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401 records in US in 2017
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2017
Ensuring Access to Air Ambulance Services Act of 2017 This bill makes a series of changes relating to payment of air ambulance services under Medicare, including by establishing certain cost-reporting requirements for providers.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2017
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 Provides FY2018 appropriations to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and related agencies. Department of Labor Appropriations Act, 2018 Provides appropriations to the Department of Labor for: the Employment and Training Administration, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Wage and Hour Division, the Office of Labor-Management Standards, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Office of Disability Employment Policy, and Departmental Management. Department of Health and Human Services Appropriations Act, 2018 Provides appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for: the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration for Community Living, and the Office of the Secretary. Department of Education Appropriations Act, 2018 Provides appropriations to the Department of Education for: Education for the Disadvantaged; Impact Aid; School Improvement Programs; Indian Education; Innovation and Improvement; Safe Schools and Citizenship Education; English Language Acquisition; Special Education; Rehabilitation Services; Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities; Career, Technical, and Adult Education; Student Financial Assistance; Student Aid Administration; Higher Education; Howard University; the College Housing and Academic Facilities Loan Program; the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program Account; the Institute of Education Sciences; and Departmental Management. Provides appropriations to Related Agencies, including: the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the National Council on Disability, the National Labor Relations Board, the National Mediation Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, the Railroad Retirement Board, and the Social Security Administration. Sets forth permissible and prohibited uses for funds provided by this and other appropriations Acts. Conscience Protection Act of 2017 Amends the Public Health Service Act to codify the prohibition against the federal government and state and local governments that receive federal financial assistance for health-related activities penalizing or discriminating against a health care provider based on the provider's refusal to be involved in, or provide coverage for, abortion.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2017
Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2017 This bill (1) establishes Medicare payment incentives for hospitals that reduce readmissions; (2) provides for treatment, under Medicare, of individuals in health homes and medical homes; and (3) expands and otherwise revises coverage of telehealth services under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2017
Expresses support for the designation of National Dance Day to celebrate and encourage the national commitment to dance and dance education. Recognizes that dance is making an important contribution to health by encouraging physical fitness and reducing obesity. Commends Nigel Lythgoe for his leadership in promoting dance and National Dance Day. Thanks the Dizzy Feet Foundation for their continuing efforts in spreading awareness of National Dance Day.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 2017
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), beginning January 1, 2018, to provide assistance to qualified veterans to obtain child care so that such veterans can receive health care services at a VA health care facility during the time such a veteran requires travel to and return from such facility. A "qualified veteran" is defined as a veteran who is the primary caretaker of a child and is: (1) receiving from the VA regular mental health care services, intensive mental health care services, or other intensive health care services such that the VA determines that providing assistance to the veteran to obtain child care would improve the veteran's access to such services, or (2) in need of regular or intensive mental health care services from the VA and, but for lack of child care services, would receive such health care services from the VA. The VA shall carry out this bill using funds made available to the VA facility that provides the health care services for which the child care assistance is provided.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act or the ACE Kids Act This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to establish a state Medicaid option to provide for medical assistance with respect to coordinated care provided through a health home (i.e., a designated provider or team of health-care professionals) for children with medically complex conditions. A state shall make payments for such health-home services regardless of whether they are provided through a fee-for-service or managed-care system. For an initial period of eight fiscal-year quarters, the federal matching rate applicable to such payments shall be increased by 20 percentage points, not to exceed 90%. A state that exercises this option shall specify its methodology for determining payment and evaluating quality of care, in accordance with requirements established by the bill. In addition, the state must meet specified requirements regarding hospital referrals, out-of-state providers, education and outreach, data collection, and reporting. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must issue guidance on best practices for using out-of-state providers to provide care to children with medically complex conditions. The Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission must report to Congress and to the Department of Health and Human Services on specified matters related to children with medically complex conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
This bill amends title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to specify that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may test models to provide incentive payments to behavioral health providers for: (1) adopting electronic health records technology, and (2) using that technology to improve the quality and coordination of care.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
Emergency Nursing Supply Relief Act of 2017 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for up to 8,000 employment-based immigrant visas per fiscal year for qualifying nurses, physical therapists, and other health care workers (excluding physicians) and their accompanying family members. Such aliens are exempted from worldwide and foreign state numerical limits. A petition filed on behalf of such an immigrant must be accompanied by evidence that the prospective U.S. employer has the ability to pay the proffered wage.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
Adding Middle East Respiratory Syndrome to the FDA Priority Review Voucher Program Act This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include Middle East respiratory syndrome under the priority review voucher program for tropical diseases, which awards a voucher to the sponsor of a new drug or biological product that is approved to prevent or treat a tropical disease. (A voucher entitles the holder to have a future new drug or biological product application acted upon by the Food and Drug Administration within six months.)
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
Breast Cancer Patient Protect Act of 2017 This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to require a group or individual health plan that provides medical and surgical benefits to ensure that inpatient (and in the case of a lumpectomy, outpatient) coverage and radiation therapy are provided for breast cancer treatment. Such a plan may not: (1) restrict benefits for any medically necessary hospital stay to less than 48 hours for a mastectomy or breast conserving surgery or less than 24 hours for a lymph node dissection, or (2) require that a provider obtain authorization from the plan for prescribing any such hospital stay. Such a plan must: (1) provide notice to each participant and beneficiary regarding the coverage required under this bill, and (2) ensure that coverage is provided for secondary consultations. Health plans are prohibited from taking specified actions to avoid the requirements of this bill. Health insurers that provide individual health insurance coverage may discontinue an individual's coverage based on the intentional concealment of material facts regarding a health condition related to a condition for which coverage is being claimed.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
Expresses support for the designation of National Ectodermal Dysplasias Week. (Ectodermal dysplasias are a group of genetic conditions that commonly affect the hair, nails, teeth, and sweat glands.) Encourages Americans to become more informed about ectodermal dysplasias and the role of treatment in improving quality of life.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day. Encourages: (1) clinicians to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services; (2) the media to observe this day by educating clinicians about the important role they play in providing access to HIV/AIDS services and by educating clinicians and the public about the benefits of HIV testing; and (3) individuals to get tested for HIV and educate themselves about the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), if unable to furnish hospital care, medical services, or extended care at VA facilities or under other authorized contracts or sharing agreements, to enter into a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA) with an eligible provider to furnish such care and services. The VA shall review VCAs exceeding $1 million annually at least once every two years. The VA shall establish a process for the certification of eligible providers. An eligible provider is: a physician or provider of services that has entered into a provider agreement under the Social Security Act; a provider of items and services receiving payments under a state Medicaid plan; an aging and disability resource center, an area agency on aging, or a center for independent living; or any other health care provider the VA considers appropriate. The VA shall establish a system or systems to monitor the quality of care and services furnished to veterans, which shall be used in assessing whether to renew a VCA. A VCA may be made with a health care provider to provide veterans with nursing home care.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
In-Home Caregiver Assessment Resources and Education Act or the In-Home CARE Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Administration for Community Living to award grants to carry out home visiting programs for unpaid caregivers. The Department of Health and Human Services must coordinate with the National Family Caregiver Support Program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and others on this grant program. Grantees must provide: caregiver education and training regarding medication management, food preparation, falls prevention, and other subjects; services or referrals for services related to home care, such as transportation, home modification, or respite care; and an assessment and referral for physical and mental health services for the caregiver or person receiving care from the caregiver.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 2017
Designates the week of July 17-July 21, 2017, as National Ectodermal Dysplasias Week. (Ectodermal dysplasias are a group of genetic conditions that commonly affect the hair, nails, teeth, and sweat glands.) Encourages Americans to become more informed about ectodermal dysplasias and the role of treatment in improving quality of life.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2017
Protecting Consumer Access to Vision Care Act of 2017 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to exclude premiums for limited scope vision benefits from health insurance premiums for purposes of the annual fee on health insurers, which is calculated based on an insurer's share of total nationwide health insurance premiums.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 2017
Individual Health Insurance Marketplace Improvement Act This bill establishes and provides funds for an individual market stabilization reinsurance program to be administered in each state by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Under the program, HHS shall make reinsurance payments to health insurance issuers with respect to high-cost individuals enrolled in certain qualified health plans offered by the issuers. HHS shall award grants to states or nonprofit community-based organizations to raise awareness of, and encourage enrollment in, qualified health plans.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2017
Responsible Path to Full Obamacare Repeal Act This bill repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective at the beginning of FY2019. Provisions of law amended by those Acts are restored.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2017
Alleviating Adverse Childhood Experiences Act This bill amends XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow a state Medicaid program to cover, as medical assistance, services furnished under an early-childhood home-visitation program that: conforms to a clear, consistent, research-based home-visitation model; is designed to result in improvements for participating families in areas related to maternal and newborn health, child health and development, school readiness and academic achievement, crime and domestic violence, economic self-sufficiency, parenting skills, and resource coordination; gives priority to serving certain high-risk populations; and meets other specified requirements. A state Medicaid program that opts to cover such services must establish procedures to ensure that the participation of each eligible family is voluntary. In addition, the bill requires each state to conduct a statewide needs-assessment to identify: at-risk communities in the state, according to specified indicators; the capacity of existing home-visitation programs and initiatives in the state; and the state's capacity for providing substance-abuse treatment and counseling services to individuals and families in need. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must carry out specified research and evaluation activities related to the implementation and effectiveness of home-visitation programs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2017
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to provide that the laws of a state designated by a health insurer (primary state) apply to individual health insurance coverage offered by that insurer in any state (secondary state) if the coverage, states, and insurer comply with the conditions of this bill. Insurers are exempted from any secondary state's laws that would prohibit or regulate the operation of the insurer in that state. The primary state is given sole jurisdiction to enforce its covered laws in any secondary state. The Government Accountability Office must study the effect of this bill on specified health insurance issues.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2017
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer a deduction from gross income of insurance premiums paid for the health care coverage of the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse and dependents. The bill makes the deduction available whether or not the taxpayer itemizes other deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2017
Protecting Access to Diabetes Supplies Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to modify provisions relating to Medicare's competitive acquisition program (through which rates are set through a competitive bidding program rather than by an established fee schedule) with respect to diabetic testing strips. Specifically, the bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to: use specified data to determine whether a bid satisfies certain requirements related to volume of coverage with respect to such products, reject a bid if the bidder does not demonstrate its ability to furnish such products in a manner consistent with its bid, and establish a process to monitor the extent to which an entity continues to cover the product types included in its bid. The CMS may terminate a contract if it determines that an entity, for reasons other than product discontinuation or market-wide shortage, fails to maintain ready access to such products included its bid. In addition, the bill specifies that an entity furnishing such products to beneficiaries under the program: (1) must furnish to each beneficiary a brand of strips that is compatible with the beneficiary's home blood glucose monitor, (2) may not attempt to influence or incentivize a beneficiary to switch the brand of either type of product, and (3) must contact and receive a request from a beneficiary no more than 14 days prior to dispensing a refill to the beneficiary.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2017
This bill extends and expands the Independence at Home demonstration program, through which comprehensive primary care services are delivered at home to Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2017
Grow Our Own Directive: Physician Assistant Employment and Education Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out the Grow Our Own Directive or G.O.O.D. pilot program to provide educational assistance to certain former members of the Armed Forces for education and training as VA physician assistants. An individual is eligible to participate in the program if the individual: has medical or military health experience gained while serving in the Armed Forces; has received a certificate, associate degree, baccalaureate degree, master's degree, or postbaccalaureate training in a science relating to health care; has participated in the delivery of health care services or related medical services; and does not have a degree of doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, or doctor of dentistry. The VA shall: provide educational assistance to program participants for the costs of obtaining a master's degree in physician assistant studies or a similar master's degree, ensure that mentors are available for program participants at each VA facility at which a participant is employed, and seek to partner with specified government programs and with appropriate educational institutions that offer degrees in physician assistant studies. The VA shall: establish specified standards to improve the education and hiring of VA physician assistants, and implement a national plan for the retention and recruitment of VA physician assistants that includes the adoption of competitive pay standards. VA physician assistant pay grades are established.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 2017
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act, in the event that the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 is enacted, to make plans made available by the federal government to Members of Congress and congressional staff subject to state waivers of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requirement for health insurance to cover the essential health benefits and PPACA restrictions on premium variation by age and health status.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2017
Medicare Civil and Criminal Penalties Update Act This bill increases civil and criminal penalties relating to false claims and other abuse under Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2017
This bill amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to modify the requirements for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Community Facilities Program, which provides funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. For the purposes of the program, a "rural area" may not have a population of more than 20,000 inhabitants. The bill increases the limit to 35,000 inhabitants for determinations made under the program on or after April 1 of any fiscal year. In making a grant or loan on or after April 1, USDA must give priority to applications with respect to community facilities at which public safety, health care, and job training are to be provided. In awarding grants for essential community facilities technical assistance and training, USDA must allow applications for grants from qualified organizations for the sole purpose of providing on-site training and technical assistance on a national or multi-state regional basis.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2017
Hold Congress Accountable on Healthcare Act This bill makes Members of Congress ineligible for health plans offered through health insurance exchanges, health plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, federal health care programs, and federal health coverage subsidies if legislation is enacted that changes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and increases the rate of individuals without health coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2017
Marketplace Certainty Act This bill expands eligibility for additional cost-sharing reductions that apply to certain enrollees of qualified health plans.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 2017
Heroin and Opioid Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to require manufacturers, producers, and importers of active opioids to pay an excise tax of one cent per milligram of opioid. The bill also amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide grants to states for: (1) research on opioids (including heroin), and (2) opioid abuse prevention and treatment. The Department of the Treasury must transfer an amount equal to the revenue collected from the tax to HHS to carry out this bill. The bill makes the funds available without further appropriation and designates the funding as an emergency requirement under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO).
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2017
Recognizes the importance, effectiveness, and need for trauma-informed care among existing federal programs and agencies. (Trauma-informed care takes into account a patient's history of trauma in the design of the patient's treatment.) Encourages the use of trauma-informed care within the federal government. Expresses support for the designation of National Trauma Awareness Month and National Trauma-Informed Awareness Day.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2017
Do No Harm Act This bill makes the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) inapplicable to federal laws (or implementations of laws) that: protect against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, Executive Order 11246 (concerning equal employment opportunity), the Violence Against Women Act, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's) rules entitled "Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity"; require employers to provide wages, other compensation, or benefits, including leave; protect collective activity in the workplace; protect against child labor, abuse, or exploitation; or provide for access to, information about, referrals for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service. Under current law, RFRA prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest when using the least restrictive means. The bill makes RFRA inapplicable to: (1) terms requiring goods, services, functions, or activities to be performed or provided to beneficiaries of government contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or awards; or (2) denials of a person's full and equal enjoyment of a government-provided good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation. To assert a RFRA claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, the government must be a party to the proceeding.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2017
Ambulance Medicare Budget and Operations Act of 2017 This bill modifies Medicare payment rules and reporting requirements with respect to ground-ambulance services.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2017
Critical Access and Rural Equity Act of 2017 or the CARE Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to specify that, for purposes of determining Medicare payment and reasonable costs for both inpatient and outpatient critical access hospital (CAH) services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall recognize as allowable costs those related to specified emergency, diagnostic, anesthetist, community health, and off-campus clinical services. Furthermore, in determining payment and reasonable costs for both inpatient and outpatient CAH services, CMS shall not disallow payment to a CAH on the basis that such payment offsets the cost of a current permissible health care-related tax imposed on and paid by the CAH. CMS must make specified payment adjustments to account for such a tax. Generally, under current law, a facility must be located beyond a specified driving distance from another hospital or facility in order to be designated as a CAH. The bill specifies that this requirement does not apply with respect to a CAH's off-campus provider-based clinic. Current law further requires a facility to provide certain 24-hour emergency care services as a condition of designation as a CAH. The bill allows CMS to waive this requirement with respect to a facility that coordinates with a nearby facility or hospital that provides such services.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 2017
Adoption Promotion Act of 2017 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that pregnancy options counseling funded through family planning projects includes adoption counseling and is provided by licensed social workers or counselors who have knowledge and experience in adoption practice. Training for personnel to carry out family planning programs must include training on the adoption process. Research related to family planning and population must include: (1) collection of data on the number of pregnancy tests administered to individuals served by family planning programs and the results of those tests; and (2) evaluation of the quality, consistency, and outcomes of pregnancy options counseling.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2017
CHIP Mental Health Parity Act This bill requires Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder services. Financial requirements and treatment limitations applicable to such services shall not differ from those applicable to other medical services under CHIP.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2017
Commonsense Competition and Access to Health Insurance Act This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to permit states to enter into interstate health care choice compacts under which qualified health plans may be offered in the small group market in all participating states while being subject to the laws and regulations of only the state in which the plan was written or issued. (Currently, interstate health care choice compacts apply to only qualified health plans in the individual market.) The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must request that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) report on health plans provided for under interstate health care choice compacts. HHS may also request that the NAIC include in the report concepts gathered from entities that have experience in offering qualified health plans in states in which those plans were not originally issued.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2017
States Achieve Medicaid Expansion Act of 2017 or the SAME Act of 2017 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regardless of when such expansion takes place. Under current law, the enhanced FMAP is equivalent to 100% in 2014 through 2016, 95% in 2017, 94% in 2018, 93% in 2019, and 90% thereafter. The bill retains this enhanced FMAP, but bases it on a term of years rather than on specific dates. The bill applies retroactively.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2017
Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric Physicians Act or the HELLPP Act This bill adds podiatrists as covered physicians under the Medicaid program. Documentation requirements related to Medicare coverage of therapeutic shoes for individuals with diabetes are revised. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to subject payments made to a Medicaid provider or supplier to a continuing levy for federal taxes owed by the provider or supplier.
United States · United States Senate · 11 July 2017
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017
Medicare Part B Improvement Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: establish a transitional Medicare payment system with respect to certain home infusion services; extend the Medicare Intravenous Immune Globulin demonstration project and provide for participants to be automatically reenrolled in the project; specify that, for purposes of determining the reasonableness and medical necessity of orthotics and prosthetics, documentation created by an orthotist or prosthetist shall be considered part of a beneficiary's medical record; allow renal dialysis facilities to be accredited for Medicare participation by an approved accreditation body; allow Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to receive certain ESRD-related visits via telehealth; codify certain rules regarding signature requirements and holdover arrangements as they relate to prohibitions against physician self-referrals; and beginning in FY2021, reduce funding available to the Medicare Improvement Fund by an amount equal to the amount of projected expenditures attributable to specified provisions of the bill.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017
Medicare Choices Empowerment and Protection Act This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish an Advance Directive Certification Program. Under the program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall grant accreditation to advance directive vendors that meet specified accreditation criteria. CMS shall establish procedures for an eligible beneficiary to register the adoption of a certified advance directive under the program. Beneficiary registration in the program shall be optional, but each eligible beneficiary who adopts and registers a certified advance directive shall receive a one-time incentive payment. CMS shall provide for related education and outreach.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017
Screen, Manage, Address, and Remove Toxins for Children Act of 2017 or the SMART Child Act of 2017 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize through FY2022 a program of screening for lead poisoning and referral for treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017
Medicare Choices Empowerment and Protection Act This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish an Advance Directive Certification Program. Under the program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall grant accreditation to advance directive vendors that meet specified accreditation criteria. CMS shall establish procedures for an eligible beneficiary to register the adoption of a certified advance directive under the program. Beneficiary registration in the program shall be optional, but each eligible beneficiary who adopts and registers a certified advance directive shall receive a one-time incentive payment. CMS shall provide for related education and outreach.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017
Addressing Affordability for More Americans Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the health care premium assistance refundable tax credit, to: (1) expand eligibility for the credit by defining an "applicable taxpayer" as a taxpayer whose household income for the year does not exceed 800% of the federal poverty line (currently 400%), (2) specify the applicable premium percentages for the credit for taxpayers with incomes that are from 400% to 800% of the federal poverty line, and (3) specify the dollar limitations for the recapture of excess advance payments of the credit from such taxpayers.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017
Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act This bill requires the market name of genetically engineered (commonly called "genetically modified" or "GMO") salmon to include "Genetically Engineered" or "GE" in front of the existing market name. The Department of Health and Human Services must ensure that an independent scientific and technical advisory organization reports on: (1) the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) environmental assessment of AquAdvantage Salmon, and (2) each FDA environmental assessment in support of approval of a new animal drug application for a genetically engineered finfish intended for human consumption. Upon receipt of a report from the independent organization, the FDA must conduct a second environmental assessment of the fish, taking into account the report's findings. The approval of a new animal drug application for a genetically engineered fish does not take effect until the second environmental assessment of the fish is completed.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017
Protecting Access to Care for Veterans Act of 2017 This bill authorizes and appropriates funds to be available without fiscal year limitation to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the sole purpose of providing veterans health care and medical services under the Veterans Choice Program.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 2017
Veterans Access to Care Act of 2017 This bill authorizes and appropriates funds for: (1) Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care, and (2) the veterans choice program. The VA shall conduct a program to increase by up to 1,500 the number of graduate medical education residency positions at covered facilities. The bill expands: (1) eligibility for the VA family caregiver program to include members of the Armed Forces or veterans who were seriously injured or became ill on active duty prior to September 11, 2001; and (2) services to caregivers of veterans under such program to include child care, financial planning, and legal services. The support program for caregivers of covered veterans is terminated on October 1, 2022, except that any caregiver activities carried out on September 30, 2022, shall be continued. The VA may carry out specified major medical facility leases in Alabama, Colorado, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. The VA may record as a U.S. government obligation amounts owed for hospital care or medical services furnished at non-VA facilities when a health care provider's payment claim is approved, rather than when the VA authorizes such care or services.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2017
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 This bill authorizes FY2018 appropriations and sets forth policies regarding the military activities of the Department of Defense (DOD), military construction, and the defense activities of the Department of Energy (DOE). The bill authorizes appropriations, but does not provide budget authority for discretionary programs, which is included in subsequent appropriations legislation. The bill authorizes appropriations to DOD for Procurement; Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; Operation and Maintenance; the Revolving and Working Capital Funds; the Joint Urgent Operational Needs Fund; Chemical Agents and Munitions Destruction; Defense-Wide Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities; the Defense Inspector General; the Defense Health Program; and Overseas Contingency Operations. The bill also authorizes the FY2018 personnel strengths for active duty and reserve forces and sets forth policies regarding military personnel, compensation and other personnel benefits, health care, acquisition policy and management, DOD organization and management, civilian personnel matters, navy vessels and shipyards, DOE national security programs, and matters relating to foreign nations. Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 The bill authorizes appropriations and sets forth policies regarding military construction for the Army, Navy, Air Force, defense agencies, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program, and Guard and Reserve Forces facilities. The bill also authorizes appropriations for base realignment and closure activities.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 2017
Stark Administrative Simplification Act of 201 7 This bill establishes lesser penalties for technical noncompliance with the Stark Rule against self-referral under Medicare. "Technical noncompliance" means, with respect to a compensation arrangement, that the arrangement: (1) is not set forth in writing, (2) is not signed by one or more parties, or (3) violates the rule due to the arrangement's expiration.