zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 2009 - Establishes the United States Bipartisan Commission on Access to Emergency Medical Services to: (1) identify and examine factors in the health care delivery, financing, and legal systems that affect the effective delivery of screening and stabilization services furnished in hospitals that have emergency departments pursuant to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA); and (2) make specific recommendations to Congress with respect to federal programs, policies, and financing needed to assure the availability of such screening and stabilization services and the coordination of state, local, and federal programs for responding to disasters and emergencies. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for additional payments for certain physicians' emergency services furnished pursuant to EMTALA. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to convene a working group that includes experts in emergency care, inpatient critical care, hospital operations management, nursing, and other relevant disciplines to develop boarding and diversion standards for hospitals and guidelines, measures, and incentives for implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of such standards. Requires the CMS working group to: (1) identify barriers contributing to delays in timely processing of patients requiring admission as inpatients who initially sought care through the hospital's emergency department; (2) identify best practices to improve patient flow within hospitals; and (3) report to Congress and the Secretary a detailed description of the standards, guidelines, measures, and incentives developed, as well as identified barriers and best practices. Directs the Secretary to establish a mechanism to make public information regarding any hospital that fails to report information requested by the CMS working group.

Date: 2009-02-25
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act of 2009 - Prohibits any federal funds from being provided to a hospital under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act or to a state, with respect to hospital services, under title XIX (Medicaid) of such Act, unless the hospital meets certain conditions related to a woman who is a victim of sexual assault, including that the hospital: (1) provides the woman with accurate and unbiased information about emergency contraception; (2) offers emergency contraception to the woman; (3) provides the woman such contraception at the hospital on her request; and (4) does not deny any such services because of the inability of the woman or her family to pay.

Date: 2009-02-26
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Everson Walls and Ron Springs Gift for Life Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish a National Organ and Tissue Donor Registry Resource Center, which shall: (1) advance the development, expansion, and evaluation of state organ and tissue donor registries; (2) facilitate timely access to, and the exchange of accurate donor information between, such registries; (3) ensure that registries funded through this Act comply with applicable requirements; (4) provide technical assistance to states for such registries; and (5) maintain a registry information clearinghouse to collect, synthesize, and disseminate best practices information. Requires the Secretary to award grants or cooperative agreements to states for the development, enhancement, expansion, and evaluation of organ and tissue donor registries. Sets forth requirements for registries, including that such registries: (1) allow a donor to include a statement or symbol that the donor has made, amended, or revoked an anatomical gift; (2) allow organ procurement organizations to access that information, at or near the donor's death; and (3) bar the use or disclosure of personally identifiable information for any other purpose without the donor's consent. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a living donor database to track health effects for donors associated with living organ donation.

Date: 2009-06-26
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to declare that nothing in such Act or amendments made by such Act shall be construed to affect: (1) any authority under title 38 of the United States Code (veterans' benefits); (2) any authority under chapter 55 of title 10 of the United States Code (medical and dental care for members of the uniformed services); or (3) any health care or health care benefits program provided under the TRICARE program or by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Declares that the term "minimum essential coverage" includes coverage provided to members of the uniformed services and eligibility for health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Date: 2010-03-20
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Genomics and Personalized Medicine Act of 2010 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Office of Personalized Healthcare, the purpose of which shall be to coordinate HHS activities related to genomics and personalized medicine with those of other agencies and entities to ensure that personalized medicine meets the highest standards of safety, efficacy, and clinical validity and utility. Sets forth provisions related to the collection of genetic and genomic data, including providing for a national biobank. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to establish the Committee on the Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention. Directs the Secretary to: (1) improve genomics and personalized medicine training; (2) establish a committee to examine barriers to personalized medicine product development; and (3) review billing, coverage, and reimbursement methodologies for personalized medicine products and services. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (FDA), to: (1) establish a committee to carry out a comparative analysis of laboratory review requirements; (2) facilitate the use of personalized medicine products to assess the risk for and reduce incidence of adverse drug reactions; and (3) include personalized medicine products in adverse event reporting systems. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, to require the sponsor of a drug or biological product to: (1) develop a companion diagnostic test under certain circumstances; and (2) conduct additional postmarket studies of drugs shown to be more or less effective in certain racial and ethnic subpopulations. Requires the Commissioner to collaborate with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to identify and terminate advertising campaigns that make false, misleading, deceptive, or unfair claims about the benefits or risks of personalized medicine products. Requires the Director of CDC to: (1) expand efforts to increase awareness about genomics and personalized medicine; and (2) analyze marketing of personalized medicine products for which consumers have direct access.

Date: 2010-05-27
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Health Data Collection Improvement Act of 2010 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that the collection of data on sexual orientation and gender identity is provided for within HHS health service programs and health surveys. Makes the provision of such information by an individual voluntary. Prohibits an agency or person that collects data from an individual from using such data, or the decision of the individual not to provide such data, in any manner that adversely affects the individual. Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop standards for the measurement of, and collection of information about, sexual orientation and gender identity; (2) analyze data collected under this Act to detect and monitor health disparities at the federal and state levels; (3) report to Congress and the public on the results of such analyses; and (4) integrate such data analyses with other activties that identify and analyze health disparities by race, ethnicity, sex, disability, primary language, or other population. Applies privacy protections to data collected under this Act and security safeguards to the collection, analysis and sharing of such data.

Date: 2010-09-14
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
21st Century Cancer ALERT (Access to Life-Saving Early detection, Research and Treatment) Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise provisions related to the National Cancer Program, including to require the establishment of an entity within the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to augment ongoing efforts to advance new technologies in cancer research, support the national collection of tissues for cancer research purposes, and ensure the quality of tissue collection. Sets forth provisions governing clinical trials, including ethical and privacy standards. Requires the Director of NCI to award grants for research on cancers with a low five-year survival rate and rare cancers. Expands coverage of colorectal screenings and treatment, including through authorizing grants and allowing states to provide coverage under Medicaid for individuals needing treatment for colorectal cancer. Provides for biomarkers research. Expands coverage of tobacco cessation products under Medicaid. Provides for coverage under Medicare for payment of routine costs of care furnished to individuals participating in cancer clinical trials, comprehensive cancer planning services, and comprehensive cancer patient treatment education services. Requires the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to review and improve the policies, programs and activities of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relating to oncology products. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to expand and intensify CDC's cancer control programs. Provides for research on cancer survivorship related to childhood cancer and health disparities in outcomes. Requires the Secretary to convene a Workforce Development Collaborative on Psychosocial Care During Chronic Medical Illness.

Date: 2010-09-28
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Acts.

Date: 2010-12-17
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Safe Baby Products Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (FDA), to conduct and complete product testing of a full range of cosmetics, personal care products (including baby shampoo, baby bath, lipstick, nail polish, lotion, cream, sunscreen, liquid soap, and baby wipes) and other products that: (1) are marketed to or used by children aged 7 years and younger; and (2) are likely contaminated with impurities or contaminants. Requires a report on the results of the product testing to be submitted to Congress and made public. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner, to establish good manufacturing practices for the cosmetics industry for each impurity or contaminant for which contaminants or impurities may be reduced or eliminated by switching to alternate ingredients or for which manufacturing processes or practices may reduce or eliminate impurities from raw materials. Deems a cosmetic to be adulterated if the manufacture of such cosmetic is not in compliance with good manufacturing practices regulations.

Date: 2009-04-29
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Health Promotion Funding Integrated Research, Synthesis, and Training Act or the Health Promotion FIRST Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop a plan for health promotion that includes coordinating the health promotion activities of HHS and addressing how best to: (1) develop the basic and applied science of health promotion; (2) synthesize and disseminate health promotion research; (3) meet health promotion needs in rural and low-income inner city areas; (4) support and develop the health promotion and scientific community; and (5) modify or develop resources, policies, structure, and legislation to integrate health promotion into all health professions and sectors of society. Requires the Secretary to request other federal agencies to develop health promotion strategic plans. Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), acting through the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, to: (1) develop a plan on how best to develop the science of health promotion through NIH agencies; and (2) conduct or support early research programs and research training regarding health promotion. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to develop a plan to establish a research agenda regarding health promotion for CDC. Requires the Director of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to award grants to develop Health Promotion Research Centers. Requires the Secretary to modify the application process for grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts awarded under this Act to attract the most qualified individuals and organizations.

Date: 2009-05-07
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants for operating nurse-managed health clinics. Defines "nurse-managed health clinic" as a nurse-practice arrangement that provides primary care or wellness services to underserved or vulnerable populations regardless of insurance status or ability to pay and that is associated with an educational institution, health center, or social services agency. Requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance and services to such clinics in meeting the requirements of this Act and to develop and implement a plan for evaluating such clinics.

Date: 2009-05-20
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Automated Defibrillation in Adam's Memory Reauthorization Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize appropriations for grants for states, political subdivisions, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to develop and implement public access defibrillation programs. Requires that any information clearinghouse that is established by a grantee using grant funds be administered by an organization that has substantial experience in pediatric education, pediatric medicine, and electrophysiology and sudden death.

Date: 2009-06-02
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Helping Fill the Medicare Rx Gap Act of 2009 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), with respect to the annual out of pocket threshold, to count costs incurred in providing prescription drugs by the Indian Health Service, a federally-qualified health center, an AIDS drug assistance program, certain hospitals, or a pharmaceutical manufacturer patient assistance program.

Date: 2009-06-08
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Everson Walls and Ron Springs Gift for Life Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish a National Organ and Tissue Donor Registry Resource Center, which shall: (1) advance the development, expansion, and evaluation of state organ and tissue donor registries; (2) facilitate timely access to, and the exchange of accurate donor information between, such registries; (3) ensure that registries funded through this Act comply with applicable requirements; (4) provide technical assistance to states for such registries; and (5) maintain a registry information clearinghouse to collect, synthesize, and disseminate best practices information. Requires the Secretary to award grants or cooperative agreements to states for the development, enhancement, expansion, and evaluation of organ and tissue donor registries. Sets forth requirements for registries, including that such registries: (1) allow a donor to include a statement or symbol that the donor has made, amended, or revoked an anatomical gift; (2) allow organ procurement organizations to access that information, at or near the donor's death; and (3) bar the use or disclosure of personally identifiable information for any other purpose without the donor's consent. Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the feasibility of establishing a living donor database to track health effects for donors associated with living organ donation.

Date: 2009-07-16
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) deny a tax deduction for expenses relating to direct-to-consumer advertising in any media for the sale and use of prescription pharmaceuticals; and (2) allow a tax deduction for fees, up to $500, for the participation of a child who is a dependent of a taxpayer in any organization that promotes or provides for the physical activity of children.

Date: 2009-12-07
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Taxation
Global Health Care Cooperation Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow permanent resident doctors or health care workers to reside in a qualifying developing country (candidate countries) while working in such professions and be considered to be maintaining U.S. presence and residency requirements for naturalization purposes. Directs the Secretary of State to publish a candidate country list.

Date: 2010-03-17
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Immigration
Ensuring Servicemembers' Electronic Records' Viability Act or the E-SERV Act - Amends the Wounded Warrior Act to make the interagency program office of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established by such Act the single: (1) point of accountability and authority (currently, accountability only) for the DOD and VA in the development and implementation of electronic health record systems or capabilities (including capabilities existing before January 16, 2008) that allow for full interoperability of personal health care information between such agencies; and (2) program office of such Departments that is responsible for the development, implementation, and sustainment of all electronic health record systems and capabilities. Requires: (1) the Director of such office to report directly to the DOD and VA Secretaries (or a jointly delegated official of each Department not lower than Deputy Secretary) without interposition of any other supervising official, and (2) the office to carry out the programming and budgeting of such activities.

Date: 2011-07-08
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
White House Conference on Autism Act of 2011 - Requires the President, by December 31, 2012, to call the White House Conference on Autism (to be convened within 18 months of the selection of a Policy Committee) to make fundamental policy recommendations on ways to combat the autism epidemic in the United States. Sets forth as purposes of the Conference to: (1) galvanize a national effort to find the underlying causes of autism, (2) identify viable solutions and valuable services to help autistic individuals and their families, (3) bring together the best scientific minds to chart a comprehensive research agenda, (4) bring together parents of autistic children and leaders in the fields of education and social services to begin a national dialogue on the challenges faced by these children and their families, (5) highlight emerging and innovative programs that effectively serve the needs of autistic children and adults, and (6) review the effectiveness of existing legislation and programs that provide autism research services and develop recommendations for legislative action for improvements.

Date: 2011-11-18
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Spending Reductions through Innovations in Therapies Agenda Act of 2012 or the SPRINT Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Spending Reductions through Innovations in Therapies Program (SPRINT Program) to support development of therapies to reduce spending by federal health care programs for high-cost chronic conditions. Requires the Program to: (1) accelerate advanced research and development of such therapies, and (2) encourage innovation in technologies that may assist such research to reduce the time and cost of therapy development. Requires the Secretary to select the high-cost chronic conditions that shall be the focus of the Program from conditions among the top 10 leading causes of death designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that have: (1) the highest current and projected cost to federal health care programs and high long-term care costs; (2) a likelihood of impairing the ability of an individual to carry out activities of daily living, which can result in the individual becoming dependent on caregivers; (3) a death rate that has increased and is projected to increase significantly in future years; and (4) a lack of existing therapies to prevent, control, or cure the condition or delay cognitive decline. Sets forth the duties of the Secretary, including to: (1) partner with certain nonprofit strategic investment entities, (2) reduce the time and cost barriers between laboratory discoveries and clinical trials for therapies used to treat high-cost chronic conditions, and (3) facilitate innovative and expedited review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the therapies developed. Establishes a SPRINT Award Program, under which the Secretary may award contracts or grants to public, nonprofit, early stage companies or growth companies to support advanced research and the development of therapies. Sets forth matching fund requirements. Requires the Secretary to evaluate projects funded.

Date: 2012-02-02
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Quality Improvement Organization Program Restoration Act - Amends the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011 to repeal its revisions to requirements for contracts with Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs). Amends title XI of the Social Security Act to specify expenditures or funding for: (1) 3-year QIO contracts for contract periods beginning on or after August 1, 2014, and ending on or before July 31, 2021, but with a certain reduction in aggregate funds payable after October 1, 2014; and (2) contracts with utilization and quality control peer review organizations for any contract period beginning on or after August 1, 2014.

Date: 2012-12-05
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Health and Human Services Hiree Clarification Act of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to state that provisions authorizing the appointment of special consultants or authorizing individual scientists to receive fellowships do not authorize the designation, appointment, or employment of any special consultant, fellow, or other employee by an agency outside of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Date: 2013-02-13
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Defund Obamacare Act - Deauthorizes appropriations to carry out the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or any amendments made by them.

Rescinds the unobligated balance of funds made available under such Acts.

Date: 2013-03-06
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Inspiring Scientific Research and Innovation Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2013 - Appropriates, for FY2013, an additional $3 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to remain available until expended.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the recovery period for the depreciation of an airplane: (1) used in directly carrying out activities essential to the function of a trade or business other than the commercial or contract carrying of freight or passengers; and (2) whose primary use is not for the transportation of freight or passengers, other than medical or emergency transportation. Provides a special effective date rule for property for which there is a qualified written binding contract in effect before the date of enactment of this Act.

Date: 2013-03-20
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Cutting Costly Codes Act of 2013 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from implementing, administering, or enforcing specified regulations insofar as they would replace International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 with ICD-10 as a standard for code sets for appropriate data elements for financial and administrative transactions involving the electronic exchange of health information.

(The ICD is a health care classification system of diagnostic codes for classifying diseases.)

Date: 2013-04-24
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Research First Act of 2013 - Appropriates, for FY2013, an additional $1.55 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Rescinds: (1) $400 million from the Department of Defense--Overseas Contingency Operations--Operation and Maintenance--Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund account, and (2) $1.15 billion from the Department of Defense (DOD) account.

Date: 2013-07-24
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Prohibits the award by states of American Health Benefit Exchange grant funds under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to an entity for the operation of a Navigator program (to raise awareness of the availability of qualified health plans) or for facilitation or advocacy for enrollment in a qualified health plan, until the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) certifies to Congress that the entity has certified that it will not use such funds to: (1) provide advice concerning benefits, terms, and features of a particular qualified health plan or offer advice about which such plan is better or worse or suitable for a particular individual or employer; (2) recommend or endorse a particular qualified health plan or advise consumers about which plan to choose; (3) accept any compensation or consideration dependent, in whole or in part, on whether an individual enrolls in or purchases such a plan; or (4) violate any applicable insurance law or regulation of the applicable state or any subpoena or order of the state's insurance commissioner.

Date: 2013-08-02
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Inspiring Scientific Research and Innovation Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2014 - Appropriates, for FY2014, an additional $3 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to remain available until expended.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the recovery period for the depreciation of an airplane: (1) used in directly carrying out activities essential to the function of a trade or business other than the commercial or contract carrying of freight or passengers; and (2) whose primary use is not for the transportation of freight or passengers, other than medical or emergency transportation. Provides a special effective date rule for property for which there is a qualified written binding contract in effect before the date of enactment of this Act.

Date: 2013-10-23
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Economics and public finance
Special Inspector General for Monitoring the ACA Act of 2014 or the SIGMA Act of 2014 - Establishes the Office of the Special Inspector General for Monitoring the Affordable Care Act to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the implementation and administration of programs and activities established under, and payment system changes made by, the Affordable Care Act (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010). Requires the Special Inspector General to be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Requires the Special Inspector General to appoint an Assistant Inspector General for Auditing and an Assistant Inspector General for Investigations.

Places the Special Inspector General under the supervision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), but prohibits federal agencies involved in implementing or administering the Affordable Care Act from preventing or prohibiting the Special Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation.

Date: 2014-03-06
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Better Efficiency and Administrative Simplification Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow individuals the option to receive the Medicare Summary Notice (explanation of benefits) electronically.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) apply a similar option to other Medicare statements and notifications, and (2) provide such Medicare Summary Notice and any other such statements and notifications on a more frequent basis than is otherwise required under Medicare.

Extends from at least once every 5 years to at least once every 10 years the application of competitive procedures when the contract of a Medicare administrative contractor comes up for renewal.

Date: 2014-06-12
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Commission for Our Veterans' Care Act - Establishes the Commission on Access to Care to undertake a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of access to health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Includes among the matters to be evaluated and assessed by the Commission:

 the appropriateness of the VA's current standards concerning access to health care, the measurement of such standards, the appropriateness of performance standards and incentives in relation to the VA's current standards for access to health care, staffing levels throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and whether they are sufficient to meet current demand. Directs the President to require the VA Secretary and the heads of other relevant federal agencies to implement each recommendation that the President considers feasible and advisable and determines can be implemented without further legislative action.

Date: 2014-06-12
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Equalizing Transparency for Veterans Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to biennially publish information on the VA's provision of health care on a VA Internet database that is publicly available.

Includes among that information for each VA medical facility:

 quality measures regarding inpatient and outpatient care that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is required to make publicly available under the Medicare program; the average length of stay, opioid prescription rate, and suicide rate for patients discharged from the facility; and the average number of days a patient waited for an appointment or procedure at such facility. Includes in such information for each VA nursing home any quality measures the Secretary of HHS makes publicly available regarding Medicare nursing homes.

Directs the Secretary to establish a process to validate the published information.

Requires the Secretary to annually submit a plan to Congress to improve each VA medical facility that ranks within the bottom quartile on each quality measure used by the Secretary to rank such facilities.

Directs the Secretary to establish a toll-free telephone number for individuals to use to notify the Secretary of low-quality care being provided at a VA medical facility.

Date: 2014-06-17
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Serving America's Veterans Effectively Act of 2014 or the SAVE Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to:

 require the inclusion of a patient's status as a veteran in the patient information that the Secretary requires for meaningful use of electronic health records under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, include an inquiry into whether a patient is a veteran and any relevant circumstances relating to a veteran's service in the Armed Forces as part of the initial preventive examination of Medicare beneficiaries, and take such additional actions as may be appropriate to promote awareness among nongovernmental physicians of the special circumstances and health care needs of veterans. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to organizations to educate health care providers on appropriate health care for veterans.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Streamlining Verification for Americans Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to allow large employers to prospectively report information regarding health care coverage available to employees eligible for premium subsidies on a health care exchange.

Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), upon an individual's request, to make an advance determination of the individual's eligibility for premium subsidies based on information other than the individual's most recent taxable year income.

Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate the notification of employers by health care exchanges regarding employees determined to be eligible for premium subsidies and the appeals process for eligibility determinations.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a person reporting an individual's health coverage to the Treasury to identify the individual using their birth date in place of their taxpayer identification number (TIN) in certain circumstances.

Allows large employers or persons reporting an employee's or individual's health coverage to the Treasury to provide the required statement to the employee or individual electronically.

Prohibits provision of premium subsidies and assessment of the penalty for not maintaining minimum essential coverage between December 31, 2014, and the date a process is established to verify eligibility for premium subsidies.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act - Makes a $5 billion supplemental appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) Public Health Emergency Fund.

Designates the funding as an emergency requirement exempt from budget enforcement limits. Makes the funding available, however, only if the President subsequently designates the amount as an emergency requirement.

Permits the activities funded under this Act to include acquisition of products such as drugs, vaccines and other biological products, and medical devices for deposit into the Strategic National Stockpile.

Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to add the Public Health Emergency Fund to the list of programs and activities exempt from a sequestration. (A sequestration is a process of automatic, usually across-the-board spending reductions under which budgetary resources are permanently cancelled to enforce specific budget policy goals.)

Date: 2014-12-04
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Incentivizing Healthcare Quality Outcomes Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. in order to incentivize healthcare quality outcomes, to prescribe specific adjustment factors for incentive payments to: (1) healthcare delivery organizations, and (2) healthcare professionals (who are not part of an applicable healthcare delivery organization) in a geographic region to coordinate care and reduce potentially preventable outcomes.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish geographic regions to which health professionals shall be assigned.

Requires the Secretary to select a methodology of identifying potentially preventable: (1) inpatient hospital complications, (2) admissions and readmissions, (3) emergency room visits, (4) outpatient procedures and tests, as well as (5) outcomes. Requires selection of a methodology also for risk adjusting the rate of each potentially preventable outcome.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) give confidential reports to healthcare delivery organizations with respect to potentially preventable outcomes, (2) make information available to the public regarding potentially preventable outcomes of each applicable healthcare delivery organization, (3) apply to state plans (or waivers) under SSA title XIX (Medicaid) regulations that will relate to payment adjustments for potentially preventable outcomes, and (4) award quality improvement grants to eligible healthcare delivery organizations with an organization-specific adjustment factor lower than the factor for 75% of all other such organizations.

Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the impact of this Act on Medicare beneficiaries' care, Medicare expenditures, and Medicare providers.

Date: 2014-12-09
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Fit to Serve Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to provide for the dissemination to potential military recruits of information on healthy body weight. Includes in the information that may be provided healthy weight according to age, height, and gender, the risks of obesity, and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Authorizes the dissemination of such information both electronically and in writing.

Authorizes each military department Secretary to enter into joint use agreements with local governments in the vicinity of military installations in order to permit the use of athletic facilities at such installations by local civilians.

Date: 2013-05-16
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Servicemember's Electronic Health Records Act of 2013 - Amends the Wounded Warrior Act to require the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, in implementing electronic health record systems that provide for the full interoperability of personal health care information between the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to ensure that: (1) a health data authoritative source that can be accessed by multiple providers and that standardizes the input of new medical information is created by the Departments within 180 days, (2) the ability of patients of both Departments to download their medical records is achieved within 180 days, (3) full interoperability of personal health care information between the Departments is achieved within one year, (4) acceleration of the exchange of real-time data between the Departments is achieved within one year, (5) the upgrade of the graphical user interface to display a joint common graphical user interface is achieved within one year, and (6) current members of the Armed Forces and their dependents may elect to receive an electronic copy of their health care records beginning not later than June 30, 2015.

Requires the Secretaries to assess the feasibility and advisability of establishing a secure, remote, network-accessible computer storage system (commonly referred to as cloud storage) to: (1) provide members of the Armed Forces and veterans the ability to upload their health care records, and (2) allow DOD and VA medical providers of the Departments to access such records.

Date: 2013-07-15
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Improving Quality of Care Within the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2013 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has in effect an up-to-date policy on reporting a notifiable infectious disease diagnosed at a VA facility in accordance with applicable state and local law, and (2) develop performance measures to assess whether and to what degree the directors of Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) and VA medical centers are complying with such policy.

Requires the Secretary to enter into a contract with an independent third-party to: (1) assess the organizational structures of VA medical centers, and (2) improve succession planning among key leadership roles at VISN and VA medical centers.

Date: 2013-10-28
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Rural Veterans Improvement Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide mental health care to veterans who have a mental health issue resulting from a health condition incurred or aggravated in the line of duty and who live in a rural area or highly rural area through shared health facilities or by contracting with or providing payments to mental health care providers that are not otherwise affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) if the Secretary makes specified determinations related to the lack of accessibility to or availability of recommended or requested care from the VA.

Requires the Secretary to report on the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine used by the VA in treating veterans with mental health conditions resulting from a health condition that was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) award grants of up to $100,000 to state veterans agencies, veterans service organizations, and/or tribal organizations to provide transportation to and from medical centers to veterans in rural and highly rural areas who would otherwise be eligible for reimbursement for or payment of travel expenses by the VA; and (2) carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing a housing allowance to health care providers of the VA who accept assignment at rural or highly rural community-based outpatient clinics.

Directs the Secretary to establish a program to train health care professionals for assignment at community-based outpatient clinics that predominantly serve veterans who live in rural and highly rural areas.

Requires the VA Secretary and the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to jointly establish a program to encourage an individual who serves in the Armed Forces with a military occupational specialty relating to the provision of health care to seek employment with the Veterans Health Administration when the individual is discharged or released from service or is contemplating separating from such service.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a periodic assessment of community-based outpatient clinics in rural and highly rural areas to determine whether expansion and improvement of such clinics is feasible or advisable, and (2) report on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center or Polytrauma Network Site in each area in which the nearest such center or site is more than 300 miles away.

Date: 2014-02-10
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Enhancing Access for Agents and Brokers Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a toll-free customer service support help line to enable certified health insurance agents and brokers to seek assistance regarding qualified health plans offered in the federal health insurance marketplace.

Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Secretary to establish procedures to permit a broker name and National Producer Number to be added to an application for enrollment in a health plan offered through a health care exchange at any time during the application process and for any enrollment period.

 Requires such procedures to ensure that the National Producer Number is designed to assist consumers in obtaining needed assistance to complete enrollment, ensure that brokers are adequately compensated, and provide consumer protections by identifying each agent or broker that has worked on an enrollment case.

Directs the Secretary to:

 make available on the federal government website for health insurance coverage a list of all certified agents and brokers; contract with the National Insurance Producers Registry to regularly verify the licensure status of all such agents and brokers and develop a mechanism to enable submission of changes to contact and licensure information; and provide trained navigators, agents, and brokers, no later than five business days after promulgation or issuance of any new cost- or enrollment-related policies, with a clear description of such policy changes.

Date: 2014-03-27
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
Increasing Medical Oversight in the Department of Veterans Affairs Act of 2014 - Establishes the Office of the Medical Inspector of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) within the Office of the Under Secretary for Health. Includes among the functions of the Office to:

 review the quality of health care provided to veterans by the VA generally and by the VA through contracts with non-VA health care providers; review offices of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) that have an impact on the quality of health care provided to veterans by the VA and the performance of the VA in providing such care; review VHA offices and facilities to ensure that VA and VHA policies and procedures are applied consistently; investigate any systemic issues that arise within VHA, including improper issuance of credentials and privileges to health care providers, impediments to access to VA health care, wait times for appointments at VA medical facilities in excess of VA goals, and intentional falsification by VA employees of information regarding wait times; establish temporary investigative teams to carry out reviews in response to specific incidents or inquiries, including veterans' complaints and potential systemic issues within VHA that may require the conduct of surveys, the collection of data, and the analysis of VA databases; recommend policies to promote economy and efficiency in the administration of, and to prevent and detect criminal activity, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in, VHA programs and operations; and report on problems or deficiencies encountered in VHA programs and operations and recommend corrective actions.

Date: 2014-05-22
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for trauma care programs through FY2019. Requires that not more than 50% of amounts remaining for a fiscal year after FY2014 (after allocation for administrative purposes or for improvement of emergency medical services in rural areas) be allocated for competitive grants to support pilot projects for emergency care and trauma systems.

Requires the inclusion of standards and requirements of the American Burn Association in trauma care modifications of a state plan for providing emergency medical services.

Date: 2014-05-22
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Improving Trauma Care Act of 2014 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, with respect to trauma care and research programs, to include in the definition of "trauma" an injury resulting from extrinsic agents other than mechanical force, including those that are thermal, electrical, chemical, or radioactive.

Date: 2014-05-22
Topic: Health (General)
Subject: Health