instruction:
In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
question:
SECTION 1. REPORTING OF BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS BY PERSONS OTHER THAN 
              REGISTERED LOBBYISTS.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (i) of section 304 of the Federal 
Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 434(i)), as added by the Honest 
Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``reasonably known by the 
        committee to be a person described in paragraph (7)'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``means, with respect to 
        a committee'' and all that follows through ``threshold.'' and 
        inserting the following: ``means--
                    ``(A) with respect to a committee which is an 
                authorized committee of a candidate for the office of 
                President or for nomination to such office--
                            ``(i) the 2-year period preceding the date 
                        of the election for the office of the 
                        President; and
                            ``(ii) any reporting period applicable to 
                        the committee under this section during which 
                        any person provided 2 or more bundled 
                        contributions to the committee in an aggregate 
                        amount greater than the applicable threshold; 
                        and
                    ``(B) with respect to any other committee--
                            ``(i) the period beginning January 1 and 
                        ending June 30 of each year;
                            ``(ii) the period beginning July 1 and 
                        ending December 31 of each year; and
                            ``(iii) any reporting period applicable to 
                        the committee under this section during which 
                        any person provided 2 or more bundled 
                        contributions to the committee in an aggregate 
                        amount greater than the applicable 
                        threshold.'';
            (3) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(A) In general.--In this subsection, the 
                `applicable threshold' is--
                            ``(i) $50,000 in the case of a committee 
                        which is an authorized committee of a candidate 
                        for the office of President or for nomination 
                        to such office; and
                            ``(ii) $15,000 in the case of any other 
                        committee.
                In determining whether the amount of bundled 
                contributions provided to a committee by a person 
                exceeds the applicable threshold, there shall be 
                excluded any contribution made to the committee by the 
                person or the person's spouse.''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the amount'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``each amount'';
            (4) in paragraph (5), by striking ``described in paragraph 
        (7)'' each place it appears in subparagraphs (C) and (D);
            (5) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
            ``(7) Separate reporting for certain persons.--Each 
        committee required to include a schedule under paragraph (1) 
        shall also include a separate schedule setting forth the name, 
        address, and employer of each person listed on the schedule 
        required under paragraph (1) who, at the time a contribution is 
        forwarded to a committee as described in paragraph (8)(A)(i) or 
        is received by a committee as described in paragraph 
        (8)(A)(ii), is--
                    ``(A) a current registrant under section 4(a) of 
                the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995;
                    ``(B) an individual who is listed on a current 
                registration filed under section 4(b)(6) of such Act or 
                a current report under section 5(b)(2)(C) of such Act; 
                or
                    ``(C) a political committee established or 
                controlled by such a registrant or individual.
        The schedule required under the preceding sentence shall also 
        include the aggregate amount of bundled contributions provided 
        by each such person during the covered period.''; and
            (6) in paragraph (8)(A)--
                    (A) by striking ``and a person described in 
                paragraph (7)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following flush 
                sentence:
                ``The term `bundled contribution' shall not include any 
                contribution forwarded by or credited to (through 
                records, designations, or other means of recognizing a 
                certain amount of money has been raised) a person who 
                is a regularly paid employee of the committee.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect as if included in section 204 of the Honest Leadership and Open 
Government Act of 2007.
answer:
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended by the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, to revise requirements for disclosure of bundled contributions, particularly by an authorized committee of a candidate for the office of President or for nomination to such office (presidential candidate committee).

Applies such reporting requirements to bundled contributions by persons other than registered lobbyists. Requires reporting of lobbyist contributions on a separate schedule.

Sets the covered period for such reports as the two-year period preceding a presidential election, as well as any applicable reporting period during which any person provided two or more bundled contributions in an aggregate amount greater than the specified applicable amount.

Increases the applicable threshold triggering such reporting requirement from $15,000 (currently applicable to any authorized committee of a candidate, a leadership PAC, or a political party committee) to $50,000 in the case of a presidential candidate committee.

Excludes from the calculation of a bundled contribution any contribution by the candidate or the candidate's spouse.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Energy and Water Research 
Integration Act''.

SEC. 2. ENERGY AND WATER RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall assess each of the 
energy research, development, and demonstration programs and projects 
of the Department of Energy and identify those programs and projects 
into which it is appropriate to integrate water considerations. In 
carrying out this section the Secretary shall, as appropriate--
            (1) seek to advance energy and energy efficiency 
        technologies and practices that would--
                    (A) minimize freshwater withdrawal and consumption;
                    (B) increase water use efficiency; and
                    (C) utilize nontraditional water sources with 
                efforts to improve the quality of that water;
            (2) consider the effects climate variability and change may 
        have on water supplies and quality for energy generation and 
        fuel production; and
            (3) improve understanding of the energy required to provide 
        water supplies and the water required to provide reliable 
        energy supplies throughout the United States.
    (b) Strategic Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall develop a 
        Strategic Plan (in this section referred to as the ``Strategic 
        Plan'') outlining the research, development, and demonstration 
        needs for the programs and projects identified under subsection 
        (a), in accordance with subsections (a) through (c) of this 
        section, as appropriate.
            (2) Milestones and specific considerations.--In carrying 
        out the development and updating of the Strategic Plan in 
        accordance with this subsection, the Secretary shall evaluate 
        and, as appropriate, establish technical milestones for--
                    (A) new advanced cooling technologies for energy 
                generation and fuel production technologies;
                    (B) performance improvement of existing cooling 
                technologies and cost reductions associated with using 
                those technologies;
                    (C) innovative water reuse, recovery, and treatment 
                in energy generation and fuel production;
                    (D) technology development for carbon capture and 
                storage systems that utilize efficient water use design 
                strategies;
                    (E) technologies that are life-cycle cost 
                effective;
                    (F) systems analysis and modeling of issues 
                relating to the energy required to provide water 
                supplies and the water required to provide reliable 
                energy supplies throughout the United States;
                    (G) technologies to treat and utilize produced 
                waters discharged from oil, natural gas, coalbed 
                methane, and mining activities;
                    (H) advanced materials for the use of 
                nontraditional water sources for energy generation and 
                fuel production;
                    (I) biomass production and utilization and the 
                impact on hydrologic systems;
                    (J) technologies that reduce impacts on water from 
                energy resource development;
                    (K) increases in energy efficiency of water 
                distribution and collection systems;
                    (L) technologies for energy generation from water 
                distribution and collection systems; and
                    (M) any other area of the energy-water nexus that 
                the Secretary considers appropriate.
            (3) Interagency collaboration and nonduplication.--In 
        carrying out the development and updating of the Strategic Plan 
        in accordance with this subsection, the Secretary shall, where 
        appropriate, work collaboratively with other Federal agencies 
        operating related programs and avoid duplication.
            (4) Intra-agency coordination and nonduplication.--In 
        carrying out the development and updating of the Strategic Plan 
        in accordance with this subsection, the Secretary shall 
        coordinate and avoid duplication of activities across programs 
        and projects of the Department of Energy, including with those 
        of the National laboratories.
            (5) Relevant information and recommendations.--In carrying 
        out the development and updating of the Strategic Plan in 
        accordance with this subsection, the Secretary shall consider 
        and incorporate, as appropriate, relevant information and 
        recommendations, including those of the National Water 
        Availability and Use Assessment Program under section 9508(d) 
        of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 
        10368(d)).
            (6) Nongovernmental participation.--In carrying out the 
        development and updating of the Strategic Plan in accordance 
        with this subsection, the Secretary shall consult and 
        coordinate with a diverse group of representatives from 
        research and academic institutions and industry who have 
        expertise in technologies and practices relating to the energy 
        required to provide water supplies and the water required to 
        provide reliable energy supplies throughout the United States.
            (7) Submission to congress.--Not later than 9 months after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
        to Congress the Strategic Plan.
            (8) Updating the strategic plan.--Not later than 3 years 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
        utilize relevant information produced by Federal Government 
        agencies, academia, and industry to update the Strategic Plan, 
        and submit a report to Congress describing the changes from the 
        initial Strategic Plan.
    (c) Implementation.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Energy shall implement 
        the Strategic Plan, as appropriate, in carrying out energy 
        research, development, and demonstration programs of the 
        Department of Energy.
            (2) Application to projects.--Not later than 3 months after 
        the submission of the report to Congress in subsection (b)(7)), 
        the Secretary shall as appropriate apply the Strategic Plan to 
        projects--
                    (A) identified as the most energy and water 
                intensive; and
                    (B) with the most potential to achieve the purposes 
                of this section.
            (3) Delay or disruption.--In carrying out this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall ensure that no program or project of the 
        Department is unnecessarily delayed or disrupted.
    (d) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and at least once every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary 
shall transmit to Congress a report on its findings and activities 
under this section.
    (e) Additional Activities.--The Secretary may provide for such 
additional research, development, and demonstration activities as may 
be appropriate to integrate water considerations into the research, 
development, and demonstration activities of the Department as 
described in subsection (a).
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for carrying out this section 
$60,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

SEC. 3. ENERGY-WATER ARCHITECTURE COUNCIL.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy, in coordination with 
other relevant Federal agencies, shall establish an Energy-Water 
Architecture Council to promote and enable improved energy and water 
resource data collection, reporting, and technological innovation. The 
Council shall consist of--
            (1) representation from each Federal agency that conducts 
        research related to energy and water resource data; and
            (2) non-Federal members, including representatives of 
        research and academic institutions and industry, who have 
        expertise in technologies and practices relating to the energy 
        required to provide water supplies and the water required to 
        provide reliable energy supplies throughout the United States.
    (b) Functions.--The Council shall--
            (1) make recommendations on the development of data 
        collection and data communication standards and protocols to 
        agencies and entities currently engaged in collecting the data 
        for the energy required to provide water supplies and the water 
        required to provide reliable energy supplies throughout the 
        United States;
            (2) recommend ways to make improvements to Federal water 
        use data to increase understanding of trends in energy 
        generation and fuel production;
            (3) recommend best practices for utilizing information from 
        existing monitoring networks to provide nationally uniform 
        water and energy use and infrastructure data; and
            (4) conduct annual technical workshops, including at least 
        one regional workshop annually, to facilitate information 
        exchange among Federal, State, and private sector experts on 
        technologies that encourage the conservation and efficient use 
        of water and energy.
    (c) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and at least once every 2 years thereafter, the Council, 
through the Secretary of Energy, shall transmit to the Congress a 
report on its findings and activities under this section.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for carrying out this section 
$5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to allow the establishment 
of regulations by the Federal Government that would infringe or impair 
the use of water by State, tribal, or local governments.

SEC. 5. MANDATES.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require State, tribal, or 
local governments to take any action that may result in an increased 
financial burden to such governments by restricting the use of water by 
such governments.

SEC. 6. COORDINATION AND NONDUPLICATION.

    To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary of Energy shall 
coordinate activities under this Act with other programs of the 
Department of Energy and other Federal research programs.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 1, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.
answer:
Energy and Water Research Integration Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Energy to identify each of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) energy research, development, and demonstration programs and projects into which it is appropriate to integrate water considerations. Requires the Secretary to: (1) seek to advance energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices that would minimize freshwater withdrawal and consumption, increase water use efficiency, and utilize nontraditional water sources with efforts to improve water quality; and (2) consider the effects climate variability and change may have on water supplies and quality for energy generation and fuel production; and (3) improve understanding of the energy required to provide water supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy supplies throughout the United States.

Requires the Secretary to develop, submit to Congress within nine months, and update every three years a Strategic Plan outlining the research, development, and demonstration needs of such programs and projects. Requires the Secretary to evaluate and establish technical milestones for: (1) new advanced cooling technologies for energy generation and fuel production technologies; (2) performance improvement and cost reductions of cooling technologies; (3) innovative water reuse, recovery, and treatment in energy generation and fuel production; (4) technology development for carbon capture and storage systems that utilize efficient water use design strategies; (5) technologies that are life-cycle cost effective; (6) systems analysis and modeling of issues relating to the energy required to provide water supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy supplies; (7) technologies to treat and utilize produced waters discharged from oil, natural gas, coal-bed methane, and mining activities; (8) advanced materials for the use of nontraditional water sources for energy generation and fuel production; (9) biomass production and utilization and the impact on hydrologic systems; (10) technologies that reduce impacts on water from energy resource development; (11) increases in energy efficiency of water distribution and collection systems; and (12) technologies for energy generation from such systems.

 Requires the Secretary to: (1) implement the Strategic Plan in carrying out DOE energy research, development, and demonstration programs; and (2) report to Congress every two years on findings and activities under this Act. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to establish an Energy-Water Architecture Council to promote and enable improved energy and water resource data collection, reporting, and technological innovation. Requires the Council to: (1) make recommendations on the development of data collection and communication standards and protocols to entities engaged in collecting data for the energy required to provide water supplies and the water required to provide reliable energy supplies throughout the United States; (2) recommend ways to make improvements to federal water use data to increase understanding of trends in energy generation and fuel production; (3) recommend best practices for utilizing information from monitoring networks to provide nationally uniform water and energy use and infrastructure data; and (4) conduct annual technical workshops to facilitate information exchange among federal, state, and private sector experts on technologies that encourage the conservation and efficient use of water and energy.

(Sec. 4) Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) allow the establishment of regulations by the federal government that would infringe or impair the use of water by state, tribal, or local governments; and (2) require state, tribal, or local governments to take any action that may result in an increased financial burden by restricting their water use.

(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary to coordinate activities under this Act with other DOE programs and other federal research programs.


question:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medical Error Reduction Act of 
2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The United States has the finest health care system in 
        the world. However, there is continuing concern and fear among 
        the public about the safety of the nation's health care system 
        as a result of a high occurrence of medical mistakes--the fifth 
        leading cause of death.
            (2) One national study estimates that more than 100,000,000 
        Americans have experience with medical errors and 1 out 3 cases 
        caused permanent harm, with half of the errors occurring in 
        hospitals.
            (3) Three of the top patient-safety issues were exposure to 
        infection, level of care received, and the credentials of 
        health care professionals.
            (4) A recent large-scale study indicates that at least 
        44,000 Americans may die each year as a result of medical 
        error. Another study suggests that this number may be as high 
        as 98,000 Americans.
            (5) When using the lower estimate in paragraph (4), deaths 
        due to medical errors still exceed the number of deaths 
        attributable to motor vehicle accidents (43,458), breast cancer 
        (42,297), or AIDS (16,516).
            (6) Deaths from adverse drug events total more than 7,000 
        annually--exceeding the number of yearly workplace injuries 
        (6,000).
            (7) The total national cost of preventable medical errors 
        resulting in injury is estimated to be between $17,000,000,000 
        and $29,000,000,000, from direct medical costs, lost 
        productivity, and disability.
            (8) One recent study found that about 2 out of every 100 
        admissions involves a preventable adverse drug event. If these 
        findings are generalized, these adverse drug events affecting 
        inpatients cost $2,000,000,000 nationally.
            (9) Medical errors are costly in terms of repeat tests and 
        medical countermeasures, which also are subject to compounding 
        errors. Purchasers and patients pay for errors when insurance 
        costs and co-payments are inflated by services that would not 
        have been necessary had proper care been provided.
            (10) Errors also erode trust in the health care system by 
        patients who experience longer hospital stays or disabilities 
        and physical and psychological discomfort. Health care 
        professionals pay for errors with loss of morale and 
        frustration at not being able to provide the best care 
        possible.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to ensure that 
individuals enjoy the right to be free from accidental injury, 
accidental death, and medication-related errors, including medication-
related errors.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.

    Title IX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299 et seq.) 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating part C as part D;
            (2) by redesignating sections 921 through 928, as sections 
        931 through 938, respectively;
            (3) in section 938(1) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``921'' and inserting ``931''; and
            (4) by inserting after part B the following:

                ``PART C--REDUCING ERRORS IN HEALTH CARE

``SEC. 921. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this part:
            ``(1) Adverse event.--The term `adverse event' means an 
        injury resulting from medical management rather than the 
        underlying condition of the patient.
            ``(2) Error.--The term `error' means the failure of a 
        planned action to be completed as intended or the use of a 
        wrong plan to achieve the desired outcome.
            ``(3) Health care provider.--The term `health care 
        provider' means an individual or entity that provides medical 
        services and is a participant in a demonstration program under 
        this part.
            ``(4) Health care-related error.--The term ``health care-
        related error'' means a preventable adverse event related to a 
        health care intervention or a failure to intervene 
        appropriately.
            ``(5) Medication-related error.--The term `medication-
        related error' means a preventable adverse event related to the 
        administration of a medication.
            ``(6) Safety.--The term `safety' with respect to an 
        individual means that such individual has a right to be free 
        from preventable serious injury.
            ``(7) Sentinel event.--The term `sentinel event' means an 
        unexpected occurrence involving an individual that results in 
        death or serious physical injury that is unrelated to the 
        natural course of the individual's illness or underlying 
        condition.

``SEC. 922. ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE-BASED MEDICAL ERROR REPORTING 
              SYSTEMS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants available to 
States to enable such States to establish reporting systems designed to 
reduce medical errors and improve health care quality.
    ``(b) Requirement.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        subsection (a), the State involved shall provide assurances to 
        the Secretary that amounts received under the grant will be 
        used to establish and implement a medical error reporting 
system using guidelines (including guidelines relating to the 
confidentiality of the reporting system) developed by the Agency for 
Healthcare Research and Quality with input from interested, non-
governmental parties including patient, consumer and health care 
provider groups.
            ``(2) Guidelines.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this part, the Agency for Healthcare Research and 
        Quality shall develop and publish the guidelines described in 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Data.--
            ``(1) Availability.--A State that receives a grant under 
        subsection (a) shall make the data provided to the medical 
        error reporting system involved available only to the Agency 
        for Healthcare Research and Quality and may not otherwise 
        disclose such information.
            ``(2) Confidentiality.--Nothing in this part shall be 
        construed to supersede any State law that is inconsistent with 
        this part.
    ``(d) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, 
a State shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
such time, in such manner and containing, such information as the 
Secretary shall require.

``SEC. 923. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS TO REDUCE MEDICAL ERRORS, IMPROVE 
              PATIENT SAFETY, AND EVALUATE REPORTING.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of 
the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and in conjunction with 
the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, may 
establish a program under which funding will be provided for not less 
than 15 demonstration projects, to be competitively awarded, in health 
care facilities and organizations in geographically diverse locations, 
including rural and urban areas (as determined by the Secretary), to 
determine the causes of medical errors and to--
            ``(1) use technology, staff training, and other methods to 
        reduce such errors;
            ``(2) develop replicable models that minimize the frequency 
        and severity of medical errors;
            ``(3) develop mechanisms that encourage reporting, prompt 
        review, and corrective action with respect to medical errors; 
        and
            ``(4) develop methods to minimize any additional paperwork 
        burden on health care professionals.
    ``(b) Activities.--
            ``(1) In general.--A health care provider participating in 
        a demonstration project under subsection (a) shall--
                    ``(A) utilize all available and appropriate 
                technologies to reduce the probability of future 
                medical errors; and
                    ``(B) carry out other activities consistent with 
                subsection (a).
            ``(2) Reporting to patients.--In carrying out this section, 
        the Secretary shall ensure that--
                    ``(A) 5 of the demonstration projects permit the 
                voluntary reporting by participating health care 
                providers of any adverse events, sentinel events, 
                health care-related errors, or medication-related 
                errors to the Secretary;
                    ``(B) 5 of the demonstration projects require 
                participating health care providers to report any 
                adverse events, sentinel events, health care-related 
                errors, or medication-related errors to the Secretary; 
                and
                    ``(C) 5 of the demonstration projects require 
                participating health care providers to report any 
                adverse events, sentinel events, health care-related 
                errors, or medication-related errors to the Secretary 
                and to the patient involved and a family member or 
                guardian of the patient.
            ``(3) Confidentiality.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary and the 
                participating grantee organization shall ensure that 
                information reported under this section remains 
                confidential.
                    ``(B) Use.--The Secretary may use the information 
                reported under this section only for the purpose of 
                evaluating the ability to reduce errors in the delivery 
                of care. Such information shall not be used for 
                enforcement purposes.
                    ``(C) Disclosure.--The Secretary may not disclose 
                the information reported under this section.
                    ``(D) Nonadmissibility.--Information reported under 
                this section shall be privileged, confidential, shall 
                not be admissible as evidence or discoverable in any 
                civil or criminal action or proceeding or subject to 
                disclosure, and shall not be subject to the Freedom of 
                Information Act (5 U.S.C. App). This paragraph shall 
                apply to all information maintained by the reporting 
                entity and the entities who receive such reports.
    ``(c) Use of Technologies.--The Secretary shall encourage, as part 
of the demonstration projects conducted under subsection (a), the use 
of appropriate technologies to reduce medical errors, such as hand-held 
electronic prescription pads, training simulators for medical 
education, and bar-coding of prescription drugs and patient bracelets.
    ``(d) Database.--The Secretary shall provide for the establishment 
and operation of a national database of medical errors to be used as 
provided for by the Secretary. The information provided to the 
Secretary under subsection (b)(2) shall be contained in the database.
    ``(e) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall evaluate the progress of 
each demonstration project established under this section in reducing 
the incidence of medical errors and submit the results of such 
evaluations as part of the reports under section 926(b).
    ``(f) Reporting.--Prior to October 1, of the third fiscal year for 
which funds are made available under this section, the Secretary shall 
prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress an interim 
report concerning the results of such demonstration projects.

``SEC. 924. PATIENT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide information to 
educate patients and family members about their role in reducing 
medical errors. Such information shall be provided to all individuals 
who participate in Federally-funded health care programs.
    ``(b) Development of Programs.--The Secretary shall develop 
programs that encourage patients to take a more active role in their 
medical treatment, including encouraging patients to provide 
information to health care providers concerning pre-existing conditions 
and medications.

``SEC. 925. PRIVATE, NONPROFIT EFFORTS TO REDUCE MEDICAL ERRORS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants to health 
professional associations and other organizations to provide training 
in ways to reduce medical errors, including curriculum development, 
technology training, and continuing medical education.
    ``(b) Application.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, 
an entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
such time, in such manner and containing, such information as the 
Secretary shall require.

``SEC. 926. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    ``(a) Initial Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this part, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the costs 
associated with implementing a program that identifies factors that 
contribute to errors and which includes upgrading the health care 
computer systems and other technologies in the United States in order 
to reduce medical errors, including computerizing hospital systems for 
the coordination of prescription drugs and handling of laboratory 
specimens, and contains recommendation on ways in which to reduce those 
factors.
    ``(b) Other Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the completion 
of all demonstration projects under section 923, the Secretary shall 
prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
concerning--
            ``(1) how successful each demonstration project was in 
        reducing medical errors;
            ``(2) the data submitted by States under section 922(c);
            ``(3) the best methods for reducing medical errors;
            ``(4) the costs associated with applying such best methods 
        on a nationwide basis; and
            ``(5) the manner in which other Federal agencies can share 
        information on best practices in order to reduce medical errors 
        in all Federal health care programs.

``SEC. 927. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this part.''.
answer:

Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency, to establish a program under which funding will be provided for at least 15 demonstration projects to be competitively awarded in health care facilities and organizations in geographically diverse locations to determine the causes of medical errors and develop specified methods to reduce, minimize, and provide for reporting and corrective action of, such errors. Provides that at least five of such projects shall require participating health care providers to report adverse events and health- or medication-related errors to the patient and patient's family member. Permits the use of reported information only for purposes of evaluating the ability to reduce errors in delivery of care. Subjects such information to confidentiality requirements and makes it inadmissible as evidence in any civil or criminal action. Prohibits disclosure of such information under the Freedom of Information Act as well.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for establishment of a national database of medical errors to contain information collected under this Act; (2) provide information to educate patients and family members about their role in reducing medical errors; (3) develop programs that encourage patients to take a more active role in their medical treatment; and (4) make grants to health professional associations and other organizations to provide training in ways to reduce medical errors.
Requires the Secretary to report to appropriate congressional committees on: (1) costs associated with implementing a program that identifies factors that contribute to errors and which includes upgrading the heath care computer systems and other technologies in the United States to reduce medical errors; and (2) the success of each demonstration project, data collected by States, best methods for reducing medical errors and costs associated with applying such methods, and sharing information on best practices to reduce such errors in Federal health care programs.
Authorizes appropriations.