Coronavirus Testing Capacity Expansion Act

Bill: 116-hr-8167
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13]
Introduced: 2020-09-04
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Department of Health and Human Services

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Employee hiring

Executive agency funding and structure

Genetics

Health personnel

Health programs administration and funding

Health technology, devices, supplies

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-09-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Coronavirus Testing Capacity Expansion Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to directly reimburse laboratories for certain tests and related services during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency and expands the categories of laboratories eligible for certain COVID-19 relief funding.</p> <p>Specifically, veterinary and biotechnology company laboratories may receive federal COVID-19 funds for activities related to testing. Currently, this funding is limited to academic, commercial, public health, or hospital laboratories.</p> <p><br> </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8167 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 4, 2020 Mr. Crist introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to expand the appropriations under the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to include the scale up of testing by veterinary and biotechnology company laboratories, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Coronavirus Testing Capacity Expansion Act . 2. Expansion of appropriations and establishment of direct reimbursement program (a) Expansion of appropriations under the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund The second paragraph of Department of Health and Human Services—Office of the Secretary—Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund of title I of division B of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ( Public Law 116–139 ) is amended by striking and hospital laboratories each place it appears and inserting hospital, veterinary, and biotechnology company laboratories . (b) Direct reimbursement program for certain COVID–19 items and services (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the specified period, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subsection, referred to as the Secretary ) shall carry out a program that reimburses an eligible entity that furnishes an eligible item or service. (2) Use of funds In addition to the purposes specified in the second paragraph of Department of Health and Human Services—Office of the Secretary—Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund of title I of division B of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ( Public Law 116–139 ), an eligible entity may use funds to hire and train staff (including administrative staff or individuals who conduct testing for COVID–19). (3) Claims for reimbursement (A) Claims An eligible entity may only submit to the Secretary a claim for reimbursement of an eligible item or service furnished by such entity. (B) Reimbursement Upon receipt of a valid claim for reimbursement described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall reimburse an eligible entity an amount for an eligible item or service (as determined by the Secretary). (4) Prohibition of cost-sharing An eligible entity may not impose any cost-sharing for an eligible item or service. (c) Definitions In this Act: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) any laboratory that has not submitted a claim for reimbursement for an eligible item or service before the date of the enactment of this Act; and (B) any laboratory that is not a subsidiary of a laboratory that has submitted a claim for reimbursement for an eligible item or service before the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Eligible item or service The term eligible item or service is an item or service that is specified under title I of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ( Public Law 116–139 ). (3) Specified period The term specified period means the period— (A) beginning on the first day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) ); and (B) ending on the date that is the later of the— (i) the last day of the emergency period; or (ii) the day on which funds appropriated under the second paragraph of Department of Health and Human Services—Office of the Secretary—Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund of title I of division B of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act ( Public Law 116–139 ) are available.