Title: 21st Century Hospitals Act
Policy area: Health

Summary:
21st Century Hospitals Act
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study the infrastructure of hospitals nationwide. HHS must study the (1) barriers to infrastructure funding at hospitals in underserved communities; and (2) condition of information technology in hospitals, among other parameters.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3558 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3558

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study 
 on the state of hospital infrastructure in the United States, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 27, 2019

    Mr. Engel (for himself and Mr. King of New York) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study 
 on the state of hospital infrastructure in the United States, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Hospitals Act''.

SEC. 2. HHS STUDY ON HOSPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in 
consultation with State departments of health and other public health 
entities, shall conduct a study on the state of hospital infrastructure 
in the United States.
    (b) Topics.--The study under subsection (a) shall include the 
following:
            (1) An assessment of barriers to accessing capital for 
        infrastructure at hospitals serving vulnerable populations, 
        such as hospitals described in section 1886(d)(5)(F)(i) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(F)(i), relating to 
        disproportionate share payments), sole community hospitals (as 
        defined in section 1886(d)(5)(D)(iii) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1395ww(d)(5)(F)(i)), critical access hospitals (as defined in 
        section 1861(mm)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm)(1)), and 
        public hospitals, including--
                    (A) recommendations for addressing such barriers, 
                which may include recommendations for grants or low-
                cost borrowing vehicles;
                    (B) analysis of the impact of such barriers on 
                managing infrastructure at such hospitals, including 
                with respect to life-safety issues and emergency 
                preparedness; and
                    (C) identification of public funds that are 
                available for--
                            (i) bringing such hospitals into compliance 
                        with applicable laws; and
                            (ii) ensuring that such hospitals and the 
                        communities they serve are appropriately 
                        prepared for responding to emergencies 
                        including public health emergencies.
            (2) An assessment of the state of health information 
        technology at hospitals in the United States, including--
                    (A) the state of electronic medical records and the 
                dependence of hospitals and health systems on 
                technology that is outdated or debunked; and
                    (B) barriers associated with updating health 
                information technology, including with respect to 
                hardware, software, administrative burden, staff 
                training, and associated costs.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall complete the 
study under this section and submit a report on the results of such 
study to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate.
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