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Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 108 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2016
Nullifies a Department of Health and Human Services rule regarding subrecipients of family planning grants. (Under the rule, grant recipients may prohibit an entity from receiving a subaward only for reasons related to the entity's ability to provide family planning services.)
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 956 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2016
Honors the life and accomplishments of Phil Smith. Offers condolences to Phil Smith's family and friends. Commends Phil Smith's philanthropic efforts and recognizes his impact on South Florida.
Bill· SS. 3548 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2016
This bill: (1) continues the Medicaid emergency psychiatric demonstration project; (2) authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to replace with another state, on a competitive basis, any originally selected state that elects not to resume its participation in the project; and (3) modifies other requirements related to the project.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 636 (114th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 2016
Designates the week of December 4-December 10, 2016, as National Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Week and expresses support for its goals and ideals. Encourages the expansion of nurse-managed health clinics so that they may continue to serve as health care workforce development sites for the next generation of primary care providers.
Bill· SS. 3535 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
Clean Up the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2016 This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from employing any individual who has been convicted of any of the following state or federal criminal offenses for which the minimum term of imprisonment is more than one year: a sex offense, an offense involving the sale or distribution of a controlled substance, fraud, theft, assault, battery, a crime of violence, an offense involving the use of a firearm or other deadly weapon, bank robbery, or kidnapping. The VA may not employ any individual in a health care position who has had a license or credential relating to such position revoked or suspended. The VA shall: (1) conduct background checks before hiring, and (2) terminate any individual employed by the VA in violation of this bill in a manner consistent with merit system principles.
Bill· SS. 3530 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
Ensuring Patient Access to Healthcare Records Act of 2016 This bill amends the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and update policies that enable certain health care clearinghouses, plans, and providers to: (1) provide patients with access to information related to their care; and (2) develop patient-engagement tools, reports, analyses, and presentations that may demonstrate benefit to the taxpayer.
Bill· SS. 3522 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
Graduate Medical Education Equity Act This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow a qualified hospital to have its payment amount for direct graduation medical education costs calculated on the basis of its Medicaid inpatient utilization rate rather than on the basis of its Medicare patient load.
Bill· HRH.R. 6518 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
MACPAC Improvement Act of 2016 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to modify provisions related to the duties, membership, and conflict-of-interest policies of the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) Payment and Access Commission.
Bill· HRH.R. 6517 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
Increasing New recruit Focus On Receiving Mental healthcare Act or the INFORM Act This bill urges the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that preventing veteran suicide and providing veterans access to mental health care is its top reform priority. The VA shall, every 30 days, determine and provide to the Department of Defense, with respect to the previous year: the average national wait times (in days) for veterans enrolled in the VA health care system to receive appointments for mental health care and primary health care at VA medical facilities, the average time for the VA to process a claim for disability compensation, and the average time for the VA to decide an appeal of such a claim. The VA shall place a sign displaying the most current such times in a conspicuous location at each military entrance processing station.
Bill· HRH.R. 6515 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
Fairness to Teaching Hospitals Act of 2016 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to specify that a certain Medicare rule for counting resident time in nonprovider settings shall not be applied in a manner that requires the reopening of any settled hospital cost reports except where there was a jurisdictionally proper appeal pending as of March 23, 2010. The bill applies retroactively.
Bill· HRH.R. 6514 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to deposit monthly in the Treasury $1.50 for each individual enrolled in health insurance coverage though a federally operated health insurance exchange. The user fee charged to health insurers by federally operated health insurance exchanges may not exceed a specified percentage of a plan's premiums.
Bill· HRH.R. 6513 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
American Future Healthcare Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to health savings accounts (HSAs), to: repeal the requirement that an individual making a tax deductible contribution to an HSA be covered by a high deductible health care plan; increase the maximum HSA contribution level; allow Medicare eligible individuals to contribute to an HSA; allow HSAs to be used to purchase health insurance; provide a cost-of-living adjustment for the limits on additional contributions for individuals 55 or older (catch-up contributions); require the cost-of-living adjustments to be indexed to the CPI medical care component (the medical care component for the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor); and allow a rollover of HSA amounts to a Medicare Advantage Medical Savings Account (MSA).
Bill· HRH.R. 6512 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Accessibility Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to permit the Department of Health and Human Services to make loans and loan guarantees for construction or renovation of psychiatric or substance abuse treatment facilities. The bill establishes terms and conditions for these loans and loan guarantees. The bill establishes the Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Trust Fund. Revenues from the loans and loan guarantees that exceed the cost of carrying out the program may be appropriated to the fund. Amounts in the fund are available for block grants for community mental health services.
Bill· HRH.R. 6501 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
Prescription Drug and Medical Device Price Review Board Act of 2016 This bill establishes the Prescription Drug and Medical Device Price Review Board within the Food and Drug Administration. Each manufacturer of a prescription drug or medical device that is sold in the United States must submit to the board: each type of prescription drug and medical device that it sells in the United States, or in a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; the price charged by the manufacturer for the drug or device; and the costs of the manufacturer to produce them. The board must establish a formula for determining whether the average manufacturer price of a prescription drug or medical device over an annual quarter is an excessive price. Manufacturers may not charge excessive prices. Individuals may petition the board to determine whether the price for a prescription drug or medical device is excessive. The board may subject violators to reduced patent terms, civil penalties, and increased Medicaid rebates. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on the sale of prescription drugs or medical devices that have excessive prices. The board must allow individuals to import from approved counties prescription drugs and devices that are comparable to prescription drugs and devices with excessive prices.
Bill· HRH.R. 6503 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 2016
Care for Life Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and maintain the Pregnant and Parenting Women's Care Information Service database. This database must provide pregnant women and new parents with information on public and private service providers that help such women and parents in alleviating the physical, financial, social, and emotional difficulties encountered during or after pregnancy. HHS may award grants to: (1) providers to develop best practices for communities to identify optimal ways to provide pregnancy and parenting support services, and (2) academic medical centers to provide specialized training in pregnancy and parenting support services. The Department of Labor must recognize and publicize the practices of employers who successfully meet the needs of their pregnant or parenting employees. The grant program of the Department of Education to improve postsecondary education opportunities is expanded to include funding for the development of an online information toolkit about agencies that are working within institutions of higher education to provide pregnancy and child care services for students.
Bill· SS. 3516 (114th)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2016
VA Best-Practices Peer Review Act of 2016 This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide for the conduct by a nongovernmental hospital organization of a best-practices peer review of each VA medical center to evaluate the efficacy of health care delivered at each such center. The VA must give priority for such review to the VA centers with the longest wait times for an appointment or the worst health outcomes.
Bill· SS. 3519 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2016
Trauma-Informed Care for Children and Families Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, and other laws to: establish the Interagency Task Force on Trauma-Informed Care; support the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative; establish the National Law Enforcement Child and Youth Trauma Coordinating Center; authorize the Department of Education to award grants for the improvement of trauma support services and mental health care for children in educational settings; establish Medicaid demonstration projects to test innovative, trauma-informed approaches for delivering early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services to eligible children; modify and extend the Performance Partnership Pilots; and revise or establish provisions related to best practices, data collection, health professional shortage areas, licensing guidelines for certain community figures, health care workforce training, trauma-related coordinating bodies, and trauma-informed teaching.
Bill· SS. 3511 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2016
Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to expand eligibility for its Secretarial Designee Program to include the provision of health care at military treatment facilities for: (1) victims of acts of terror that occur in the United States, and (2) U.S. residents who are victims of acts of terror outside the United States. Individuals who become eligible for the program shall remain eligible on a space available and fully reimbursable basis in accordance with DOD policy governing such program. DOD may provide expedited program eligibility to individuals with severe injuries. DOD may not release an individual who is receiving care under the program to a health care provider in the private sector until a comprehensive treatment plan is communicated to the individual and such provider. DOD shall establish procedures to implement such program expansion, which shall include procedures for: conducting timely outreach and communication to local medical facilities after an act of terror in the United States; promptly contacting, coordinating, and providing medical expertise to such facilities that are treating serious injuries; and providing medical evaluations for victims who were exposed to blast and other types of injuries.
Bill· HRH.R. 6467 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2016
Use It or Choose It Act of 2016 This bill allows an individual, when moving from one position (i.e., any form of compensated employment, including part-time employment and independent contracting) within the workforce to another, to elect to retain any benefits (i.e., health care-related benefits, workers compensation, life insurance, family and medical leave, and annual, sick, paternity, or maternity leave) earned when occupying such position. The bill requires contractual providers of such benefits to extend them on the same terms and conditions as those provided to employees in the former position, or those similarly situated. Employers accruing funds or reserves corresponding to leave or other benefits shall transfer such funds or reserves to new employers upon request.
Bill· HRH.R. 6463 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2016
Patient Safety and Toxicology Modernization Act of 2016 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to issue and periodically update guidance on: (1) novel tools for testing the toxicology and efficacy of medications, and (2) three-dimensional human tissue models.
Bill· HRH.R. 6462 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2016
Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Medicaid Patients This bill amend title XI (General Provisions) of the Social Security Act to require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in approving Medicaid demonstration projects, to: prioritize projects that have been proven effective in improving care and outcomes with respect to uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, or low-income individuals; require participating states to make publicly available data regarding the health outcomes for individuals to be served; ensure that projects are not duplicative of any federal program or funding opportunity; and require participating states to make publicly available an analysis of the degree to which such projects preclude private and charitable sector efforts to improve care and outcomes with respect to uninsured, Medicaid-eligible, or low-income individuals.
Bill· HRH.R. 6457 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2016
Preventive Services Medicare Parity Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for Medicare coverage of certain preventive services for which coverage is required by group and individual health insurance plans, and (2) revise the authority of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use the process for making national coverage determinations with respect to determining coverage of additional preventive services.
Bill· HRH.R. 6445 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2016
Veterans Health Care Trust Fund Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), upon the commencement of any war, to establish a trust fund to be named for that war. Amounts collected pursuant to a war tax (required by this bill) shall be deposited into such fund and may be used by the VA to provide for veterans who serve on active duty during that war programs and benefits directly related to their health care. For any fiscal year during which the VA makes a withdrawal from such a fund, the Government Accountability Office shall conduct an audit of the consolidated financial statements relating to the fund. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the imposition upon individuals who have not served on active duty in the Armed Forces of a graduated income tax with respect to each war occurring at any time during the taxable year.
Bill· SS. 3506 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2016
Tax Technical Corrections Act of 2016 This bill makes technical and clerical amendments to: the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act of 2015; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016; the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act; the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015; the Stephen Beck, Jr., ABLE Act of 2014; the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004; provisions of the Internal Revenue Code related to partnership audit rules; the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015; the Energy Policy Act of 2005; and other specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The bill also amends various provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that are not used in computing current tax liabilities (referred to as deadwood provisions).
Bill· SS. 3504 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2016
Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: extend the Independence at Home demonstration program; modify provisions regarding access to home dialysis therapy under Medicare and special needs plans under Medicare Advantage (MA); expand testing of the MA Value-Based Insurance Design test model; allow an MA plan to provide additional telehealth benefits to enrollees and, to chronically ill enrollees, certain supplemental health care benefits; modify other provisions regarding the use of telehealth services; allow prospective, voluntary assignment of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries to accountable care organizations (ACOs); and allow ACOs to operate beneficiary incentive programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 6443 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2016
Heroin and Opioid Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2016 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).
Bill· HRH.R. 6439 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2016
Tax Technical Corrections Act of 2016 This bill makes technical and clerical amendments to: the Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act of 2015; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016; the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act; the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015; the Stephen Beck, Jr., ABLE Act of 2014; the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012; the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act; the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004; provisions of the Internal Revenue Code related to partnership audit rules; the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015; the Energy Policy Act of 2005; and other specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. The bill also amends various provisions in the Internal Revenue Code that are not used in computing current tax liabilities (referred to as deadwood provisions).
Bill· HRH.R. 6435 (114th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2016
This bill authorizes the Director of a Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with an entity specializing in civilian accreditation or health care evaluation to investigate any medical center within the network to assess deficiencies of the facilities at such medical center.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 941 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2016
Expresses support for: (1) the designation of National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day, and (2) the efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services and the entire medical community to educate people about heart valve disease.
Bill· HRH.R. 6428 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 2016
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to limit increases to monthly premiums under Medicare for 2017. Specifically, an individual's monthly premium shall increase by no more than $4 over the individual's monthly premium for 2016.
Law· HRH.R. 6416 (114th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2016
Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016 TITLE I--DISABILITY COMPENSATION MATTERS This bill revises specified Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation provisions, including provisions concerning: (1) payment of survivors benefits, (2) review of claims processing performance by regional offices of the Veterans Benefits Administration, (3) staffing levels at VA regional offices under the National Work Queue, (4) a report on the VA's progress in implementing the Veterans Benefits Management System, (5) contract physicians, and (6) traumatic brain injury assessments. TITLE II--UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS The bill extends the temporary expansion of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims until January 1, 2021. TITLE III--BURIAL BENEFITS AND OTHER MATTERS The bill: (1) authorizes the VA to furnish a headstone or marker, or a medallion or other device to be attached to a headstone or marker furnished at private expense to signify an individual's veteran status, including status as a medal of honor recipient, to a deceased individual who served in the Armed Forces on or after April 6, 1917, and who is eligible for a headstone or marker or who would be eligible but for his or her date of death; and (2) requires studies on interring unclaimed remains of veterans in national cemeteries and on providing increased interments in veterans' cemeteries on Saturdays and Sundays. TITLE IV--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to deem any member of the Armed Forces who died between September 11, 2001, and December 31, 2005, 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. The VA may prioritize vocational rehabilitation services based upon need. The bill: (1) revises the Post-9/11 education assistance program, and (2) extends the period for certain qualifying work-study activities. Specified education programs are deemed to be approved for veterans' education benefit purposes if a state approving agency determines that they qualify. Licensure or certification program requirements necessary for VA approval are revised. The VA shall contract with a non-government entity to conduct a survey of individuals who have used or are using their VA educational benefits. The authorities under which a Reservist may regain lost payments and lost entitlement for educational programs when ordered to active duty shall include disaster service and service for a pre-planned mission in support of a combatant command. TITLE V--SMALL BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT MATTERS The bill revises ownership requirements for VA small business contracts and preferences. Each state director for veterans' employment and training shall coordinate activities with the state departments of labor and veterans affairs. TITLE VI--HEALTH CARE MATTERS The bill revises specified VA health care provisions, including provisions concerning: (1) advance funding for the Medical Community Care account, (2) access to adult immunizations, (3) priority access for medal of honor recipients, (4) mental health care for veterans who served in classified missions, (5) examination and treatment for emergency medical treatment and women in labor, and (6) VA physicians and graduate medical residency positions. The VA may carry out major medical facility projects in Reno, Nevada, and Long Beach, California. The VA shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Medicine for an assessment of scientific research relating to the descendants of individuals with toxic exposure to a hazardous agent. TITLE VII--HOMELESSNESS MATTERS The bill expands the definition of "homeless veteran" for purposes of VA benefits. The VA shall: (1) establish and operate the National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, (2) assess comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans, and (3) provide case management services to improve the housing retention by veterans who were previously homeless and are transitioning to permanent housing and by veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. The bill eliminates the minimum continuous active duty service requirement for homeless veterans to receive certain VA benefits. TITLE VIII--OTHER MATTERS The bill requires the VA to: (1) use industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying out medical facility construction; (2) provide for external forensic audits of certain medical facility construction projects; and (3) provide quarterly reports on super construction projects.
Bill· SS. 9 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2016
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2016 This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to categorize certain hearing aids as over-the-counter hearing aids and issue regulations regarding those hearing aids. The regulations for over-the-counter hearing aids must provide reasonable assurances of safety and efficacy and describe requirements for the sale of hearing aids in-person, by mail, or online, without a prescription. State and local governments may not establish or continue in effect requirements for over-the-counter hearing aids that are not identical to FDA requirements. Until the FDA updates its draft guidance regarding hearing aids, previous draft guidance is in effect.
Bill· SS. 7 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2016
Steve Gleason Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to make permanent the elimination of a specified payment cap under the Medicare program with respect to speech generating devices.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 627 (114th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2016
Designates December 3, 2016, as National Phenylketonuria Awareness Day. (Phenylketonuria or PKU is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder that can cause intellectual disability and other neurological problems.)
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 177 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 1 December 2016
Expresses support for the goals and ideals of World AIDS Day. Recognizes the 28th anniversary of observing such day. Commends: (1) the President, state and local governments, and public health agencies for recognizing such day and for encouraging individuals to undergo testing for HIV; and (2) media organizations for carrying messages in support of such day. Expresses support for: continued funding for prevention, care, treatment services, and research programs for persons living with HIV/AIDS in the United States; the implementation of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and achieving the goals within the federal action plan; continued funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria; the goals of providing universal access to comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support programs and of protecting human rights for all people, including vulnerable and marginalized populations; and efforts to address the factors that make populations vulnerable to HIV/AIDS by combatting poverty and hunger, expanding educational opportunities for children, and empowering women and girls.
Bill· SS. 3487 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2016
Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2016 This bill amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to indefinitely extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients. Under current law, such coverage is limited to 36 months following a transplant.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 626 (114th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2016
Recognizes the 75th anniversary of the establishment of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Commends the center and its employees for providing quality care to hundreds of thousands of patients over the last 75 years.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 625 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2016
Recognizes November 17, 2016, as World Prematurity Day. Expresses support for efforts to: (1) reduce the impact of preterm births by improving maternal health, and (2) advance the care and treatment of infants who are born preterm. Honors individuals working to reduce the number of preterm births.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 624 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2016
Recognizes November 2016 as World Prematurity Month. Expresses support for efforts to: (1) reduce the impact of preterm births by improving maternal health, and (2) advance the care and treatment of infants who are born preterm. Honors individuals working to reduce the number of preterm births.
Bill· HRH.R. 6407 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2016
VA Management Alignment Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report (including recommendations for appropriate legislation) regarding the roles, responsibility, and accountability of elements and individuals of the VA. In creating such report, the VA shall utilize the results of: the Independent Assessment of the Health Care Delivery Systems and Management Process of the VA established by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014; any study or report by the Commission on Care established by such Act; and other studies or reports, including a report titled "Task Force on Improving Effectiveness of VHA Governance: Report to the VHA Under Secretary for Health," dated February 28, 2015. The VA shall also specify clearly delineated roles and responsibilities to optimize the organizational effectiveness and accountability of each: Administration, staff office, or staff organization and each subordinate organization thereof; and key leader of the VA in relation to any Administration, staff office, or staff organization, Veteran Integrated Service Network, or medical facility.
Bill· HRH.R. 6404 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 2016
Medicare Home Health Flexibility Act of 2016 This bill establishes circumstances under which an occupational therapist may conduct the initial assessment visit for an individual who is eligible for home health services under Medicare. Specifically, an occupational therapist may conduct the assessment if the physician's referral order does not include skilled nursing care but does include: (1) occupational therapy, and (2) physical therapy or speech language pathology.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 621 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2016
Designates November 2016 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Encourages individuals to increase their understanding and awareness of care at the end of life.
Bill· HRH.R. 6399 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 29 November 2016
Fixing Medicare Hospital Payments Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish, with respect to calculating payment for inpatient hospital services under Medicare's prospective payment system, a minimum area wage index for hospitals located in metropolitan areas. (Under a prospective payment system, payment is made according to a predetermined, fixed amount.)
Bill· HRH.R. 6381 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2016
DHS Reform and Improvement Act This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to revise or expand protections against terrorism in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements for visas, border and maritime security, aviation, surface transportation, food and agriculture, emergency communications, medical preparedness, agency management, flood insurance, cybersecurity, chemical and biological defense, immigration and customs, and the prevention of trafficking in cultural property. The bill establishes: an Office of Biometric Identity Management to share biometric data with agencies, foreign governments, and private entities; a National Computer Forensics Institute to be operated by the U.S. Secret Service; a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Office; an Office of Policy to coordinate strategic planning and relationships with outside stakeholders; an Acquisition Review Board; and DHS positions of chief financial officer, chief procurement officer, chief acquisition officer, and chief security officer. DHS must: (1) disseminate information to prevent drone attacks; (2) establish task forces and cooperate with foreign governments on border enforcement and security at airports and ports; (3) authorize the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide employees and services to ports in exchange for a fee; and (4) defend food, agriculture, and veterinary systems from terrorism and other high-consequence events. Visa security requirements are provided for: (1) the Department of State to assign employees to visa-issuing diplomatic and consular posts to screen applications against criminal, national security, and terrorism databases; (2) a visa security advisory opinion unit within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and (3) the CBP to screen electronic passports though an embedded chip and utilize facial recognition technology. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must enter into memoranda of understanding with other DHS offices to award grants to: public transportation agencies to improve security under the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007; high-risk urban areas and state, local, and tribal governments to protect against terrorism under the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP); and port authorities, facility operators, and state and local governments to implement security plans and train law enforcement personnel. State planning committees or urban working groups that assist in the determination of funding priorities under the UASI and the SHSGP must include: (1) public health officials and medical practitioners, (2) educational institutions, (3) state and regional interoperable communications coordinators, and (4) state and major urban area fusion centers that share threat-related information. FEMA must permit grants to be used for medical preparedness to terrorism. The bill codifies: (1) Operation Stonegarden for FEMA to enhance border security by making grants to law enforcement agencies involved in CBP operations in states that border Canada or Mexico or that have a maritime border; and (2) Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers that train government, international, and private agencies. The bill sets forth requirements concerning: medical response to anthrax, pandemics, emerging infectious diseases, and chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks; flood insurance claims processing; the reorganization of cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, emergency communications, and protective services under a Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency headed by a Director of National Cybersecurity; maritime cybersecurity information sharing; allowable uses of public transportation security assistance grant funds; research and development for cybersecurity technologies; and oversight of DHS vehicle fleets. The bill expands responsibilities of DHS's chief information and human capital officers. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office must document how research investments align with gaps in the enhanced global nuclear detection architecture. The CBP and ICE must coordinate enforcement against illegal imports and trafficking in cultural property. DHS may enter agreements with other countries and nongovernmental organizations to achieve its missions. DHS must prepare: (1) quadrennial reviews of the homeland security of the United States, (2) a three-year strategy for international programs in which DHS personnel and resources are deployed abroad for vetting and screening persons seeking to enter the United States, and (3) a strategic plan for southwest border threats. Notice must be provided within DHS and to Congress if a major acquisition program fails to meet baseline costs, schedules, or performance parameters. DHS must: (1) conduct terrorist and foreign fighter travel exercises; (2) coordinate resources of the national cybersecurity and communications integration center with state, local, and regional fusion centers; (3) carry out a grant program for emergency response providers to prevent or respond to active shooters in major metropolitan areas and other terrorist attack scenarios; and (4) build relationships with technology-based small businesses and startup ventures. The Transportation Security Administration must: (1) update aviation and airport security strategies, and (2) operate a "precheck" program that expedites screening for low-risk passengers. FEMA must implement a uniform review process for grant applications to purchase equipment that does not meet or exceed national voluntary consensus standards. DHS and the State Department must prioritize assistance to combat terrorist travel among the highest-risk countries. The Directorate of Science and Technology is designated as the primary research, development, testing, and evaluation arm of DHS. The President must provide a national strategy to combat terrorism travel. The Government Accountability Office must recommend improvements to the university-based centers for homeland security program.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 616 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2016
Expresses support for: (1) the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month, including encouraging individuals to fight diabetes through public awareness about prevention and treatment options and enhancing education about the disease; and (2) decreasing the prevalence of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes in the United States through increased research, treatment, and prevention. Recognizes the importance of early detection, awareness of the symptoms, and the risk factors that often lead to the development of diabetes.
Bill· SS. 3477 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2016
Protecting Seniors Through Immunization Act of 2016 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to specify that certain deductible, coinsurance, initial coverage limit, and cost-sharing requirements that apply under the Medicare prescription drug benefit shall not apply with respect to the shingles vaccine. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must provide to Medicare beneficiaries specified information regarding: (1) coverage of vaccines for seniors, and (2) access to the shingles vaccine without cost-sharing.
Bill· HRH.R. 6378 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2016
PATH Fairness Act of 2016 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, which provide services to individuals who: (1) are suffering from serious mental illness, or are suffering from serious mental illness and from substance abuse; and (2) are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless. The minimum allotment of program funding for each state and territory is increased on the condition that appropriations are sufficient to provide the minimum allotment to all states and territories.
Bill· HRH.R. 6348 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2016
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to extend through 2018 the priority review voucher program for treatments for rare pediatric diseases. (A priority review voucher is a transferable voucher that entitles the holder to have a new drug or biological product application acted upon by the Food and Drug Administration within six months.)
Bill· HRH.R. 6347 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 2016
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to extend through 2017 the priority review voucher program for treatments for rare pediatric diseases. (A priority review voucher is a transferable voucher that entitles the holder to have a new drug or biological product application acted upon by the Food and Drug Administration within six months.)
Bill· SS. 4 (114th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2016
Protecting Access to Diabetes Supplies Act of 2016 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. 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.