Advancing Access to Precision Medicine Act

To provide for a study by the National Academy of Medicine on the use of genetic and genomic testing to improve health care, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Advancing Access to Precision Medicine Act 2. National Academy of Medicine study (a) In general Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary (1) how genetic and genomic testing may improve preventative care and precision medicine; (2) how genetic and genomic testing may reduce health disparities; (3) how the Federal Government may help to reduce barriers to genetic and genomic testing, including— (A) encouraging the expansion of health insurance coverage of genetic and genomic testing, including diagnostic, predictive, and presymptomatic testing, and whole genome sequencing; (B) supporting the collection of evidence for the clinical utility and appropriate use of genetic and genomic tests; and (C) improving access to genetic counselors, pathologists, and other relevant professions, including strengthening related workforce education and training efforts; (4) (A) the extent to which coverage provisions in the Medicare and Medicaid programs under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 (B) how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may make coverage determinations that better suit a precision medicine approach to treatment; and (5) how genetic and genomic testing may improve health outcomes for all populations in the United States, including— (A) individuals with a rare disease, including— (i) a metabolic disease; (ii) a hereditary cancer syndrome; and (iii) a neurologic disease with known treatments; and (B) special populations, including— (i) infants and children; (ii) critically ill (non-infectious and non-trauma) patients; (iii) transplant patients; (iv) individuals with cardiac disease; and (v) individuals with, or who have a family history of, a birth defect or developmental disability. (b) Report (1) In general The arrangement under subsection (a) shall provide for the National Academy of Medicine to submit, not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, a report on the results of the study under subsection (a) to— (A) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (B) the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and (C) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. (2) Consultation The arrangement under subsection (a) shall provide for the National Academy of Medicine, in developing the report required by paragraph (1), to consult with physicians, other health professionals, health educators, health professional organizations, relevant companies, patients, patient organizations, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 3. State option to provide whole genome sequencing clinical services for certain children Title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 1944. State option to provide whole genome sequencing clinical services for certain children (a) In general Notwithstanding section 1902(a)(1) (relating to statewideness), section 1902(a)(10)(B) (relating to comparability), and any other provision of this title for which the Secretary determines it is necessary to waive in order to implement this section, beginning January 1, 2019, a State, at its option as a State plan amendment, may provide for medical assistance under this title to an eligible individual for purposes of providing the individual with whole genome sequencing clinical services. (b) Payments (1) In general A State shall provide a health care provider (as defined by the State) with payments for the provision of whole genome sequencing clinical services to any eligible individual. Payments made to a health care provider for such services shall be treated as medical assistance for purposes of section 1903(a), except that, during the first 8 fiscal year quarters that the State plan amendment is in effect, the Federal medical assistance percentage applicable to such payments shall be equal to 75 percent. (2) Methodology The State shall specify in the State plan amendment the methodology the State will use for determining payment for the provision of whole genome sequencing clinical services. Such methodology for determining payment shall be established consistent with section 1902(a)(30)(A). (3) Planning grants (A) In general Beginning January 1, 2019, the Secretary may award planning grants to States for purposes of developing a State plan amendment under this section. A planning grant awarded to a State under this paragraph shall remain available until expended. (B) State contribution A State awarded a planning grant shall contribute an amount equal to the State percentage determined under section 1905(b) for each fiscal year for which the grant is awarded. (c) Hospital referrals A State shall include in the State plan amendment a requirement for any hospital that is a participating provider under the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) to establish procedures for referring any eligible individual who seeks or needs treatment in a hospital emergency department to a health care provider who is qualified (as determined by the State) to provide whole genome sequencing clinical services. (d) Reports by States Not later than three years after the date on which the State plan amendment under this section is approved, a State shall submit a report to the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration on— (1) the extent to which whole genomic sequencing clinical services reduce health disparities; and (2) the extent to which coverage under the State plan (or a waiver of such plan) impedes the use of genetic and genomic testing that may improve clinical outcomes for eligible individuals enrolled in the State plan (or under a waiver of such plan). (e) Reports by health care providers As a condition for receiving payment for whole genome sequencing clinical services provided to an eligible individual, a health care provider shall report to the State, in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall specify, on all applicable measures for determining the quality of such services. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible individual The term eligible individual (A) is eligible for medical assistance under the State plan (or a waiver of such plan); (B) is under the age of 21 (or, at the option of the State, under the age of 20, 19, or 18 as the State may choose), or in the case of an individual described in section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(IX), under the age of 26; (C) has been referred or admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit for a chronic or undiagnosed disease; (D) has been seen by at least one medical specialist for such chronic or undiagnosed disease; and (E) is suspected by at least one medical specialist to have a pediatric-onset genetic disease. (2) Whole genome sequencing clinical services The term whole genome sequencing clinical services (A) means the unbiased sequencing of all deoxyribonucleic acid bases in the genome of such individual and, if for the sole benefit of the individual, a biological parent of such individual for the purpose of determining whether one or more potentially disease-causing genetic variants are present in the genome of such individual or such biological parent; and (B) includes any analysis, interpretation, and data report derived from such sequencing. .

Summary: Advancing Access to Precision Medicine Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Medicine for the academy to study usage of genetic and genomic testing, including how to reduce barriers to the utilization of such testing. The bill allows states to apply for an exception to Medicaid's federal medical assistance percentage rate to provide whole genome sequencing clinical services to certain children, including those admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit for a chronic or undiagnosed disease and those suspected to have a pediatric-onset genetic disease.