In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine 
Support Act of 2017'' or the ``VETS Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. LICENSURE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS PROVIDING TREATMENT VIA TELEMEDICINE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1730A the following new section:
``Sec. 1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing 
              treatment via telemedicine
    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of law regarding 
the licensure of health care professionals, a covered health care 
professional may practice the health care profession of the health care 
professional at any location in any State, regardless of where the 
covered health care professional or the patient is located, if the 
covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide 
treatment to an individual under this chapter.
    ``(b) Property of Federal Government.--Subsection (a) shall apply 
to a covered health care professional providing treatment to a patient 
regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient 
is located in a facility owned by the Federal Government during such 
treatment.
    ``(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
remove, limit, or otherwise affect any obligation of a covered health 
care professional under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et 
seq.).
    ``(d) Covered Health Care Professional Defined.--In this section, 
the term `covered health care professional' means a health care 
professional who--
            ``(1) is an employee of the Department appointed under the 
        authority under sections 7306, 7401, 7405, 7406, or 7408 of 
        this title, or title 5;
            ``(2) is authorized by the Secretary to provide health care 
        under this chapter;
            ``(3) is required to adhere to all quality standards 
        relating to the provision of telemedicine in accordance with 
        applicable policies of the Department; and
            ``(4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted 
        license, registration, or certification in a State to practice 
        the health care profession of the health care professional.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1730A the following new item:

``1730B. Licensure of health care professionals providing treatment via 
                            telemedicine.''.
    (c) Report on Telemedicine.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the use of 
        telemedicine by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include an assessment of the following:
                    (A) The satisfaction of veterans with telemedicine 
                furnished by the Department.
                    (B) The satisfaction of health care providers in 
                providing telemedicine furnished by the Department.
                    (C) The effect of telemedicine furnished by the 
                Department on the following:
                            (i) The ability of veterans to access 
                        health care, whether from the Department or 
                        from non-Department health care providers.
                            (ii) The frequency of use by veterans of 
                        telemedicine.
                            (iii) The productivity of health care 
                        providers.
                            (iv) Wait times for an appointment for the 
                        receipt of health care from the Department.
                            (v) The reduction, if any, in the use by 
                        veterans of in-person services at Department 
                        facilities and non-Department facilities.
                    (D) The types of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                provided during the 1-year period preceding the 
                submittal of the report.
                    (E) The number of appointments for the receipt of 
                telemedicine furnished by the Department that were 
                requested during such period, disaggregated by Veterans 
                Integrated Service Network.
                    (F) Savings by the Department, if any, including 
                travel costs, of furnishing health care 


              

                through the use of telemedicine during such period.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 7, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output: .  Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 or the VETS Act of 2017  (Sec. 2) This bill allows a licensed health care professional of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to practice his or her profession using telemedicine at any location in any state regardless of where the professional or patient is located if the covered health care professional is using telemedicine to provide VA medical or health services.   Such authority shall apply to a covered health care professional regardless of whether the covered health care professional or patient is located in a federally-owned facility.   The bill defines &quot;covered health care professional&quot; as a health care professional who: (1) is a VA employee appointed under specified VA authorities or under the civil service; (2) is authorized by the VA to provide health care; (3) is required to adhere to all telemedicine quality standards; and (4) has an active, current, full, and unrestricted state license, registration, or certification for such health care profession. The VA shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the VA's use of telemedicine.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Welfare Integrity Now for Children 
and Families Act of 2012'' or the ``WIN for Children and Families 
Act''.

SEC. 2. SPENDING POLICIES FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER STATE TANF PROGRAMS.

    (a) State Requirement.--Section 408(a) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(12) State requirement to prevent unauthorized spending 
        of benefits.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A State to which a grant is made 
                under section 403 shall maintain policies and practices 
                as necessary to prevent assistance provided under the 
                State program funded under this part from being used in 
                any electronic benefit transfer transaction in--
                            ``(i) any liquor store;
                            ``(ii) any casino, gambling casino, or 
                        gaming establishment; or
                            ``(iii) any retail establishment which 
                        provides adult-oriented entertainment in which 
                        performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed 
                        state for entertainment.
                    ``(B) Definitions.--For purposes of subparagraph 
                (A)--
                            ``(i) Liquor store.--The term `liquor 
                        store' means any retail establishment which 
                        sells exclusively or primarily intoxicating 
                        liquor. Such term does not include a grocery 
                        store which sells both intoxicating liquor and 
                        groceries including staple foods (within the 
                        meaning of section 3(r) of the Food and 
                        Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(r))).
                            ``(ii) Casino, gambling casino, or gaming 
                        establishment.--The terms `casino', `gambling 
                        casino', and `gaming establishment' do not 
                        include a grocery store which sells groceries 
                        including such staple foods and which also 
                        offers, or is located within the same building 
                        or complex as, casino, gambling, or gaming 
                        activities.
                            ``(iii) Electronic benefit transfer 
                        transaction.--The term `electronic benefit 
                        transfer transaction' means the use of a credit 
                        or debit card service, automated teller 
                        machine, point-of-sale terminal, or access to 
                        an online system for the withdrawal of funds or 
                        the processing of a payment for merchandise or 
                        a service.''.
    (b) Penalty.--Section 409(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
609(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(16) Penalty for failure to enforce spending policies.--
                    ``(A) In general.--If, within 2 years after the 
                date of the enactment of the WIN for Children and 
                Families Act, any State has not reported to the 
                Secretary on such State's implementation of the 
                policies and practices required by section 408(a)(12), 
                or the Secretary determines, based on the information 
                provided in State reports, that any State has not 
                implemented and maintained such policies and practices, 
                the Secretary shall reduce, by an amount equal to 5 
                percent of the State family assistance grant, the grant 
                payable to such State under section 403(a)(1) for--
                            ``(i) the fiscal year immediately 
                        succeeding the year in which such 2-year period 
                        ends; and
                            ``(ii) each succeeding fiscal year in which 
                        the State does not demonstrate that such State 
                        has implemented and maintained such policies 
                        and practices.
                    ``(B) Reduction of applicable penalty.--The 
                Secretary may reduce the amount of the reduction 
                required under subparagraph (A) based on the degree of 
                noncompliance of the State.
                    ``(C) State not responsible for individual 
                violations.--Fraudulent activity by any individual in 
                an attempt to circumvent the policies and practices 
                required by section 408(a)(12) shall not trigger a 
                State penalty under subparagraph (A).''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 409(c)(4) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 609(c)(4)) is amended by striking ``or (13)'' and 
inserting ``(13), or (16)''.

            Passed the House of Representatives February 1, 2012.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Output: Welfare Integrity Now for Children and Families Act of 2012 or WIN for Children and Families Act - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require a state to which a state family assistance grant is made to maintain policies and practices necessary to prevent the use of state TANF assistance in any electronic benefit transfer transaction in a liquor store, casino or gambling establishment, or strip club.

Defines "electronic benefit transfer transaction" as the use of a credit or debit card service, automated teller machine (ATM), point-of-sale terminal, or access to an online system for the withdrawal of funds or the processing of a payment for merchandise or a service.

Establishes administrative penalties for states which have not reported on their implementation of or enforced such policies and practices.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Link Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICARE LINK PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Title XVIII of the Social Security Act is amended 
by adding after section 1899A (42 U.S.C. 1395kkk) the following new 
section:

                     ``medicare link program option

    ``Sec. 1899B.  (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish under 
this section a program (to be known as the `Medicare Link Program' and 
in this section referred to as the `Program') through which individuals 
who are entitled to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan under part C 
but who are not enrolled in such a plan under such part are eligible to 
enroll with a Medicare Link contractor under this section.
    ``(b) Enrollment; Disenrollment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
process for the enrollment (and disenrollment) of eligible individuals 
with Medicare Link contractors under the Program which process shall 
be, to the maximum extent practicable, the same as (and coordinated 
with) the process for enrollment (and disenrollment) of individuals in 
Medicare Advantage plans under part C.
    ``(c) Qualification of Contractors; Awarding of Contracts.--
            ``(1) In general.--In this section, the term `Medicare Link 
        contractor' means a nongovernmental entity, that may be a 
        Medicare Advantage organization, health plan, health insurance 
        issuer, medicare administrative contractor, or other qualified 
        third-party entity, that has entered into a contract with the 
        Secretary with respect to one or more Medicare Link regions (as 
        specified by the Secretary under paragraph (3)) for the 
        offering of Medicare Link services (described in subsection 
        (d)) to individuals residing in the region who enroll with the 
        contractor under the Program.
            ``(2) Limitation; requirements.--For each such Medicare 
        Link region, the Secretary shall select (and contract with) at 
        least 1, and not more than 3, Medicare Link contractors for the 
        offering of plans (in this section referred to as `Medicare 
        Link plans') under this section. The Secretary shall seek to 
        contract with at least 2 Medicare Link contractors within each 
        Medicare Link region. A contract with a Medicare Link 
        contractor may cover a multi-year period.
            ``(3) Specification of medicare link regions.--The 
        Secretary shall define and specify Medicare Link regions (each 
        in this section referred to as a `Medicare Link region') that, 
        across all such regions, encompass all 50 States, the District 
        of Columbia, and the territories.
            ``(4) Qualification of contractors.--The Secretary shall 
        establish uniform qualifications for Medicare Link contractors 
        based on their experience and qualifications to offer Medicare 
        Link plans under this section and to provide additional 
        services to individuals enrolled under such plans under this 
        section and to provide for reduced expenditures under parts A 
        and B. Contracts with Medicare Link contractors under this 
        section shall be for periods similar to the contracts with MA 
        organizations under part C and shall contain such terms and 
        conditions as the Secretary shall specify.
            ``(5) Contracting authority.--Nothing in this section shall 
        be construed as preventing a Medicare Link contractor from 
        contracting with other entities in carrying out activities 
        under this section, including the offering of Medicare Link 
        plans under this section.
            ``(6) Bidding process.--In selecting Medicare Link 
        contractors, the Secretary shall establish a bidding process 
        similar to the process of bidding by medicare administrative 
        contractors under section 1874A.
            ``(7) Contractor payments.--Medicare Link contractors with 
        contracts under this section shall be paid, on a monthly basis, 
        a per enrollee monthly service fee for the provision of 
        services under the contract consistent with the provisions of 
        paragraph (8). A portion of such fee (not to exceed 5 percent) 
        may be subject to adjustment based on a contractor's 
        performance on financial and quality benchmarks based upon pre-
        established measures specified by the Secretary.
            ``(8) Requirement for federal savings under contract.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Before entering into or renewing 
                a contract with a Medicare Link contractor, the 
                Secretary must determine (and the Chief Actuary of the 
                Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must certify) 
                that the terms of the contract are expected to yield 
                average, net savings to the Medicare program under this 
                title of not less than 5 percent per program enrollee 
                in the Medicare Link region covered under the contract.
                    ``(B) Computation.--Such savings shall be computed 
                taking into account all effects on spending under this 
                title, including any reductions in premiums and cost 
                sharing or other incentives for enrollees under 
                subsection (d), payments to Medicare Link contractors 
                under the contract, and reductions in payments to 
                medicare administrative contractors that would 
                otherwise have been made under section 1874A.
                    ``(C) Payments based on shared savings, adjusted 
                for quality.--The contract shall be structured in a 
                manner so that--
                            ``(i) subject to clause (ii), the payments 
                        to the contractor under paragraph (7) are 
                        computed to represent a proportion (as 
                        specified in the contract) of the net savings 
                        in excess of the minimum savings required under 
                        subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(ii) such proportion may be increased 
                        under the contract based on a contractor's 
                        performance on quality benchmarks, based upon 
                        pre-established measures specified by the 
                        Secretary.
                    ``(D) Guaranteed federal savings.--If the Secretary 
                determines that a Medicare Link contractor, after a 
                period of three consecutive years, does not maintain an 
                average net savings to the Medicare program of at least 
                5 percent per program enrollee as required under 
                subparagraph (A), the Medicare Link contractor shall 
                remit to the Secretary a sum specified by the Secretary 
                and related to the amount of the shortfall.
            ``(9) Savings validation audit.--The Secretary shall 
        provide for the annual auditing of the financial records 
        (including data relating to Medicare utilization and costs) of 
        organizations offering Medicare Link plans under this section
            ``(10) GAO audit.--Every 3 years the Comptroller General of 
        the United States shall conduct an audit of the Medicare Link 
        program costs and program savings. Such report shall be 
        submitted to the committees of the House of Representatives and 
        of the Senate with jurisdiction over Medicare.
    ``(d) Services Under a Medicare Link Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each Medicare Link plan offered under 
        this section--
                    ``(A) shall provide for care management services 
                (described in paragraph (2)) and predictive modeling 
                and risk prioritization (described in paragraph (3)) 
                for individuals enrolled under the plan consistent with 
                this subsection;
                    ``(B) shall carry out the functions of medicare 
                administrative contractors described in paragraph 
                1874A(a)(4);
                    ``(C) shall provide a reduction or rebate in the 
                premium otherwise applicable under part B (as 
                determined without regard to section 1839(i)) to 
                individuals so enrolled; and
                    ``(D) may provide for a reduction in cost-sharing 
                otherwise applicable to such individuals who use 
                providers within a plan network.
            ``(2) Care management services.--
                    ``(A) Required.--The required care management 
                services shall include clinical interventions to help 
                coordinate care.
                    ``(B) Optional.--Optional care management services 
                may include interventions such as the following:
                            ``(i) Prevention and wellness.
                            ``(ii) Transitional and case management and 
                        other clinical programs.
                            ``(iii) Chronic disease management.
                            ``(iv) Advanced illness care initiatives.
                            ``(v) Diabetes prevention programs.
                            ``(vi) Transitional case management, for 
                        individuals discharged from a hospital or other 
                        health care institution.
                            ``(vii) Nurse practitioner-led 
                        interventions (consistent with restrictions 
                        under applicable State law).
                            ``(viii) Post-acute transition programs.
                            ``(ix) High-risk case management.
                            ``(x) Home-based primary care.
                            ``(xi) Advanced illness transitional care.
                            ``(xii) Operation of clinical management 
                        programs.
                            ``(xiii) Management and development of 
                        provider networks.
                            ``(xiv) Consumer engagement with decision 
                        support.
            ``(3) Predictive modeling and risk prioritization.--The 
        predictive modeling and risk prioritization services described 
        in this paragraph shall include the following:
                    ``(A) Predictive modeling and high risk 
                identification.--The use of claims data and trend data 
                to predict which enrollees could benefit from the 
                application of a clinical intervention or which might 
                be high risk and in need of a care plan.
                    ``(B) Prioritization of interventions.--Programs to 
                identify, prioritize, and personalize care 
                opportunities through a comprehensive profile of each 
                enrollee.
            ``(4) Optional incentives and enrollee empowerment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A Medicare Link contractor may 
                use appropriate incentives to manage overall care for 
                enrollees. The Secretary shall establish terms and 
                conditions under which a Medicare Link contractor may 
                elect to use optional incentives for its members.
                    ``(B) Types of incentives.--The types of incentives 
                that may be used include the following:
                            ``(i) Healthy rewards.--Premium rebates and 
                        other incentives approved by the Secretary for 
                        enrollees to make healthier choices and 
                        actively engage in their health care.
                            ``(ii) Member incentives to use quality 
                        network providers.--Reductions in beneficiary 
                        cost-sharing (and other incentives approved by 
                        the Secretary) for enrollees who use providers 
                        (which may be accountable care organizations) 
                        within a plan network in order to reward 
                        quality, efficient care.
                            ``(iii) Cost estimator tools.--Providing 
                        beneficiaries with tools designed to help them 
                        simplify the evaluation of health care costs 
                        through cost estimates for different treatment 
                        options.
            ``(5) Application of ma grievance and appeals procedures.--
        In accordance with regulations, the provisions of part C 
        insofar as they apply to grievances and appeals, shall apply to 
        Medicare Link plans and enrollees under this section in a 
        manner similar to how such provisions apply to MA plans under 
        such part.
    ``(e) Maintenance of Current Benefits; Contractor Not at Financial 
Risk for Original Fee-for-Service Benefits.--
            ``(1) No change in medicare covered items and services or 
        limitation on supplemental plans.--Medicare Link plans shall 
        provide for coverage of the same items and services that are 
        covered under parts A and B. Nothing in this section shall be 
        construed as preventing an individual enrolled under a Medicare 
        Link plan from purchasing a medicare supplemental policy 
        (described in section 1881) or other supplemental coverage 
        outside of a Medicare Link plan.
            ``(2) No change in payments to providers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
                nothing in this section shall be construed as 
                authorizing a payment level to a provider of services 
                or supplier for Medicare covered services that is other 
                than the payment level otherwise applicable under part 
                A or B for such services.
                    ``(B) Negotiation of rates permitted.--A Medicare 
                Link contractor may negotiate with providers of 
                services and suppliers payment rates that are less or 
                greater than the payment rates referred to in 
                subparagraph (A).
            ``(3) Contractor not at financial risk.--A Medicare Link 
        contractor shall not be at financial risk with respect to the 
        coverage or payment for Medicare services covered under parts A 
        and B. But the Secretary may provide financial incentives for 
        contractors that are able to reduce Medicare expenditures for 
        such services below benchmark levels (specified by the 
        Secretary) that reasonably represent the levels of payments 
        that would be made (with respect to individuals enrolled under 
        a Medicare Link plan) if such individuals were not so 
        enrolled.''.


Output: Medicare Link Act of 2013 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a Medicare Link Program through which individuals entitled to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice), but who are not enrolled in one, are eligible to enroll with a nongovernmental Medicare Link contractor which shall provide: (1) a specified variety of optional care management services as well as coverage of the same items and services covered under Medicare parts A and B, and (2) a reduction or rebate in the premium otherwise applicable under Medicare part B as well as in cost-sharing.