HEALTHIER Act of 2016

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program for States that provide flexibility in licensing for health care providers who offer services on a volunteer basis. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Health for Each American Less fortunate Through Help from medical professionals In Every Rural and impoverished area Act of 2016 HEALTHIER Act of 2016 2. Grant program for States providing flexibility in licensing for health care providers who offer services on a volunteer basis (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a two-year grant program under which the Secretary awards grants to States that adopt a volunteer health care provider law during the period of the grant program and to States that have adopted such a law before such period. (b) Volunteer health care provider law For purposes of this section, the term volunteer health care provider law volunteer health care provider law State (1) such services are offered and provided in the volunteer health care provider law State solely on a volunteer basis to rural or impoverished areas (as defined by such volunteer health care provider law State) that are located within such State; and (2) such provider has an active, unencumbered license to practice in another State and such services are within the scope of practice of such provider (as defined by such volunteer health care provider law State). (c) Administrative provisions (1) One-time grant A State shall be eligible for not more than one grant under this section. (2) Amount of grant The amount of a grant awarded a State under this section shall be $1,000,000. (d) Additional definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Volunteer basis The term volunteer basis (A) on behalf of a nonprofit organization, such as a church or charity; (B) without receipt by such provider of compensation (other than reasonable reimbursement or allowance for expenses actually incurred) for providing such services; and (C) for a period not to exceed 7 consecutive days. (2) State The term State (e) Funding from Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs (1) In general There is transferred, from amounts appropriated to the Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs under section 403(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 603(b) (2) Conforming amendment Section 403(b)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 603(b)(2) , subject to section 2(e)(1) of the HEALTHIER Act of 2016, there are appropriated

Summary: Health for Each American Less fortunate Through Help from medical professionals In Every Rural and impoverished area Act of 2016 or the HEALTHIER Act of 2016 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to states with a volunteer health care provider law that permits a volunteer to provide health care services without being licensed in the state if the volunteer is licensed in another state. The law must: (1) require the services to be provided in a rural or impoverished area and to be within the scope of practice of the provider in the state, and (2) prohibit the services from being provided for more than seven consecutive days.