Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Diagnosis Act of 2015

Summary: Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Diagnosis Act of 2015 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Interagency Pulmonary Hypertension Coordinating Committee. The committee must monitor research and annually summarize research and medical advances regarding pulmonary hypertension. The committee must develop a comprehensive strategic plan to improve health outcomes for individuals with pulmonary hypertension. The plan must include recommendations regarding pulmonary hypertension diagnosis, research, transplantation criteria, public awareness, and health care delivery. HHS must report on activities related to improving health outcomes for individuals with pulmonary hypertension. The report must include information regarding pulmonary hypertension epidemiology, treatment, support available to individuals, and research.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pulmonary Hypertension Research and 
Diagnosis Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION COORDINATING COMMITTEE 
              ESTABLISHED.

    Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 399V-6. INTERAGENCY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION COORDINATING 
              COMMITTEE.

    ``(a) Committee Established.--The Secretary shall establish a 
committee, to be known as the Interagency Pulmonary Hypertension 
Coordinating Committee (in this section referred to as the 
`Committee'), to coordinate all efforts within the Department of Health 
and Human Services concerning pulmonary hypertension.
    ``(b) Responsibilities.--The Committee shall--
            ``(1) develop and annually update a summary of the advances 
        made in research on, and treatment and diagnosis of, pulmonary 
        hypertension;
            ``(2) develop and annually update a summary of the advances 
        made in access to care for individuals with a diagnosis of 
        pulmonary hypertension;
            ``(3) monitor pulmonary hypertension research, services, 
        and support activities across the Federal Government, including 
        coordination of Federal activities and programs with respect to 
        pulmonary hypertension;
            ``(4) develop and annually update a comprehensive strategic 
        plan under subsection (c) to improve health outcomes for 
        individuals with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension; and
            ``(5) develop and annually update the progress made in 
        implementing such comprehensive strategic plan.
    ``(c) Strategy.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of the Pulmonary Hypertension Research and Diagnosis Act of 
2015 and annually thereafter, the Committee shall submit to Congress 
and the Secretary a strategy to improve health outcomes for individuals 
with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. Such strategy shall include 
the following:
            ``(1) Recommendations to advance research on pulmonary 
        hypertension.
            ``(2) Recommendations to improve the transplantation 
        criteria and process concerning lung and heart-lung transplants 
        for individuals with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
            ``(3) Recommendations to improve public awareness and 
        recognition of pulmonary hypertension.
            ``(4) Recommendations to improve health care delivery for 
        individuals with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
            ``(5) Recommendations to improve the early and accurate 
        diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
            ``(6) Recommendations to systematically advance the full 
        spectrum of biomedical research on pulmonary hypertension.
    ``(d) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) a representative from each of the entities 
                listed in paragraph (2); and
                    ``(B) the non-Federal members appointed under 
                paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Federal members.--The entities listed in this 
        paragraph are the following:
                    ``(A) The Department of Defense.
                    ``(B) The Food and Drug Administration.
                    ``(C) The National Institutes of Health.
                    ``(D) The Agency for Healthcare Research and 
                Quality.
                    ``(E) The Administration for Children and Families.
                    ``(F) The Centers for Disease Control and 
                Prevention.
                    ``(G) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
                    ``(H) The Health Resources and Services 
                Administration.
            ``(3) Non-federal members.--Not fewer than six members of 
        the Committee or one-third of the total membership of the 
        Committee, whichever is greater, shall be composed of non-
        Federal members to be appointed by the Secretary, of which--
                    ``(A) at least two shall be individuals with a 
                diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension;
                    ``(B) at least one shall be the parent or guardian 
                of an individual with a diagnosis of pulmonary 
                hypertension;
                    ``(C) at least one shall be a representative of a 
                pharmaceutical company that manufactures a drug or 
                device for detecting, preventing, or treating pulmonary 
                hypertension; and
                    ``(D) at least one shall be a representative of a 
                leading research, advocacy, or support organization 
                primarily serving individuals with a diagnosis of 
                pulmonary hypertension.
    ``(e) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet not fewer than two times 
each year. All meetings shall be open to the public.
    ``(f) Termination Date.--The Committee shall terminate on the date 
that is five years after the date of the enactment of the Pulmonary 
Hypertension Research and Diagnosis Act of 2015.''.

SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than two years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
in coordination with the Interagency Pulmonary Hypertension 
Coordinating Committee, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a progress 
report on activities related to improving health outcomes for 
individuals with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
    (b) Contents of Report.--The report submitted under subsection (a) 
shall contain--
            (1) information on the incidence of pulmonary hypertension, 
        including such incidence since the date of the enactment of 
        this Act;
            (2) information on the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension 
        in children and adults;
            (3) information on the average time between the initial 
        screening and the accurate diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension;
            (4) information on the average stage of pulmonary 
        hypertension when appropriate intervention begins;
            (5) information on the effectiveness and outcomes of 
        interventions for individuals with a diagnosis of pulmonary 
        hypertension, including--
                    (A) mortality rate; and
                    (B) the frequency of drastic treatment options such 
                as lung and heart-lung transplants;
            (6) information on new developments in research activities;
            (7) information on innovative treatment options and 
        diagnostic tools; and
            (8) information on services and supports available to 
        individuals with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
    (c) Publication.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
make the report submitted under subsection (a) available on the public 
website of the Department of Health and Human Services.