Healthcare

Veterans First Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2016

Veterans First Act TITLE I--PERSONNEL AND ACCOUNTABILITY MATTERS This bill establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection. The VA is required to develop criteria to promote supervisory protection of whistle-blowers. The bill revises VA authority to remove certain employees or senior VA executives for reasons of misconduct or performance. TITLE II--HEALTH CARE MATTERS Jason Simcakoski Memorial Act The bill establishes the Veterans Expedited Recovery Commission to examine the VA's therapy model for treating mental health illnesses. The VA shall require additional information about a prospective health care employee from the medical board of each state in which the health care provider holds or has held a medical license. The VA family caregiver program is expanded. The bill establishes a VA advisory committee on caregiver policies. The VA shall revive the Intermediate Care Technician Pilot Program. The VA may place a veteran requesting nursing home care in a medical foster home that meets appropriate VA standards. The bill sets forth requirements for VA hospitals with emergency departments to provide appropriate examination and stabilizing treatment for emergency medical conditions and women in labor. The VA and the Department of Defense (DOD) shall jointly update the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain. The VA shall expand its Opioid Safety Initiative. The bill establishes the VA Office of Patient Advocacy. The VA shall ensure that payments are made promptly to non-VA health care providers. If the VA is unable to furnish certain hospital, medical, or extended care at VA facilities or under other authorized contracts or sharing agreements, it may enter into a Veterans Care Agreement with an eligible provider to furnish such care. The bill authorizes the VA to carry out specified major medical facility projects in California, Maryland, Kentucky, and Washington. The VA shall: (1) adopt the Federal Drug Administrations's unique device identification system to identify biological implants for use in VA medical procedures; (2) expand research and integration of complementary and integrative health services into veterans health care services; and (3) carry out a three-year program to assess the feasibility of integrating complementary and alternative medicine services for veterans with mental health conditions, chronic pain conditions, and other chronic conditions. TITLE III--DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND PENSION The VA may pay burial and funeral expenses and other benefits to a survivor of a veteran who has not filed a formal claim if the record contains sufficient evidence to establish the survivor's entitlement to such benefits. The bill increases the special monthly pension for living Medal of Honor recipients. The Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 is amended to extend VA authority to provide for persons other than VA employees (i.e., contract physicians) to conduct medical disability examinations of applicants for VA benefits. The VA shall carry out a five-year disability claims appeals pilot program. TITLE IV--EDUCATION Any member of the Armed Forces who died between September 11, 2001, and December 31, 2005, is deemed to have died on January 1, 2006, in order to make that member's surviving spouse eligible for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry scholarship. VA educational assistance payments for a veteran who was forced to discontinue a course or who did not receive credit toward completion of an education program because of a permanent school closure shall not be charged against the individual's educational assistance entitlement or counted against the aggregate assistance period. The bill revises the process for electing Post-9/11 educational benefits. TITLE V--EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION Each state director for veterans' employment and training shall coordinate activities with the state's departments of labor and veterans affairs. TITLE VI--HOMELESS VETERANS The bill includes as a homeless veteran, for purposes of VA benefits, a veteran or veteran's family fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in their current housing situation. The VA shall shall carry out case management services to improve the retention of housing by: (1) veterans who were previously homeless and who are transitioning to permanent housing, and (2) veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. The VA shall establish the National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans. This bill eliminates the minimum continuous active duty service requirement for homeless veterans to receive certain benefits. Homeless veterans are exempted from disqualification for such benefits because of a discharge or dismissal from the Armed Forces under conditions other than honorable, except for a discharge by reason of a general court-martial. TITLE VII--UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS The bill extends the temporary expansion of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. TITLE VIII--BURIAL BENEFITS The VA may, in lieu of furnishing a headstone or marker to certain deceased individuals, furnish a medallion or other device to be attached to a headstone or marker furnished at private expense. TITLE IX--OTHER MATTERS The VA may carry out specified leases at the VA's West Los Angeles Campus in Los Angeles, California.

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week on May 6, 2016, through May 12, 2016.

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2016

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week. Recognizes the contributions of nurses to the U.S. health care system.

Enhanced Veteran Healthcare Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2016

Enhanced Veteran Healthcare Act of 2016 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to seek to enter into covered partnerships and contracts for the mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of covered VA health-care resources with eligible academic affiliates in order to improve access to, and quality of, VA hospital care and medical services. The VA shall use non-competitive procedures in the case of a partnership or contract for: coordination, use, or exchange of a clinical service; use of medical equipment or space; research; construction or lease of clinical space; use of any full-time equivalent VA employee or contractor; or use of any full-time equivalent employee jointly hired by the VA and an eligible academic affiliate.

Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2016

Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act of 2016 This bill bars the federal government from prohibiting or restricting the production, manufacture, distribution, prescribing, or dispensing of an experimental drug, biological product, or device that is: (1) intended to treat a patient who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness; and (2) authorized by, and in accordance with, state law. The federal government may not restrict the possession or use of such a treatment by a patient certified by a physician as having exhausted all other treatment options. A producer, manufacturer, distributor, prescriber, dispenser, possessor, or user of such a treatment has no liability regarding the treatment. The outcome of production, manufacture, distribution, prescribing, dispensing, possession, or use of such a treatment may not be used by a federal agency to adversely impact review or approval of the treatment. The treatment must: (1) have successfully completed a phase 1 (initial, small scale) clinical trial; (2) remain under investigation in a clinical trial approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and (3) not be approved, licensed, or cleared for sale under the Federal Food, Drug, or Cosmetic Act or the Public Health Service Act. Not later than 30 days after enactment of this bill, and every 30 days thereafter until implementation is complete, the FDA must report on its progress in implementing a streamlined application process for compassionate use of experimental drugs and biological products.

Promoting Life-Saving New Therapies for Neonates Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2016

Promoting Life-Saving New Therapies for Neonates Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to award the sponsor of a new drug or biological product for the treatment of newborns a neonatal drug exclusivity voucher upon approval of the medication. A neonatal drug exclusivity voucher is a transferable voucher for a one-year extension of all existing patents and marketing exclusivities for a brand name medication. For a sponsor to be eligible for a voucher, the new medication must: (1) treat a condition identified in the Priority List of Critical Needs for Neonates required under this bill, and (2) have been studied in newborns. A voucher may be revoked if the new medication is not marketed in the United States within one year of approval. A voucher may not be used: (1) to extend the marketing exclusivity period for a drug for which the FDA requires an assessment of the safety and effectiveness in newborns, or (2) on the same product as a priority review voucher. A sponsor intending to use a voucher must notify the FDA at least 15 months before the expiration of the patents or exclusivity to be extended. The Government Accountability Office must study the effectiveness of this voucher program.

Expressing support for the designation of May 8, 2016, through May 14, 2016, as Food Allergy Awareness Week.

United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2016

Supports the designation of Food Allergy Awareness Week.

Expressing support for designation of May 2016 as "Health and Fitness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 10 May 2016

Expresses support for the designation of Health and Fitness Month and for efforts to educate Americans on the importance of a healthy and nutritious lifestyle.

A resolution recognizing the importance of cancer research and the vital contributions of scientists, clinicians, cancer survivors, and other patient advocates across the United States who are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, and designating May 2016, as "National Cancer Research Month".

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2016

Designates May 2016 as National Cancer Research Month.

Rural Hospital Regulatory Relief Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 3 May 2016

Rural Hospital Regulatory Relief Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permanently extend the application by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of an instruction against the enforcement of certain physician supervision requirements with respect to outpatient therapeutic services in critical access hospitals and small rural hospitals.

Rural Hospital Enhancement and Long Term Health Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

Rural Hospital Enhancement and Long Term Health Act of 2016 This bill revises the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act by increasing the maximum grant amount for hospitals under the community facilities grant program. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may not condition grants on the inability of applicants to finance their projects. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act by reauthorizing through FY2021 and revising the grant program for state offices of rural health, including by requiring HHS to make the grants, thus removing HHS' discretion to make them. HHS must report annually to Congress and each state office of rural health on rural hospitals' closures.

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to exclude abuse-deterrent formulations of prescription drugs from the Medicaid additional rebate requirement for new formulations of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to exclude abuse-deterrent formulations of prescription drugs from the requirement that manufacturers of single-source or innovator drugs pay additional rebates to state Medicaid programs. Under current law, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must use predictive modeling and other analytic technologies to identify improper Medicaid claims. The bill prohibits a state agency from using or disclosing such technologies except for purposes of administering a state Medicaid program or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). A state agency shall have in effect adequate data security and control policies to ensure that access to such information is restricted to authorized persons for authorized uses. The bill places $5 million in the Medicaid Improvement Fund to be available beginning in FY2021.

Over-The-Counter Contraceptives Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

Over-The-Counter Contraceptives Act of 2016 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prioritize review of supplemental drug applications (applications to modify the approved use of a drug) for contraceptive drugs intended for routine use that would be available to individuals aged 18 and older without a prescription. The FDA must waive user fees for such supplemental drug applications. Any drug that is eligible for this priority review must be a prescription drug for individuals under age 18. This bill repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 to allow health savings accounts and health flexible spending accounts (HFSAs) to be used to pay for medicine without a prescription and to remove the limit on salary reduction contributions to a HFSA under a cafeteria plan, effective as if the provisions had never been enacted.

To prohibit further action on the proposed rule regarding testing of Medicare part B prescription drug models.

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from taking any further action on a proposed rule to change how Medicare pays for certain drugs that are typically not self-administered (such as some intravenous medications and chemotherapy drugs).

Jessie's Law

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

Jessie's Law This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to permit disclosure of patient records relating to substance abuse with the patient's oral consent or the consent of the patient's parent, legal guardian, or spouse. (Currently, disclosure is permitted only with the patient's written consent.) Interchange of such records is permitted within accountable care organizations, health information exchanges, and integrated care arrangements for purposes of attaining interoperability, improving care coordination, reducing health care costs, and securing or providing patient safety. The Department of Health and Human Services must develop and disseminate standards for hospitals and physicians regarding displaying a patient's history of opioid addiction in the patient's medical records with the patient's consent.

VFD Repeal Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

VFD Repeal Act of 2016 This bill repeals the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) final rule regarding the Veterinary Feed Directive published on June 3, 2015, and prohibits the FDA from issuing any similar rule. (Veterinary Feed Directive regulations prohibit the use of medically important antibiotics for animal production purposes. Under these regulations, an animal producer may only use such antibiotics with the authorization of a veterinarian for the prevention, control, or treatment of a specifically identified disease. The rule repealed by this bill revised those regulations, including to require a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship for a veterinarian to authorize the use of antibiotics.)

Curb Opioid Misuse By Advancing Technology Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

Curb Opioid Misuse By Advancing Technology Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to extend the marketing exclusivity period for certain brand name drugs that the Food and Drug Administration approves: (1) on the basis of new clinical abuse potential studies, and (2) with labeling that characterizes the drug's abuse-deterrent properties. This extension does not apply to the marketing exclusivity period for new chemical entities. The bill also extends the marketing exclusivity period for generics of these drugs.

Recognizing the importance of cancer research and the contributions of scientists, clinicians, cancer survivors and other patient advocates across the United States who are dedicated to finding a cure for cancer, and supporting the designation of May 2016 as "National Cancer Research Month".

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

Expresses support for the designation of National Cancer Research Month.

Expressing support for designation of April 2016 as "National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

Expresses support for the designation of National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month. (Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs to migrate into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth.) Encourages that steps should be taken to: raise awareness of and increase public knowledge about congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH); inform people about the dangers of CDH; disseminate information on the importance of quality neonatal care for CDH patients; promote quality prenatal care and the use of ultrasounds to detect CDH in utero; and support research funding of CDH to improve screening and treatment, discover its causes, and develop a cure.

Expressing support for the designation of May 2016 as "Mental Health Month".

United States · United States Congress · 29 April 2016

Supports the designation of Mental Health Month to remove the stigma associated with mental illness and to place emphasis on scientific findings regarding mental health recovery.

ECHO Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

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

Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016 This bill amends the Clean Air Act by revising the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) program. The bill delays the implementation of the ozone NAAQS that were published in 2015. The bill extends until: (1) October 26, 2024, the deadline for states to submit designations to implement the 2015 ozone NAAQS; and (2) October 26, 2025, the deadline for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate state areas as attainment, nonattainment, or unclassifiable areas with respect to the 2015 ozone NAAQS. States must submit a state implementation plan (SIP) by October 26, 2026, to implement, maintain, and enforce the 2015 ozone NAAQS. The bill also changes the review cycle for criteria pollutant NAAQS from a 5-year review cycle to a 10-year review cycle. The EPA may not complete its next review of ozone NAAQS before October 26, 2025. Prior to establishing or revising NAAQS, the EPA must obtain advice from its scientific advisory committee regarding potential adverse public health, welfare, social, economic, or energy effects which may result from attaining and maintaining NAAQS. The EPA must publish regulations and guidance for implementing NAAQS concurrently with the issuance of a new or revised standard. New or revised NAAQS must not apply to preconstruction permits for constructing or modifying a major emitting facility or major stationary source of air pollutants until those regulations and guidance have been published. The bill revises requirements concerning SIPs for extreme ozone nonattainment areas and particulate matter nonattainment areas.

Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2016 This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to make the Veterans Choice Program permanent. Program eligibility is expanded to include all veterans who are enrolled in the annual patient enrollment system under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital care and medical services program. The VA shall provide information about the availability of Program care and services to veterans who are new to, or already enrolled, in the system. The VA shall contract with a national chain of walk-in clinics to provide hospital care and medical services in such clinics to veterans who are in the annual patient enrollment system. A veteran shall not be required to: (1) obtain pre-authorization for such care, or (2) pay a copayment to the clinic or to the VA. Such national chain shall establish an automated system to provide the VA with weekly information on veterans receiving hospital care or medical services. A covered health care professional may practice his or her health care profession at any location in any state, regardless of where such health care professional or the patient is located, if the health care professional is using telemedicine to treat an individual. Such treatment is permitted regardless of whether the professional or patient is located in a federally-owned facility. "Covered health care professional" means a health care professional who is: (1) authorized by the VA to provide health care, including a private health care professional who provides such care under a VA contract or agreement; and (2) licensed, registered, or certified in a state to practice his or her health care profession. The VA shall: extend the operating hours for each VA pharmacy to include weekday evenings until 8:00 p.m., weekends, and federal holidays; and contract with qualifying physicians and nurses to work at VA medical facilities during nights and weekends. The VA may: (1) hire support staff in connection with such extended operating hours, and (2) provide for a nongovernmental hospital organization best-practices peer review of each VA medical center.

Janey Ensminger Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

Janey Ensminger Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, at least every three years, to: review the scientific literature relevant to the relationship between the employment or residence of individuals at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for at least 30 days during the period of August 1, 1953, to December 21, 1987, and specific illnesses or conditions incurred by those individuals and determine whether and to what extent the evidence shows that toxic substance exposure is a cause of an illness or condition; and publish and update a list of each illness and the categorization of evidence for which a determination of cause has been made. A veteran who served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 days during such period is eligible for hospital care and medical services for any of the illnesses or conditions for which the evidentiary connection between toxic exposure and the illness or condition is categorized in such list as sufficient or modest. Such a veteran who has been furnished hospital care or medical services shall remain eligible for such care or services for such illness or condition even if the evidentiary connection is not categorized as sufficient or modest. A family member of such veteran who has been furnished hospital care or medical services shall remain eligible for hospital care or medical services for such illness or condition. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall transfer for each of FY2017 and FY2018 specified finds to enhance the claims processing system, eligibility system, and web portal for the Camp Lejeune Family Member Program.

PIMA of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

Promoting Integrity in Medicare Act of 2016 or PIMA of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) expand Medicare's prohibition on physician self-referrals to include, with specified exceptions, certain advanced imaging, anatomic pathology, radiation therapy, and physical therapy services; and (2) establish increased civil monetary penalties for violations of the self-referral prohibition with respect to those services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall conduct a compliance review with respect to such referrals.

At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2016 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to specify that a state Medicaid program may not terminate a juvenile's medical assistance eligibility because the juvenile is incarcerated. A state may suspend coverage while the juvenile is an inmate, but must restore coverage upon release without requiring a new application unless the individual no longer meets the eligibility requirements for medical assistance. A state must process an application submitted by, or on behalf of, an incarcerated juvenile, notwithstanding that the juvenile is an inmate. A "juvenile" is an individual who: (1) is under 21 years of age; or (2) has aged out of the state's foster care system, was enrolled in the state plan while in foster care, and is under 26 years of age.

Prescriber Support Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

Prescriber Support Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants to states for systems that help prescribers: (1) treat and manage patient pain; and (2) prevent, identify, and respond to patient substance misuse and substance abuse disorders. In awarding grants, HHS must give priority to states with the greatest need.

Zika Response and Regulatory Relief Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

Zika Response and Regulatory Relief Act This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) by revising requirements for state permit programs under the national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must waive for 180 days after this bill's enactment: (1) state NPDES permit requirements for public health pesticide applications of a mosquito control program, and (2) certain reporting requirements for such pesticide applications in permits issued by the EPA before this bill's enactment. The EPA may extend the period during which permit and reporting requirements may be waived for up to an additional 180 days beyond the original period to protect the public health. States administering NPDES programs must also waive reporting requirements with respect to the pesticide applications during those periods.

At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act of 2016 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to specify that a state Medicaid program may not terminate a juvenile's medical assistance enrollment because the juvenile is incarcerated. A state may suspend enrollment while the juvenile is an inmate, but must restore enrollment upon release without requiring a new application or any other action unless the individual no longer meets the eligibility requirements for medical assistance. A state must process an application submitted by, or on behalf of, an incarcerated juvenile, notwithstanding that the juvenile is an inmate. A "juvenile" is an individual who: (1) is under 21 years of age; or (2) has aged out of the state's foster care system, was enrolled in the state plan while in foster care, and is under 26 years of age.

NAS Healthy Babies Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act or the NAS Healthy Babies Act This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), which results from a newborn's exposure to addictive opiate drugs while in the mother's womb. Specifically, the GAO shall report on: the prevalence of NAS, NAS treatment services for which coverage is available under state Medicaid programs, the settings and associated reimbursement methodologies for NAS treatment, the prevalence of utilization of various care settings under state Medicaid programs for NAS treatment, and any federal barriers to treating infants with NAS under state Medicaid programs. The GAO shall also report on its recommendations for improvements that will ensure access to NAS treatment under state Medicaid programs.

Military Retaliation Prevention Act

United States · United States Congress · 28 April 2016

Military Retaliation Prevention Act This bill amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice to subject to punishment by a court-martial any person who, with the intent to retaliate against any individual for reporting a criminal offense or making a protected communication, or with the intent to discourage any individual from reporting a criminal offense or making a protected communication, wrongfully: takes or threatens to take an adverse personnel action against such individual, or withholds or threatens to withhold a favorable personnel action from such individual. "Protected communication" means a: lawful communication to a Member of Congress or an Inspector General; or communication to a specified individual or organization in which a service member complains of, or discloses information that the member reasonably believes constitutes evidence of, a violation of law or regulation, including sexual harassment or unlawful discrimination, gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. The results of a Department of Defense (DOD) or Armed Forces investigation of a service member's complaint of retaliation shall be provided to such service member. DOD personnel who investigate claims of retaliation in connection with reports of sexual assault in the Armed Forces shall receive training on the nature and consequences of sexual assault trauma. The Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 is amended to include information on claims of retaliation in the military departments' sexual assault prevention reports to DOD. DOD's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office shall establish metrics to evaluate efforts of the Armed Forces to prevent and respond to retaliation.

[ERRATA] VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS' BUSINESS MODEL: THE REPERCUSSIONS FOR PATIENTS AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

United States · United States Senate · 27 April 2016

VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS' BUSINESS MODEL: THE REPERCUSSIONS FOR PATIENTS AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

United States · United States Senate · 27 April 2016

EUREKA Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2016

Ensuring Useful Research Expenditures is Key for Alzheimer's Act or the EUREKA Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish EUREKA prize competitions to achieve high-priority breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease and dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. The NIH must: (1) convene an advisory council of nongovernmental experts in Alzheimer's disease and dementia to develop the EUREKA prize competitions, and (2) appoint a panel of judges to evaluate submissions. The council and panel are not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Support for EUREKA prize competitions may be provided by private organizations and individuals.

AIM Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2016

Airplane Impacts Mitigation Act of 2016 or the AIM Act of 2016 This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enter into an agreement with an eligible institution of higher education to conduct a study of the health impacts of airplane flights on residents exposed to a range of noise and air pollution levels from such flights. The study shall: focus on residents in Boston, Chicago, New York, the northern California metroplex, Phoenix, and not more than three additional metropolitan areas that each contain at least one international airport; consider the health impacts on residents living partly or wholly within the land area underneath the flight paths most frequently used by aircraft flying below 10,000 feet; and consider only those health impacts that manifest during the physical implementation of the NextGen RNAV program on flights departing from or arriving at an international airport located in one of such metropolitan areas. An institution of higher education is eligible to conduct the study if it: has a school of public health that has participated in the FAA Center of Excellence for Aircraft Noise and Aviation Emissions Mitigation, has a Center for Environmental Health that receives funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, is located in one of the areas within the scope of the study, applies to the FAA in a timely fashion, demonstrates that it is qualified to conduct such a study, and agrees to submit its findings to the FAA within two years after entering into such an agreement.

Jessie's Law

United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2016

Jessie's Law This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to permit disclosure of patient records relating to substance abuse with the patient's oral consent or the consent of the patient's parent, legal guardian, or spouse. (Currently, disclosure is permitted only with the patient's written consent.) Interchange of such records is permitted within accountable care organizations, health information exchanges, and integrated care arrangements for purposes of attaining interoperability, improving care coordination, reducing health care costs, and securing or providing patient safety. The Department of Health and Human Services must develop and disseminate standards for hospitals and physicians regarding displaying a patient's history of opioid addiction in the patient's medical records with the patient's consent.

RxCAP Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2016

Reducing Existing Costs Associated with Pharmaceuticals for Seniors Act of 2016 or the RxCAP Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate beneficiary cost-sharing above the Medicare prescription benefit's annual out-of-pocket threshold beginning in plan year 2018. Under current law, the Medicare prescription drug benefit provides coverage above that threshold only with cost-sharing in the form of either copayment or coinsurance.

Equity in Pretrial Medicaid Coverage Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2016

Equity in Pretrial Medicaid Coverage Act of 2016 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending charges to receive Medicaid benefits.

Prescription Drug and Health Improvement Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2016

Prescription Drug and Health Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate lower prices on behalf of Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries for covered prescription drugs that CMS deems appropriate for negotiation based on: (1) program and per-beneficiary spending, (2) unit cost increases over the preceding years, (3) initial launch price, and (4) any other criteria determined by CMS. CMS may negotiate lower prices on behalf of Medicare and MA beneficiaries for other covered prescription drugs, as well.

A resolution designating April 2016 as "National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 27 April 2016

Designates April 2016 as National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month. (Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that most commonly affects the lungs, skin, and lymph nodes.)

HHS Data Protection Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2016

HHS Data Protection Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to create the position of Chief Information Security Officer of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and transfer to this position the functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Chief Information Security Officer in the Office of the Chief Information Officer of HHS. The Chief Information Security Officer is appointed by the President. HHS must report on the Chief Information Security Officer's plan to oversee and coordinate information security programs and the steps being taken in each division to implement the plan.

Expressing support for designation of June as "National Men's Cancer Awareness Month".

United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2016

Expresses support for the designation of Men's Cancer Awareness Month. Urges public and private sector efforts to promote awareness, invest in research, and improve treatments for cancers disproportionately affecting men.

Insourcing American Airport Jobs Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2016

Insourcing American Airport Jobs Act of 2016 This bill prohibits the President from regulating or prohibiting the provision of technical services in the United States for aircraft of a foreign carrier en route to or from another country that are otherwise permitted under an international air transportation agreement. The requirement shall not apply if: the country is a state sponsor of terrorism, or the United States is at war with the country or there is imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of travelers to the country.

Expressing support for designation of November 2016, as "National Bladder Health Month".

United States · United States Congress · 26 April 2016

Expresses support for the designation of National Bladder Health Month.

Water Resources Development Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2016

Water Resources Development Act of 2016 This bill authorizes, deauthorizes, and revises various U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resources development and conservation projects, feasibility studies, and relationships with nonfederal project sponsors. It revises and sets forth requirements for reservoirs operations, flood risks, water supply, droughts, flood gate operations, harbor deepening, dredging, harbors of refuge, emerging harbors, donor ports, energy transfer ports, hurricane and storm damage reduction projects and safety restorations, a recovery plan for Gulf Coast oyster beds, ecosystem restoration projects, sediment management, and soil moisture and snowpack monitoring. The Corps of Engineers may carry out final feasibility studies for projects in Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Additional assistance is provided to states with emergency public health threats associated with lead or other contaminants in a public drinking water supply system. The Department of Justice and the inspector general of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must report on the status of any ongoing investigations into the government's response to the drinking water contamination in Flint, Michigan. The Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) are amended to set forth funding priorities and make additional subsidization available to projects that use state revolving loan funds for innovative water technologies. The EPA must establish grant programs for: (1) community water systems serving disadvantaged communities, (2) reduction of lead in water for human consumption, (3) voluntary school and child care lead testing, and (4) innovations that address water challenges. Public water systems must notify their customers of lead levels in drinking water that exceed limits under national primary drinking water regulations. The bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2021: the Water Desalination Act of 1996, with a list of funding priorities; the Department of the Interior program for making grants to state water resources research and technology institutes; the EPA's grants to states for sewer overflow control grants to municipalities, which may be used for stormwater or subsurface drainage water projects; the EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; and the Long Island Sound Restoration Program. The U.S. Forest Service's administration of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act is revised and reauthorized for a period of 10 fiscal years after enactment of this bill.

Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika virus.

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2016

This bill provides FY2016 emergency supplemental appropriations to the Departments of State and Health and Human Services (HHS) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Zika virus and other infectious diseases. The bill specifies permissible uses for the funds and designates the funds as an emergency requirement, which exempts the funds from discretionary spending limits. The bill provides appropriations to HHS for: the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to permit Project BioShield to be used to support the advanced development and procurement of medical countermeasures to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat harm from any infectious disease that may pose a threat to the public health. (Under current law, Project BioShield supports only countermeasures against specific chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorist threats.) The bill temporarily increases from 55% to 65% the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage in the territories (Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). The bill provides appropriations to the Department of State for: the Administration of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bilateral Economic Assistance, International Security Assistance, and Multilateral Assistance. Unobligated balances of specified funds provided for the Ebola virus may be used to respond to the Zika virus and other infectious diseases.

Preserving Access to Modern Prosthetic Limbs Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 2016

Preserving Access to Modern Prosthetic Limbs Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to postpone implementation and enforcement of a local coverage determination (LCD) proposed by a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) on lower limb prostheses. (An LCD is a decision by a MAC, which is a private insurer that processes Medicare claims within a specified geographic jurisdiction, as to whether to cover a service on a MAC-wide basis.) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid shall provide guidance and oversight related to LCDs, as specified by the bill.

Elder Protection and Abuse Prevention Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Elder Protection and Abuse Prevention Act This bill amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Administration on Aging of the Department of Health and Human Services to: (1) ensure that all programs funded under such Act include appropriate training in elder abuse prevention and services addressing elder justice and exploitation; and (2) update periodically the need for such training related to prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation (including financial exploitation) of older adults. The Administration has a duty and function to: (1) establish priority information and assistance services for older individuals; and (2) develop a National Eldercare Locator Service, with a nationwide toll free number. The Administration shall establish a National Adult Protective Services Resources Center. Each area plan shall provide that the area agency on aging: (1) increases public awareness of elder abuse and financial exploitation, and removes barriers to elder abuse education, prevention, investigation, and treatment; and (2) reports instances of elder abuse. The Administration shall make grants to states with approved plans for elder abuse and neglect screening. A state operating a nutrition project shall encourage distributors of nutrition services to distribute information on diabetes, elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and the annual Medicare wellness exam. A state, an area agency on aging, a nonprofit organization, or a tribal organization shall use a grant for an older individuals' protection from violence project to replicate successful prevention and training models. The Administration shall award grants to and contract with eligible organizations for projects to engage volunteers over age 50 in supporting older adults (and their families or caretakers) who have experienced or are at risk of elder abuse. A state may use funds under the National Family Caregiver Support Program to support the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

Expressing support for the goal of ensuring that all Holocaust victims live with dignity, comfort, and security in their remaining years, and urging the Federal Republic of Germany to continue to reaffirm its commitment to this goal through a financial commitment to comprehensively address the unique health and welfare needs of vulnerable Holocaust victims, including home care and other medically prescribed needs.

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Urges the working group established by the Federal Republic of Germany and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany to recognize the imperative to fund immediately and fully the medical, mental health, and long-term care needs of surviving Holocaust victims, with full transparency and accountability, to ensure all funds for Holocaust victims from the Federal Republic of Germany are administered efficiently, fairly, and without delay. Urges the Federal Republic of Germany also to reaffirm its commitment to fulfill its moral responsibility to Holocaust victims by: ensuring that each Holocaust victim receives all of the prescribed medical care, home care, mental health care, and other vital services necessary to live in dignity; and providing, without delay, additional financial resources to address the unique needs of Holocaust victims.

Protecting Families with Disabilities Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Protecting Families with Disabilities Act of 2016 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with respect to how a state that had an approved home- and community-based Medicaid waiver as of January 1, 2014, may treat spousal income and assets for purposes of determining an individual's financial eligibility for services under the waiver. With respect to such a state that disregarded an individual's spousal income and assets for those purposes, specified provisions of current law shall not prohibit the state from continuing to do so.

Zika Eradication and Good Government Act of 2016

United States · United States Congress · 21 April 2016

Zika Eradication and Good Government Act of 2016 This bill authorizes amounts made available to any department or agency for Ebola response and preparedness under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 to be used for Zika virus response and preparedness. No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for Zika virus response and preparedness until such amounts have been fully obligated. The President shall: (1) require all federal officials and employees responsible for insect-bourne infectious disease response and preparedness, including efforts to eradicate such disease, to cooperate by sharing best practices; and (2) report to Congress at specified intervals on the programs and activities of the federal government for Zika virus response and preparedness.