TREAT Astronauts Act

Bill: 114-hr-6076
Sponsor: Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]
Introduced: 2016-09-20 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: 

To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act or the TREAT Astronauts Act

 
This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a program that provides for the medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of crewmembers for space flight-associated medical conditions.
 
The bill defines &quot;crewmember&quot; as an individual certified by NASA to be:
 
 
a former NASA astronaut or payload specialist who has flown on at least one orbital space mission, or
 
a management NASA astronaut who has flown on at least one such mission and is currently employed by the federal government. 
 
 
Medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment shall be provided under the program without any deductibles, copayments, or other cost sharing obligations required of participating crewmembers.
 
NASA shall design the program to facilitate reasonable access of a crewmember to medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment under the program, including, at crewmember's option:
 
 
through NASA; or
 
from a health care provider selected by the crewmember and which enters into an agreement with NASA to provide such services to the crewmember. 
 
 
Participation by a crewmember under the program shall be voluntary and subject to the crewmember's written consent. 
 
Under the program, NASA shall provide for the uniform collection of data on space flight-associated medical conditions and the identification of any new space flight-associated conditions.
 
NASA shall arrange with an independent organization to determine an estimate of the cost to NASA and the federal government for the implementation and administration of the program. 

action_date: 2016-12-07
text: 

To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act or the TREAT Astronauts Act

 
(Sec. 3) This bill authorizes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide for:
 
 
the medical monitoring and diagnosis of a former U.S. government astronaut or former payload specialist for conditions that NASA considers potentially associated with human space flight; and 
 
the treatment of such an astronaut or payload specialist for conditions that NASA considers associated with human space flight, including scientific and medical tests for psychological and medical conditions. 
 
 
The bill requires that such medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment shall be provided without any deductible, copayment, or other cost sharing obligation.
 
NASA may not require such an astronaut or payload specialist to participate in the medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment authorized by this bill. 
 
NASA shall protect the privacy of all medical records generated with respect to such medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment and accessible to NASA. 
 
The term &quot;government astronaut&quot; does not include individuals who are international partner astronauts. 
 
NASA shall arrange with an independent external organization to undertake an independent cost estimate of the cost to NASA and the federal government for the implementation and administration of the activities of NASA under this bill. 
 
NASA shall study any potential privacy or legal issues related to the possible sharing beyond the federal government of data acquired under the activities of NASA. 
 
The NASA Inspector General shall periodically audit or review NASA's activities to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-08
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 0 (Roll no. 614). (text: CR H7306-7307)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 413 - 0 (Roll no. 614).(text: CR H7306-7307)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7324-7325)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6076.
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7306-7310)
action_date: 2016-12-07
text: Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-09-21
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-09-21
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-09-20
text: Introduced in House