USPSTF Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1151
Sponsor: Rep. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN-7]
Introduced: 2015-02-27 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: 

USPSTF Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the scope and responsibilities of the United States Preventive Services Task Force to require it to: (1) publish research plans to guide its review of scientific evidence relating to the effectiveness of preventive services; (2) make evidence reports and recommendations available for public comment; (3) establish a system for grading preventive care (Grades A, B, C, and D and a Grade I for insufficient information); and (4) convene a preventive services stakeholders board to provide feedback on Task Force activities and recommend preventive services and scientific evidence for the Task Force to review. Members of the Task Force and the preventive services stakeholders board are considered federal employees for purposes of disclosure and management of conflicts of interest.
 
The Government Accountability Office must submit a report that: (1) lists current recommendations of the Task Force; (2) compares Task Force recommendations and recommendations of other federal health agencies, national medical professional societies, and patient and disease advocacy organizations; and (3) analyzes the impact of Task Force recommendations on public and private insurance coverage, access, and outcomes, including the impact on morbidity and mortality.
 
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the authority of HHS to make no payment for a preventive service that has not been graded by the Task Force.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-03-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-02-27
text: Introduced in House