I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1716
To provide for a study of long-term care needs in the 21st century.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 6, 1999
Mr. BILIRAKIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To provide for a study of long-term care needs in the 21st
century.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. STUDY OF LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS IN THE
21ST CENTURY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall provide, in accordance with this sec-
tion, for a study in order to determine—
(1) future demand for long-term health care
services (including institutional and home and com-
munity-based services) in the United States in order
to meet the needs in the 21st century; and
(2) long-term options to finance the provision of
such services.
(b) DETAILS.—The study shall include the following:
(1) An identification of the relevant demo-
graphic characteristics affecting demand for long-
term health care services, at least through the year
2030.
(2) The possibility of coverage of community-
based and other long-term health care services under
different federal programs, including through the
medicare and medicaid programs, grants to States,
housing services, and changes in tax policy.
(3) How to improve the quality of long-term
health care services.
(4) The integration of long-term health care
services for individuals between different classes of
health care providers (such as hospitals, nursing fa-
cilities, and home care agencies) and different Fed-
eral programs (such as the medicare and medicaid
programs).
(5) The possibility of expanding private sector
initiatives, including long-term care insurance, to
meet the need to finance such services.
(6) An examination of the effect of enactment
of the Health Insurance Portability and Account-
ability Act of 1996 on the provision and financing
of long-term health care services, including on port-
ability and affordability of private long-term care in-
surance, the impact of insurance options on low-in-
come older Americans, and the options for eligibility
to improve access to such insurance.
(7) The financial impact of the provision of
long-term health care services on caregivers and
other family members.
(c) REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall provide for a report on the study under this
section.
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The report shall in-
clude recommendations regarding each of the fol-
lowing:
(A) The most effective and efficient man-
ner that the Federal government may use its
resources to educate the public on planning for
needs for long-term health care services.
(B) The public, private, and joint public-
private strategies for meeting identified needs
for long-term health care services.
(C) The appropriate continuing role of
States in the financing of long-term health care
services.
(3) INCLUSION OF COST ESTIMATES.—The re-
port shall include cost estimates of the various op-
tions for which recommendations are made.
(d) CONDUCT OF STUDY.—
(1) USE
OF
INSTITUTE
OF
MEDICINE.—The
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall seek
to enter into an appropriate arrangement with the
Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of
Sciences to conduct the study under this section. If
such an arrangement cannot be made, the Secretary
may provide for the conduct of the study by any
other qualified non-governmental entity.
(2) CONSULTATION.—The study should be con-
ducted in consultation with experts from a wide-
range of groups from the public and private sectors.
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