A bill to expand research regarding inflammatory bowel disease, and for other purposes.

Summary: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to expand activities addressing inflammatory bowel disease, emphasizing genetic, animal model, and clinical research.Requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a national program of prevention and epidemiology concerning such disease, addressing its prevalence and public and professional awareness.Directs the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science to study public and private insurance standards for coverage of inflammatory bowel therapies.Directs the General Accounting Office to study problems inflammatory bowel disease patients have applying for disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

     This Act may be cited as the ``Inflammatory Bowel Disease Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

     Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are serious 
        inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn's 
        disease may occur in any section of the gastrointestinal tract 
        but is predominately found in the lower part of the small 
        intestine and the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis is 
        characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the innermost 
        lining of the colon. Because Crohn's disease and ulcerative 
        colitis behave similarly, they are collectively known as 
        inflammatory bowel disease. Both diseases present a variety of 
        symptoms, including severe diarrhea, crampy abdominal pain, 
        fever, and rectal bleeding. There is no known cause of 
        inflammatory bowel disease, or medical cure.
            (2) It is estimated that up to 1,000,000 people in the 
        United States suffer from inflammatory bowel disease.
            (3) In 1990, the total annual medical costs for Crohn's 
        disease patients was estimated at $1,000,000,000 to 
        $1,200,000,000.
            (4) In 1990, the total annual medical costs for ulcerative 
        colitis patients was estimated at $400,000,000 to $600,000,000.
            (5) Inflammatory bowel disease patients are at high-risk 
        for developing colorectal cancer.

SEC. 3. INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE RESEARCH EXPANSION.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of Diabetes 
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases shall expand, intensify, and 
coordinate the activities of the Institute with respect to research on 
inflammatory bowel disease with particular emphasis on the following 
areas:
            (1) Genetic research on susceptibility for inflammatory 
        bowel disease, including the interaction of genetic and 
        environmental factors in the development of the disease.
            (2) Animal model research on inflammatory bowel disease, 
        including genetics in animals.
            (3) Clinical inflammatory bowel disease research, including 
        clinical studies and treatment trials.
            (4) Other research initiatives identified by the scientific 
        document entitled ``Challenges in Inflammatory Bowel Disease''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--For the purpose of carrying out this 
        section, there are authorized to be appropriated $75,000,000 in 
        fiscal year 2004, $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2005, and such 
        sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2006 and 2007.
            (2) Reservation.--Of the funds authorized to be 
        appropriated under paragraph (1), not more than 20 percent of 
        such funds shall be reserved to fund the training of qualified 
        health professionals in biomedical research focused on 
        inflammatory bowel disease and related disorders.

SEC. 4. INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE PREVENTION AND EPIDEMIOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention shall establish a national program of prevention and 
epidemiology to determine the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease 
in the United States, and conduct public and professional awareness 
activities on inflammatory bowel disease.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 in 
fiscal year 2004, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 
2005 through 2007.

SEC. 5. STUDY OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE RELATED SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--The Institute of Medicine of the National 
Academics of Science shall conduct a study on the coverage standards of 
medicare, medicaid, and the private insurance market for the following 
therapies:
            (1) Parenteral nutrition.
            (2) Enteral nutrition formula.
            (3) Medically necessary food products.
            (4) Ostomy supplies.
            (5) Therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration 
        for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
    (b) Content.--The study shall also take into account the 
appropriate outpatient or home health care delivery settings.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Institute of Medicine shall submit a report to Congress 
describing the findings of the study.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 6. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE 
              PATIENTS.

    (a) In General.--The General Accounting Office shall conduct a 
study of the problems patients encounter when applying for disability 
insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act. The study 
will also include recommendations for improving the application process 
for inflammatory bowel disease patients.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the General Accounting Office shall submit a report to 
Congress describing the findings of the study.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.