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Bill· HRH.R. 4712 (115th)open
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to require any health care practitioner who is present when a child is born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion to: (1) exercise the same degree of care as reasonably provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and (2) ensure that such child is immediately admitted to a hospital. The term "born alive" means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut. Also, a health care practitioner or other employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with these requirements must immediately report such failure to an appropriate law enforcement agency. An individual who violates the provisions of this bill is subject to a criminal fine, up to five years in prison, or both. An individual who commits an overt act that kills a child born alive is subject to criminal prosecution for murder. The bill bars the criminal prosecution of a mother of a child born alive for conspiracy to violate these provisions, for being an accessory after the fact, or for concealment of felony. A woman who undergoes an abortion or attempted abortion may file a civil action for damages against an individual who violates this bill.
Bill· HRH.R. 4733 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Opioids and STOP Pain Initiative Act This bill establishes and provides funds for the Opioids and STOP Pain Initiative at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support pain-related research, including: understanding pain, therapies for chronic pain, and alternatives to opioids for pain treatment as directed in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016; improving options and evidence for medication-assisted treatment and opioid overdose reversal treatments; and supporting the Federal Pain Research Strategy. NIH must establish the Pain Therapy Screening Program to award grants to support the development of new pre-clinical models for pain disorders, and the application of these models in drug, device, or other therapy screening.
Bill· HRH.R. 4724 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Medicare IVIG Access Enhancement Act This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a three-year demonstration project to evaluate the benefits of providing Medicare coverage and payment for items and services needed for the in-home administration of intravenous immune globulin to treat chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy or multifocal motor neuropathy. Beneficiary participation shall be voluntary.
Bill· HRH.R. 4710 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
340B Protecting Access for the Underserved and Safety-net Entities Act or the 340B PAUSE Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to suspend for two years the registration of certain hospitals in the 340B drug pricing program, which requires drug manufacturers to offer discounts on outpatient drugs to registered health care entities. The bill requires certain registered hospitals to report to the Department of Health and Human Services specified information, including the number of individuals receiving discounted drugs and associated costs.
Bill· HRH.R. 4709 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
This bill incrementally lowers, from 70% in FY2019 to 54% in FY2027 and subsequent years, the maximum federal matching rate under Medicaid for Washington, DC.
Bill· HRH.R. 4728 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Fixing VHA Facilities Act This bill establishes a Health Monitor in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who shall: identify and transmit a list of improvements for each low performing VA medical center to the director of an identified center, the VA, the House and Senate veterans' committees, and the appropriate senators and representative; and notify list recipients of the extent to which a director has implemented the plan and any resulting performance change. A monitor must have experience in federal oversight, health care administration, health care delivery and/or patient advocacy.
Bill· HRH.R. 4727 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Improving Access to VA Care Act This bill makes additional veterans eligible for a temporary disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and access to health care services. The VA shall assign a temporary disability rating to certain veterans who file a disability compensation claim and schedule a related medical examination as soon as practicable. Such temporary disability rating shall remain in effect until a formal rating decision is issued. The VA shall provide hospital care and medical services to such veterans while they are waiting for a formal disability rating. If the VA determines that a veteran does not have a service-connected disability and does not qualify for VA medical services the veteran shall not owe the VA for such services and the VA shall assist the veteran in finding non-VA medical services.
Bill· SS. 2270 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Mitigating the Methamphetamine Epidemic and Promoting Tribal Health Act or the Mitigating METH Act This bill amends the 21st Century Cures Act to make Indian tribes eligible for funding under the opioid grant program for states. In addition, the bill expands the grant program to allow states and tribes to use grants for the prevention and treatment of the use of other substances, such as methamphetamine, that have a substantial public health impact on states or tribes.
Bill· SS. 2260 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 2017
Opioids and STOP Pain Initiative Act This bill establishes and provides funds for the Opioids and STOP Pain Initiative at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support pain-related research, including: understanding pain, therapies for chronic pain, and alternatives to opioids for pain treatment as directed in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016; improving options and evidence for medication-assisted treatment and opioid overdose reversal treatments; and supporting the Federal Pain Research Strategy. NIH must establish the Pain Therapy Screening Program to award grants to support the development of new pre-clinical models for pain disorders, and the application of these models in drug, device, or other therapy screening.
Bill· HRH.R. 4704 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2017
Nursing Home Comfortable Air Ready for Emergencies Act or the Nursing Home CARE Act This bill (1) provides statutory authority for certain emergency-preparedness requirements applicable to skilled-nursing facilities and nursing-facility providers and suppliers under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, (2) establishes a loan program to assist such facilities in complying with the requirements, and (3) otherwise revises provisions regarding the emergency preparedness of such facilities.
Bill· HRH.R. 4701 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2017
Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior Act of 2017 or the CARES Act of 2017 This bill eliminates the three-day prior-hospitalization requirement for Medicare coverage of certain skilled-nursing-facilities services. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must study the cost of impact of such elimination.
Bill· HRH.R. 4695 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2017
Bipartisan Market Stabilization and Innovation Act of 2017 This bill makes a series of changes relating to health insurance coverage and costs. Among other things, the bill establishes a specific fund to support state initiatives that reduce costs and terminates the medical device excise tax.
Bill· SS. 2259 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 2017
Access to Birth Control Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require pharmacies to comply with certain rules related to ensuring access to contraceptives. Among other requirements, pharmacies must provide a customer a contraceptive or related medication without delay if it is in stock. If the contraceptive is not in stock, the pharmacy must immediately inform the customer and either transfer the prescription to a pharmacy that has it in stock or order it. Civil penalties and a private cause of action are established for violations of this bill.
Law· SS. 2246 (115th)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2017
This bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs health care center located at 2181 Orange Avenue in Tallahassee, Florida, as the "Sergeant Ernest I. `Boots' Thomas VA Clinic."
Bill· SS. 2253 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2017
CHIP Mental Health Parity Act This bill requires Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder services. Financial requirements and treatment limitations applicable to such services shall not differ from those applicable to other medical services under CHIP.
Bill· HRH.R. 4687 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2017
This bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs health care center located at 2181 Orange Avenue in Tallahassee, Florida, as the "Sergeant Ernest I. `Boots' Thomas VA Clinic."
Bill· HRH.R. 4684 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2017
Ensuring Access to Quality Sober Living Act of 2017 This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to publish best practices for operating recovery housing, to distribute such publication to the states, and to provide technical assistance to states seeking to adopt such practices. "Recovery housing" means a shared living environment free from alcohol and illegal drug use and centered on peer support and connection to services to promote recovery from substance use disorders.
Bill· HRH.R. 4683 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2017
This bill extends the time period for new technology add-on payments, as well as for transitional pass-through payments for certain medical devices, drugs, and biologicals, under Medicare.
Bill· HRH.R. 4675 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2017
Low-Dose Radiation Research Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Energy to carry out a research program on low-dose radiation to enhance the scientific understanding of the effects of exposure and to improve risk-assessment and risk-management methods. "Low-dose radiation" is defined as a dose less than 100 millisieverts. (The Nuclear Regulatory Commission limits an adult's annual occupational radiation dose to 50 millisieverts.)
Bill· HRH.R. 4679 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2017
Ensuring Equal Access to Treatments Act of 2017 This bill modifies provisions related to Medicare coverage and payment for new drugs, devices, and technology, including with respect to the new-technology add-on program.
Bill· HRH.R. 4666 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 2017
Premium Relief Act of 2017 This bill establishes and provides funding for the Patient and State Stability Fund. The fund shall be used to support specified state efforts to increase access to health-insurance coverage and help stabilize the individual market.
Bill· HRH.R. 4664 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 2017
Repeal Insurance Plans of the Multi-State Program Act of 2017 or the RIP MSP Act This bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that allows the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to enter into contracts with health insurance issuers to offer multi-state plan options. OPM must report about specified efforts in its process to wind down the multi-state program. The bill rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided to OPM for staffing and administering the multi-state program.
Bill· HRH.R. 4653 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2017
Servicemembers and Veterans Prescription Drug Safety Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to carry out a joint program under which an eligible person who has lawfully obtained a covered controlled substance may deliver it for disposal at a facility to be specified by DOD and DOJ. An eligible person for this purpose shall be: a member of the Armed Forces, an individual receiving or entitled to military retired or retainer pay, a member's dependent-beneficiary who is receiving certain health care services, or any person lawfully entitled to dispose of the property of any of such individuals who dies in lawful possession of a controlled substance for personal use. DOD and DOJ shall develop guidelines and procedures to prevent the diversion, misuse, theft, or loss of such substances delivered under the program. DOJ and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall carry out a similar joint program covering any veteran, veteran's spouse or dependent, a person in receipt of medical services at a VA facility, or any person lawfully entitled to dispose of the property of any of such individuals who dies in lawful possession of a controlled substance for personal use. DOJ and the VA shall also develop guidelines and procedures to prevent the diversion, misuse, theft, or loss of such substances delivered under the program.
Bill· HRH.R. 4652 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2017
This bill makes permanent the annual disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotment for Tennessee. (DSHs are hospitals that receive additional payment under Medicaid for treating a large share of low-income patients.) Current law provides for an annual $53.1 million DSH allotment for Tennessee through FY2025.
Bill· SS. 2241 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2017
This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to prohibit a state, solely to fund its health insurance exchange, from charging a health insurer a fee or tax for excepted benefits coverage (benefits not subject to requirements under the Act) or on standalone dental plans that are not sold on an exchange.
Bill· SS. 2239 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2017
Veterans Deserve Better Act This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to require: (1) the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay for hospital care or medical services furnished by a non-VA health care entity or provider under the Veterans Choice Program within 45 days of receipt of a paper claim or within 30 days of receipt of an electronic claim, and (2) the entity or provider to file a claim with the VA within 180 days of providing the service. The VA shall bar providers or entities that file fraudulent health claims from program participation. The VA shall: (1) ensure that contracts with third party administrators require that veterans' health care appointments be scheduled within five days, and (2) track all appointments and follow up on delayed appointments.
Bill· HRH.R. 4642 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 14 December 2017
Veterans Improved Access and Care Act of 2017 This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to provide access to hospital care and medical services in non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities for all veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system. (Currently, such access is based upon appointment wait times and distance from, or existence of, VA facilities.) The VA shall: (1) establish a pilot program to expedite the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) process for bringing on a medical provider after such person is offered a tentative VHA position (onboarding), (2) give priority to medical facilities facing hiring shortages of licensed independent medical providers, and (3) submit to Congress a strategy for reducing the length of the medical provider hiring process by half. The bill requires that certain personal information be transmitted to the National Practitioner Data Bank and the applicable state licensing board whenever a major adverse action based upon performance or conduct is taken against certain VHA health care employees.
Bill· HRH.R. 4638 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2017
National Commission on Scleroderma and Fibrotic Diseases Act of 2017 This bill temporarily establishes a National Commission on Fibrotic Diseases within the National Institutes of Health that must recommend improvements regarding fibrosis and fibrotic disease research.
Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 124 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2017
DIVISION A--FURTHER ADDITIONAL CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018 Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 This division amends the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 to provide continuing FY2018 appropriations to most federal agencies through January 19, 2018 (December 22, 2017, under current law). It prevents a partial government shutdown that would otherwise occur when the existing continuing resolution expires because the FY2018 appropriations bills have not been enacted. It also exempts security spending from sequestration (automatic spending cuts) for FY2018 and delays the sequestration for nonsecurity spending. DIVISION B--DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS This division provides appropriations to the Department of Defense for the remainder of FY2018, including emergency appropriations for missile defense programs. DIVISION C--CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS ACT Continuing Community Health And Medical Professional Programs to Improve Our Nation, Increase National Gains, and Help Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable Act of 2017 or the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act This division extends the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through FY2022 and also extends several other public health programs. The division also increases Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands through FY2019 and modifies the Medicaid payment reductions for disproportionate-share hospitals (which receive additional payment under Medicaid for treating a large share of low-income patients). In addition, the bill: modifies the grace period for paying health insurance premiums under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, reduces appropriations for the Prevention and Public Health Fund, alters third-party liability rules under Medicaid and CHIP, modifies the treatment of lottery winnings and other lump-sum income under Medicaid income eligibility rules, and eliminates Medicare premium subsidies for beneficiaries with annual incomes exceeding $500,000. DIVISION D--OTHER MATTERS This division provides funding for the Veterans Choice Program, which allows veterans to receive health care from providers outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
Bill· SS. 2227 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 2017
Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources, and Care Act or the EMPOWER Care Act This bill amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 to extend funding through FY2022 for the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program and to otherwise revise the program. (Under this program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must award grants to state Medicaid programs to assist in rebalancing states' long-term care systems.)
Bill· HRH.R. 4616 (115th)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2017
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend the employer mandate for health insurance coverage until January 1, 2019. The bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to delay for one year, until after December 31, 2020, the implementation of the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage (commonly referred to as the Cadillac tax).
Bill· SS. 2221 (115th)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2017
Repeal Insurance Plans of the Multi-State Program Act of 2017 or the RIP MSP Act This bill repeals a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that allows the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to enter into contracts with health insurance issuers to offer multi-state plan options. OPM must report about specified efforts in its process to wind down the multi-state program. The bill rescinds specified unobligated funds that were provided to OPM for staffing and administering the multi-state program.
Bill· HRH.R. 4620 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2017
Protecting Families and Small Businesses Act of 2017 This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow a health insurer to reduce its 2018 annual fee by the amount of premium rebates provided to enrollees under this bill. Premium rebates must be equal to the lesser of 2% of the net premiums for each individual or the premiums paid by an individual. For a Medicaid managed care organization, the 2018 annual fee shall be reduced by 2% of the net premiums. The bill suspends the annual fee for 2019.
Bill· HRH.R. 4619 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2017
This bill excludes the amount of net premiums attributable to insurance plans in Puerto Rico from the calculation of a specified annual fee on health insurers for 2018 and 2019.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 358 (115th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 12 December 2017
Designates December 3, 2017, as National Phenylketonuria Awareness Day. (Phenylketonuria or PKU is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder that can cause intellectual disability and other neurological problems.)
Bill· HRH.R. 4613 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2017
Ensuring Patient Access to Healthcare Records Act of 2017 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; (2) develop patient-engagement tools, reports, analyses, and presentations that may demonstrate benefit to patients and health-plan enrollees; and (3) promote transparency regarding the use and disclosure of health information by health-care clearinghouses.
Bill· SS. 2214 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 2017
Medicare Patient Access to Hospice Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow physician assistants to provide hospice care under Medicare.
Bill· HRH.R. 4582 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2017
Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to publish a list of all rehabilitation innovation centers. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must submit to Congress an analysis containing the most recent three years of cost report data for all rehabilitation innovation centers and assess the payment adequacy for such innovation centers under the Medicare program.
Bill· SS. 2212 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2017
National Biomedical Research Act This bill establishes and makes deposits into the Biomedical Innovation Fund for initiatives at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration for advancing medical innovation, including by supporting (1) research for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment; (2) research for diseases that disproportionally account for federal health care spending; (3) the development, review, and post-market surveillance of medical products; and (4) other innovative research.
Bill· SS. 2209 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2017
Prioritizing the Most Vulnerable Over Lottery Winners Act of 2017 This bill specifies how a state must treat qualified lottery winnings and lump sum income for purposes of determining an individual's income-based eligibility for a state Medicaid program. Specifically, a state shall include such winnings or income as income received: (1) in the month in which it was received, if the amount is less than $80,000; (2) over a period of two months, if the amount is at least $80,000 but less than $90,000; (3) over a period of three months, if the amount is at least $90,000 but less than $100,000; and (4) over an additional one-month period for each increment of $10,000 received, not to exceed 120 months. An individual whose income exceeds the applicable eligibility threshold due to qualified lump sum income shall continue to be eligible for medical assistance to the extent that the state determines that denial of eligibility would cause undue medical or financial hardship. With respect to an individual who loses eligibility due to qualified lump sum income, a state must provide specified notice and assistance related to the individual's potential enrollment in a qualified health plan under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Qualified lump sum income includes: (1) monetary winnings from gambling; (2) damages received in lump sums or periodic payments, excluding monthly payments, on account of causes of action other than those arising from personal physical injuries or sickness; and (3) income received as liquid assets from the estate of a deceased individual.
Bill· SS. 2204 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2017
Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to publish a list of all rehabilitation innovation centers. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must submit to Congress an analysis containing the most recent three years of cost report data for all rehabilitation innovation centers and assess the payment adequacy for such innovation centers under the Medicare program.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 352 (115th)passed
United States · United States Congress · 7 December 2017
Designates the week of December 3-December 9, 2017, 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· HRH.R. 4571 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2017
Fair Access to Insurance for Retired (FAIR) Heroes Act of 2017 This bill permits a veteran who is disability-retired for a condition or injury incurred during service in the U.S. Armed Forces to choose health care coverage through Medicare or TRICARE. (TRICARE is a Department of Defense managed health care program for uniformed service members, military retirees, and their dependents.)
Bill· HRH.R. 4580 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2017
ACO Improvement Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow an accountable care organization (ACO) to: (1) reduce or eliminate certain cost-sharing for primary care services provided within the ACO's network; (2) develop incentives to encourage patient engagement; (3) elect prospective assignment of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries; and (4) if specified requirements are met, distribute internal cost savings. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall waive specified regulatory requirements for ACOs that have elected to share in both savings and losses under a "two-sided risk model." In addition, the bill: (1) requires the CMS to waive, with respect to certain ACOs, specified limitations regarding telehealth services; (2) allows certain ACOs to depart slightly from specified minimum enrollment requirements; (3) requires the CMS to establish a demonstration project for allowing growth of certain prospective risk scores; (4) and allows the CMS to make permanent certain ACO-related pilot programs that have been successful.
Bill· HRH.R. 4579 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2017
Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017 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); allow ACOs to operate beneficiary incentive programs; require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a process for Medicare prescription-drug plan sponsors to request certain claims data from the CMS; require the CMS to study and report to Congress on long-term risk factors for chronic conditions among Medicare beneficiaries; and eliminate annual funding available to the Medicare Improvement Fund and the Medicaid Improvement Fund beginning in FY2021. The Government Accountability Office shall conduct studies on: the establishment of a payment code for a visit for longitudinal comprehensive care planning services, the extent to which Medicare prescription drug plans and private payors use programs that synchronize pharmacy dispensing to facilitate comprehensive counseling and promote medication adherence, and the use of prescription drugs to manage the weight of obese patients and the impact of such drug coverage on patient health and health care spending.
Bill· HRH.R. 4575 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2017
Access to Independent Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2017 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to exclude remuneration paid for licensed independent insurance producers from administrative costs for purposes of calculating the medical loss ratio of a health insurance plan. The bill defines "independent insurance producer" to mean an insurance agent or broker, insurance consultant, benefit specialist, limited insurance representative, and any other person required to be licensed under state law to sell, solicit, negotiate, service, effect, procure, renew, or bind policies of insurance coverage or offer advice, counsel, opinions, or services related to insurance.
Bill· HRH.R. 4573 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2017
Gun Violence Research Act of 2017 This bill amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, with respect to the prohibition on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) using funds to advocate or promote gun control. The bill declares that this prohibition does not restrict HHS funding for research on mental health, gun violence, and how they intersect. The Surgeon General must report annually on the effects of gun violence on public health, including mental health, and the status of actions taken to address those effects. HHS must report on the effects of gun violence on public health in minority communities.
Bill· HRH.R. 4572 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 2017
Worst-Case Scenario Hospital Preparedness Act This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Medicine, or another appropriate entity, to evaluate the preparedness of hospitals, long-term care facilities, dialysis centers, and other medical facilities nationwide for public health emergencies, including natural disasters. The evaluations must review facilities' current policies, assess grant programs affecting these facilities, and recommend best practices.
Bill· SS. 2193 (115th)open
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2017
Caring for our Veterans Act of 2017 This bill establishes a Veterans Community Care Program to furnish hospital care, medical services, and extended care services to covered veterans through non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care providers under specified circumstances. This program replaces the Veterans Choice Program. The VA shall develop: (1) an education program for veterans about their VA health care options, (2) processes to ensure safe opioid prescribing practices by non-VA health care providers; and (3) criteria to designate VA medical centers, ambulatory care facilities, and community based outpatient clinics as underserved facilities. The bill: (1) modifies the definitions of medical facility, major medical facility project, and major medical facility lease; and (2) establishes specified pilot programs. The VA family caregiver program is expanded. The VA shall implement a new information technology system.
Bill· HRH.R. 4554 (115th)referred
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 2017
Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2017 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a three-year pilot program, in at least three geographic areas, to demonstrate the feasibility of using smart-card technology to authenticate the identity of a Medicare beneficiary at points of service. The CMS shall select supplier and provider types that will be required to participate in the pilot program as a condition of Medicare payment, but must exempt from participation a supplier or provider that: (1) does not have access to card-reader technology, (2) does not have sufficient internet access, or (3) has a low volume of Medicare claims. The CMS shall select a private contractor to implement and operate the pilot program. The CMS must submit specified reports to Congress on program design, implementation, and performance. For purposes of conducting the pilot program, the CMS shall provide for the transfer of $150 million from the Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund to the CMS Program Management Account.