends the Public Health Service Act and SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) with regard to grants for lead poisoning related activities. Authorizes appropriations. Imposes specified requirements on the CDC Director, including that the Director offer various assistance to the States with regard to children and lead poisoning. Authorizes appropriations. Outlines provisions for training and congressional reports with regard to HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration and childhood lead poisoning and blood lead screening tests. Mandates a CDC bonus program to improve the blood lead screening rates of States for children under age three enrolled in Medicaid. Details program particulars. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1123 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Improvements to the Food Safety Import System Title II: Enforcement and Penalties for Importing Contaminated Food Title III: Improvements to Public Health Infrastructure and Awareness Imported Food Safety Improvement Act - Title I: Improvements to the Food Safety Import System - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to establish, for use by the Secretary of the Treasury, a system to deny the entry of imported food from a specific area, producer, manufacturer, or transporter into the United States that: (1) has been repeatedly adulterated or associated with repeated outbreaks of foodborne disease, presents a health danger, and is likely without systematic changes to cause disease or be adulterated again; or (2) in an emergency determination, has been strongly associated with a serious outbreak of foodborne disease. Makes a conforming amendment to the Public Health Service Act. (Sec. 102) Deems as adulterated an imported (or offered for import) food: (1) withheld for review that is distributed prior to the Secretary's authorization of distribution; (2) ordered to be held in secure storage prior to distribution that is not so held; (3) required to be destroyed that is not so destroyed; (4) previously denied admission that is subsequently offered for admission without a showing of appropriate compliance (port shopping); or (5) owned or consigned by a debarred person. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) prohibit distribution of an imported food until the Secretary so authorizes; (2) prohibit distribution and require the secure storage of an imported food if the importer, owner, or consignee of such food is a person against whom the Secretary of the Treasury has assessed certain liquidated damages for failure to redeliver food subject to a bond; (3) order dangerous imported food to be destroyed; and (4) require marking of refused entry (but not ordered destroyed) food until brought into appropriate compliance. Deems as misbranded a refused entry food not so marked. (Sec. 108) Shortens the period before a refused entry article which is not exported shall be destroyed. (Sec. 109) Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the collection and analysis of imported food by entities other than the Food and Drug Administration. Title II: Enforcement and Penalties for Importing Contaminated Food - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish increased bonding requirements for persons involved in prior importing of adulterated or misbranded food. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to debar a person from importing food into the United States for food import-related repeat or felony activities. (Sec. 203) Authorizes appropriations for additional Food and Drug Administration laboratory, inspection, and compliance personnel. Title III: Improvements to Public Health Infrastructure and Awareness - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to make grants to, enter into contracts with, and provide technical assistance to State and local health entities for enhanced surveillance and prevention of foodborne disease, particularly related to imported food. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary, with respect to foodborne disease, to: (1) conduct pathogen detection research and development; and (2) provide for training, education, and public information. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to provide related international public health training and technical assistance. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 1941 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
Health Information Privacy Act - Title I: Protection of Health Information - Provides that use of protected health information by health information custodians (HICs) shall protect the reasonable expectation of privacy of protected individuals and shall be in accordance with fair information practices. Sets restrictions on such use and on disclosure. Requires an HIC to limit use of protected health information to the minimum amount and duration necessary to accomplish the use. Establishes the following: (1) standards for authorizations for use and disclosure; and (2) safeguards against misuse and prohibited disclosures, requiring an HIC to consider providing additional protections for mental health and other especially sensitive protected health information, as appropriate. Title II: Rights of Protected Individuals - Grants protected individuals the right to the following: (1) a reasonable opportunity to inspect and copy protected health information maintained by an HIC; (2) a reasonable opportunity to correct or amend protected health information maintained by an HIC; (3) a reasonable opportunity to review a history of the disclosures of protected health information about the individual made by an HIC: and (4) notice of the information practices of HICs and a reasonable opportunity to seek limitations on the use and disclosure of protected health information in addition to the limitations provided in such practices. Title III: Permissible Disclosures of Protected Health Information - Allows an HIC to disclose protected health information, without obtaining an authorization under title I of this Act, for the purpose of providing health care to an individual or paying for health care so provided. Prohibits HIC disclosure without such authorization to a health care payer, however, of protected health information created or received in the course of providing such care to an individual who pays for it himself or herself. (Sec. 302) Permits an HIC to disclose protected health information for the purpose of health oversight, without obtaining such an authorization. Requires the Secretary to permit an HIC to disclose protected health information to Federal, State, and local agencies (or affiliated persons) authorized by law to investigate, regulate, enforce laws relating to, or license, certify, or accredit persons engaged in, the provision of, or payment for, health care. (Sec. 303) Authorizes an HIC to disclose protected health information without obtaining such an authorization: (1) to a public health authority for public health purposes in disease or injury reporting, surveillance, or investigation or intervention; and (2) for health research. (Sec. 304) Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations that, among other things, and at a minimum require a person conducting health research to remove or destroy personal identifiers at the earliest opportunity consistent with the purpose of the research, unless it is determined otherwise that there is a health or research justification for retention of such identifiers and that they will be protected from improper use and disclosure. (Sec. 305) Authorizes an HIC to disclose protected health information to a law enforcement official for an appropriate inquiry if such official complies with the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. (Sec. 306) Sets forth provisions on judicial or administrative proceedings and disclosure of protected health information. (Sec. 307) Authorizes other specified disclosures without authorization, such as where it is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to an individual's health or safety. (Sec. 308) Authorizes an HIC who receives protected health information through a disclosure under this title to redisclose it to carry out the purposes for which the information was disclosed to the HIC. Prohibits protected health information received by an HIC through a disclosure under this title from being disclosed to any person for use in any administrative, civil, or criminal action or investigation directed against the protected individual who is the subject of the information, except under specified conditions. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Outlines various provisions pertaining to: (1) minors; (2) individuals exercising power of attorney to act for protected individuals; (3) deceased individuals; (4) obtaining or disclosing protected health information from an HIC or an affiliated person under false pretenses; (5) prohibiting on-the-job retaliation against an individual for reporting to a governmental agency conditions that may constitute a violation of this Act; and (6) mental health and other especially sensitive information (allowing the Secretary to limit an individual's access to his or her mental health information under certain conditions). (Sec. 405) Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt, supersede, or modify the operation of the recent legally recognized psychotherapist-patient privilege. (Sec. 406) Requires the Secretary to promulgate regulations to ensure the reasonable expectation of privacy of protected individuals in protected health information is maintained when HICs cease operations. (Sec. 407) Amends the Federal Privacy Act of 1974 to generally conform with the amendments made by this Act. Title V: General Provisions - Directs the Secretary to promulgate implementing regulations for this Act, including, at the Secretary's discretion, any necessary to protect the privacy of individually identifiable health information that is not protected health information. (Sec. 501) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) sponsor or carry out research and development activities related to the protection of the privacy of individually identifiable health information; (2) sponsor or carry out activities to inform protected individuals of their rights, or other persons of their rights or responsibilities, under this Act; and (3) hold hearings, administer oaths, and perform a variety of other specified tasks to ensure compliance with this Act or otherwise further its purposes. (Sec. 502) Outlines enforcement provisions, from allowing the Secretary to bring an action in an appropriate court to enjoin a violation of this Act, to providing for civil money and criminal penalties as well as civil actions. (Sec. 503) Provides that this Act shall not preempt, supersede, or modify the operation of: (1) any Federal, State, or local law that provides greater protection of protected health information or more rights to protected individuals regarding such information; or (2) any law that provides for the reporting of vital statistics such as birth or death information, that requires the reporting of abuse or neglect information or other information relating to violence against an individual, and other specified laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Bill· HRH.R. 1917 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
Home Health Access Preservation Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, subject to certain restrictions, to pay an additional amount, determined in accordance with specified guidelines, to home health agencies furnishing qualified home health services during a cost reporting period beginning on or after October 1, 1997, under the Medicare program (title XVIII of the Social Security Act). Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits the Secretary from making additional payments under this Act for all or portions of cost reporting periods beginning on or after the date of the implementation of the prospective payment system (PPS) for home health services under Medicare. Bars judicial review with regard to any action of the Secretary with respect to the determination of an additional payment under this Act. Addresses overpayments to home health agencies, giving them a repayment option over a 36-month period, and prohibiting interest accrual on the outstanding balance of the overpayment amount during such period. Prohibits home health agencies from electing to make such a repayment for all or portions of cost reporting periods beginning on or after the date of the implementation of the PPS for home health services under Medicare. Makes the repayment option effective retroactively to the enactment of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Directs the Secretary to meet periodically with the staff of the appropriate congressional committees to provide an informal update regarding the Secretary's progress in implementing such PPS.
Bill· HRH.R. 1920 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
Dental Health Access Expansion Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to establish a program for awarding grants to eligible entities and individuals to expand the availability of primary dental care services in federally-designated health professional shortage areas. Makes eligible for such grants: (1) certain health centers located in such designated areas which provide matching non-Federal funds of at least 45 percent of grant amounts; and (2) licensed dentists who practice in such a designated area and 25 percent of whose patients are receiving assistance under a State plan under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 through 2004. Requires the HRSA Administrator to design and implement procedures to simplify the process by which dental health professional shortage areas are designated.
Bill· HRH.R. 1938 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
William G. Barr Amputee Protection Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) publish a list of those items of orthotics and prosthetics for which the individual supplying such an item must meet certain minimum education requirements or other criteria because of its custom design, fabrication, and fitting; and (2) establish a process for certification by the State in which the supplier practices, or by a qualified third party certifier, that the individual supplier has met such requirements. Prohibits payments to uncertified suppliers who are not rural suppliers.
Bill· HRH.R. 1936 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with regard to payment to hospitals for inpatient hospital services to eliminate the limitation on the number of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) subject to the special transfer policy for hospital discharges to post-acute care services (thus preventing overpayment for such discharges).
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 115 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1999
Declares that Congress: (1) supports public and private entity efforts to heighten public awareness of pediatric cancer and the importance of regular medical examinations for children; and (2) encourages Federal agencies and departments to support those efforts.
Bill· SS. 1112 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1999
Children's Environmental Protection Act - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) ensure that each environmental and public health standard for an environmental pollutant protects children and other vulnerable subpopulations with an adequate margin of safety; (2) evaluate data concerning the special susceptibility and exposure of children to any pollutant for which such a standard is established; and (3) adopt an additional margin of safety of at least ten-fold in the establishment of such a standard in the absence of reliable data on toxicity and exposure or susceptibility of children to a pollutant for which such a standard is being established. Directs the Administrator, in establishing, modifying, or reevaluating any such standard for a pollutant under any law administered by the Administrator, to take into consideration information concerning all routes of children's exposure and the special susceptibility of children to such pollutant. Provides that the Administrator, if any such data are unavailable, shall, in completing a risk assessment or characterization or other assessment of risk underlying an environmental or public health standard, adopt an additional margin of safety of at least ten-fold to take into account potential pre- and post-natal toxicity of a pollutant and the completeness of data concerning its exposure and toxicity to children. Requires the Administrator, on an annual basis and based on the recommendations of the Children's Environmental Health Protection Advisory Committee established under this Act, to: (1) repromulgate at least three of the environmental and public health standards identified by the Committee as posing a special risk to children; or (2) publish a finding in the Federal Register that provides the Administrator's basis for declining to repromulgate such standards. Directs, the Administrator, if such finding is made, to repromulgate at least three of such standards determined to pose a greater risk to children's health than those identified by the Committee. Requires each school and day care center that receives Federal funding to: (1) take steps to reduce the exposure of children to pesticides on school grounds; and (2) provide parents with advance notification of any pesticide application on school grounds in accordance with this Act. Directs the Administrator to: (1) distribute to schools and day care centers the current EPA manual that guides schools and day care centers in the establishment of a least toxic pest control strategy; and (2) provide them with an annual list of pesticides that contain a substance identified as a carcinogen, a developmental or reproductive toxin, a category I or II acute nerve toxin, or a known or suspected endocrine disrupter. Bars schools or day care centers that receive Federal funding, beginning two years after this Act's enactment date, from applying any pesticide described above. Provides for limited emergency suspensions of such prohibition based on an imminent threat to health or safety. Requires parental notice prior to pesticide applications on school or day care grounds as well as the posting of warning signs where pesticides are to be applied. Directs the Administrator to: (1) identify pollutants commonly used or found in areas accessible to children; (2) create and review at least annually a list of substances with known or likely health risks to children and a list of safer-for-children substances and products for use in such areas; (3) establish guidelines to reduce and eliminate children's exposure in such areas; (4) create a family right-to-know information kit; and (4) make all such information publicly available. (Sec. 3) Amends the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 to: (1) require the EPA Administrator to identify each toxic chemical that may present a significant risk to children's health or the environment; and (2) establish a threshold for each such chemical at a level that ensures reporting for at least 80 percent of the aggregate of all releases of the chemical from facilities that have ten or more full-time employees and are in Standard Industrial Classification Codes 20 through 39. Provides for reporting by facilities other than those described above if such a facility contributes substantially to total releases of such chemicals. (Sec. 4) Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to direct the EPA Administrator and the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to: (1) coordinate and support the development and implementation of basic and applied research initiatives to examine the health effects and toxicity of pesticides and other environmental pollutants on children and vulnerable subpopulations; and (2) report to Congress. (Sec. 5) Requires the Administrator to establish a Children's Environmental Health Protection Advisory Committee to establish an annual list of standards that merit evaluation by the Administrator in order to better protect children's health. Terminates the Committee 15 years after establishment. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1110 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1999
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Engineering Establishment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Engineering. Requires the Director of the Institute to establish a National Biomedical Imaging and Engineering Program which shall include research and related technology assessments and development in biomedical imaging and engineering. Requires the Director, with respect to such Program, to prepare and transmit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) a plan to initiate, expand, intensify, and coordinate Institute biomedical imaging and engineering activities. Requires: (1) the consolidation and coordination of Institute biomedical imaging and engineering research and related activities with those of the NIH and other Federal agencies; and (2) the establishment of an Institute advisory council. Authorizes: (1) appropriations for the Institute for FY 2000 through 2002; and (2) the transfer of appropriate NIH personnel and research facilities for Institute activities.
Bill· SS. 1106 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1999
Early Detection and Prevention of Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require a group health plan, and an insurer offering group coverage, to include coverage for bone mass measurement for individuals who: (1) are estrogen-deficient women at clinical risk for osteoporosis; (2) have vertebral abnormalities; (3) are receiving chemotherapy or long-term gluococorticoid (steroid) therapy; (4) have primary hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or excess thyroid replacement; (5) are being monitored to assess the response to or efficacy of approved osteoporosis drug therapy; (6) are men with a low trauma fracture; or (7) the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines are eligible. Requires the Secretary to establish standards for benefit eligibility frequency. Prohibits related denial of coverage, incentives to individuals, restrictions on provider-patient communications, and provider penalties. Allows State laws providing greater detection or prevention benefits. Amends PHSA to apply such requirements to coverage offered in the individual market.
Bill· HRH.R. 1911 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1999
Women's Cancer Recovery Act of 1999 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to require certain group health plans, and health insurance issuers providing coverage under a group plan, to ensure specified minimum coverage regarding: (1) the surgical treatment of breast cancer, including mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissections; and (2) secondary consultations by specialists. Prohibits: (1) changing coverage terms and conditions based on a participant's or beneficiary's decision to request less than the minimum coverage; and (2) certain penalties or incentives for providers or specialists. Amends: (1) PHSA to apply similar requirements to health insurance issuers in the individual market; and (2) the Internal Revenue Code to apply those requirements to group health plans. Exempts from the requirements of this Act health insurance coverage in certain States. Provides for coordination of the administration of this Act among the Secretaries of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services.
Bill· SS. 1090 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Brownfields Revitalization Title II: State Response Programs Title III: Fair Share Liability Allocations and Protections Title IV: Funding Superfund Program Completion Act of 1999 - Title I: Brownfields Revitalization - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish programs to provide grants to eligible entities (including local government units, redevelopment agencies, States, and Indian tribes) for site characterization and assessment of, and performance of response actions at, brownfields facilities. Defines a "brownfield facility," with exceptions, as real property, the expansion or redevelopment of which is complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance. (Sec. 102) Adds CERCLA provisions governing owner-operator status of persons owning or operating property contiguous to a release site. Absolves such persons of liability as owners or operators, subject to certain conditions. (Sec. 103) Absolves from liability for response actions bona fide prospective purchasers to the extent liability at a facility for a release or threat thereof is based solely on ownership or operation of a facility. Gives a lien upon a facility to the United States for unrecovered response costs in any case in which there are such unrecovered costs for which the owner is not liable by reason of provisions limiting liability of fiduciaries and the facility's fair market value has increased above that which existed 180 days before the action was taken. (Sec. 104) Deems a person, with respect to defenses to liability of an owner of after-acquired property, to have undertaken appropriate inquiry into the property's previous ownership and uses if the person establishes that inquiries were undertaken in accordance with specified requirements (compliance with an American Society for Testing and Materials standard or with standards issued by the Administrator). Requires such owners to have exercised appropriate care with respect to the hazardous substance concerned to defend against liability. Deems the appropriate inquiry requirements to be satisfied by a site inspection and title search that reveal no basis for further investigation in the case of property for residential or similar use purchased by a nongovernmental or noncommercial entity. Title II: State Response Programs - Adds CERCLA provisions requiring the Administrator to provide grants to States to establish and expand qualifying State response programs, comprised of elements including public participation opportunities, oversight and enforcement authorities, and certification mechanisms. Restricts authority to take enforcement actions under CERCLA in cases of hazardous substance releases subject to a State response plan. Authorizes the President to bring enforcement actions in certain instances, including cases where a State requests assistance or is unable to conduct a response action or there is a public health or environmental emergency or migration of contamination across State lines. (Sec. 202) Replaces provisions regarding the revision of the National Contingency Plan with those requiring the President to complete the evaluation of facilities classified as awaiting a National Priority List (NPL) decision to determine the risk to public health or welfare or the environment posed by each facility as compared with other facilities. Directs the President, for FY 2000 through 2004, to add a maximum of 30 facilities to the NPL annually. Prohibits additions to the NPL without a request from the Governor of the State in which the affected facility is located. (Sec. 203) Alters the criteria for the continuance of obligations for removal actions to provide that actions shall not continue after $5 million (currently, $2 million) has been obligated or three years (currently, 12 months) have elapsed from the date of initial response to a release or threatened release of hazardous substances. (Sec. 204) Revises conditions for State financial and other assurances with respect to remedial actions to prohibit the Administrator from providing any funding for such actions unless the State enters into an agreement that provides assurances for State payment of ten percent of the costs of the action and operation and maintenance costs. Title III: Fair Share Liability Allocations and Protections - Creates exceptions to liability for response costs at NPL-listed facilities for certain: (1) home owners or renters, small businesses, or small nonprofit organizations with respect to certain arrangements for, or transport of, municipal solid waste (MSW) or sewage sludge; (2) de minimis contributors; and (3) small businesses. Establishes limitations to liability for codisposal landfills (certain MSW or sewage sludge landfills that may have received hazardous waste and that contain predominately MSW or sewage sludge transported from outside the facility). Absolves persons (other than owners or operators) who arranged for the recycling of recyclable material from liability for environmental response actions. Deems transactions involving scrap paper, plastic, glass, textiles, or rubber (other than whole tires) to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that the following criteria were met: (1) the recyclable material met a commercial specification grade and a market existed for the material; (2) a substantial portion of the material was made available for use as a feedstock for the manufacture of a new saleable product; (3) the material (or product to be made from the material) could have been a replacement for a virgin raw material; and (4) with respect to transactions occurring 90 days after this Act's enactment, the person exercised reasonable care to determine that the facility where the material would be managed by another was in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations. Deems transactions involving scrap metal to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; (2) he or she complied with applicable standards regarding activities associated with the recycling of scrap metals; and (3) the scrap metal was not melted prior to the transaction. Deems transactions involving spent lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or other batteries to be arranging for recycling if the person involved demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; and (2) he or she complied with applicable Federal environmental regulations or standards regarding such batteries. Makes the exemptions from liability under this Act inapplicable if the person: (1) had an objectively reasonable basis to believe at the time of the recycling transaction that the recyclable material would not be recycled or would be burned as fuel or for energy recovery or incineration or that the consuming facility was not in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations; (2) had reason to believe that hazardous substances had been added to the material for purposes other than processing for recycling; or (3) failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to the management of the material. Makes such exemptions inapplicable if the recyclable material contained polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per million. (Sec. 302) Adds to the list of parties eligible for expedited final settlements certain persons, small businesses, or municipalities that demonstrate an inability or limited ability to pay response costs. Revises conditions of eligibility for such settlements for de minimis parties. (Sec. 303) Requires the President to conduct an impartial fair share allocation of response costs at NPL facilities and to estimate the fair share of each potentially responsible party (PRP) using specified equitable factors. Includes within such allocations response costs at NPL facilities that were not addressed in a settlement or judgment approved by a Federal district court before, or no later than 180 days after, this Act's enactment. Authorizes a party to settle any liability to the United States for response costs for its allocated fair share. Allocates shares attributable to insolvent, defunct, or bankrupt parties, or unattributable shares, among responsible parties, except certain parties with limited liability described by this Act. Sets forth provisions regarding orphan shares. Provides that a statutory orphan share constitutes an obligation of the Hazardous Substance Superfund (Superfund). Stays all contribution and cost recovery actions against parties eligible for expedited final settlements and those eligible for settlements based on certain limitations on liability with respect to the arrangement of MSW and sewage sludge until the Administrator offers a settlement. Suspends any statute of limitations applicable to such actions during the period that a stay is in effect. Bars the President from issuing orders with respect to abatement actions at a facility to any non-Federal party or commencing or maintaining any new or existing action to recover response costs if he fails to fund a statutory orphan share, reimburse a party as required, or include an orphan share estimate in any settlement when required to do so. Declares that settlements under allocation provisions, those regarding expedited final settlements, and settlements for parties with limited liability with respect to the arrangement of MSW and sewage sludge shall provide complete protection from all claims for contribution or cost recovery for response costs addressed in the allocation. Authorizes a party to retain the right to seek cost recovery or contribution for costs outside the scope of an allocation except from certain parties with limited liability described by this Act or those who have settled. Makes persons who commence contribution actions against parties who are not liable or who have resolved liability liable to such persons for all reasonable costs of defending the action. Provides that parties that settle liability under allocation provisions or provisions regarding expedited final settlements or limited liability with respect to the arrangement of MSW or sewage sludge waive rights to seek cost recovery or contribution. Authorizes the President, as a condition of a settlement under allocation provisions or those regarding limited liability for the arrangement of MSW or sewage sludge, to require parties to conduct a response action. Requires the President to reimburse such parties for costs incurred in excess of a party's allocated fair share. Bars a court from approving any settlement under this Act unless it includes an estimate of the statutory orphan share that is fair, reasonable, and consistent. Title IV: Funding - Revises provisions regarding uses of Superfund. Authorizes appropriations from Superfund for the five-year period beginning on this Act's enactment date. Requires the President to use amounts appropriated out of Superfund only to: (1) enter into mixed funding agreements; (2) reimburse a party for response costs incurred in excess of the allocated share as described in a final settlement; and (3) perform response actions to the extent that the total amount in Superfund exceeds specified amounts in each of FY 2000 through 2004. Prohibits claims against Superfund from being valid or paid in excess of the total amount in Superfund at any one time. Bars the President from issuing an order or seeking to recover costs for a response action if the amount in Superfund is insufficient to enable the President to enter into an agreement or reimburse a party at a facility. Authorizes appropriations to make payments if sufficient funds are unavailable to satisfy claims or enter into agreements. Authorizes appropriations to EPA out of the general Treasury fund or Superfund for conducting removal and response actions. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry for health assessments and consultations and related activities; (2) hazardous substance research, demonstration, and training; (3) brownfields grant programs; (4) qualifying State response programs; and (5) the Department of Justice for enforcement.
Bill· SS. 1091 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
Pediatric Research Initiative Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate establishment, in the National Institutes of Health, of a Pediatric Research Initiative. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make available within the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development enhanced support for extramural activities relating to the training and career development of pediatric researchers. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 1092 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
Pharmacist's Patients Protection Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit funds under such Act from being used to implement certain rules regarding prescription medication (guide) labeling.
Bill· HRH.R. 1885 (106th)open
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
International Prescription Drug Parity Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require manufacturers of certain drugs manufactured and domestically approved and then exported, or domestically approved and manufactured in a registered foreign establishment, to: (1) maintain specified shipment compliance and labeling records; and (2) make such records available to U.S. importers. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish related criteria to facilitate the U.S. importation of such drugs.
Bill· HRH.R. 1899 (106th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1999
Health Care Worker Needlestick Prevention Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), to amend the bloodborne pathogens standard to require that: (1) employers utilize needleless systems and sharps with engineered sharps injury protections in their work sites to prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens; and (2) non-managerial direct care health care workers of employers participate in the identification and evaluation of such systems and sharps. Provides an exemption where an employer demonstrates that needleless systems and sharps: (1) do not promote employee safety, interfere with patient safety, or interfere with the success of a medical procedure under certain circumstances in the employer's work facility; or (2) are not commercially available to the employer. (Sec. 2) Includes under such revised standard requirements relating to: (1) exposure control plans; (2) sharps injury logs; and (3) worker training in the use of such systems and sharps. (Sec. 3) Requires the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to establish and maintain a national database on existing needleless systems and sharps with engineered sharps injury protections. Requires the Director to: (1) develop a set of evaluation criteria for use by employers, employees, and other persons in evaluating and selecting such systems and sharps; (2) develop a model training curriculum to train employers, employees, and other persons in such evaluation process, and provide requested technical assistance to the extent feasible; and (3) establish a national system to collect comprehensive data on needlestick injuries to health care workers, including data on mechanisms to analyze and evaluate prevention. Authorizes NIOSH access to information recorded by employers in sharps injury logs. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to require hospitals, as a condition of their Medicare program participation, to comply with the bloodborne pathogen standard as amended under this Act with respect to hospital employees, even if they are not otherwise subject to such standard because they are exempt from OSHA regulation.