To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to allow delivery of medical supplies by unmanned aerial systems, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-7395
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11]
Introduced: 2018-12-21
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health facilities and institutions

Health technology, devices, supplies

Transportation safety and security
Latest action: action_date: 2018-12-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-12-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from blocking any program administered by the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services or the Indian Health Service that reimburses medical providers for the use of unmanned aerial systems that deliver medical supplies. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration may not prohibit the operation of such systems beyond the line of sight. </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7395 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 21, 2018 Mr. Meadows introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure , and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce , Ways and Means , and Natural Resources , 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 A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to allow delivery of medical supplies by unmanned aerial systems, and for other purposes.

1. Sense of Congress on the medical potential of unmanned aerial systems It is the sense of Congress that unmanned aerial systems have the potential to improve medical care for rural populations and for patients in acute situations in need of immediate care and without immediate access to care providers, and that such technologies should be utilized where practicable. 2. Confirmation of medicare reimbursement eligibility The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not prohibit any program administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the Indian Health Service from reimbursing hospitals or other medical providers for the use of unmanned aerial systems for delivery of medical supplies to hospitals, ambulances, or directly to sites of medical emergencies occurring away from hospitals and ambulances. 3. Federal Aviation Administration and flight of unmanned aerial systems beyond line of sight for medical purposes The Federal Aviation Administration, in issuing rulemaking for unmanned aerial system delivery as directed by section 44808 of title 49, United States Code, shall not prohibit the operation of unmanned aerial systems for medical purposes beyond the line of sight, consistent with other rules and regulations made applicable to all unmanned aerial systems in such rulemaking.