zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Private Option Health Care Act - Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and restores the provisions of law amended or repealed by such Acts as if such Acts had not been enacted. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) revise the refundable tax credit for the health insurance costs of individual taxpayers to allow a full credit for health insurance plus the amount contributed to a health savings account; (2) permit up to $500 of unused health benefits under a health flexible spending arrangement to be carried over to a succeeding plan year or paid directly to an employee as compensation; (3) revise the tax deduction for contributions to a health savings account (HSA) to increase the allowable amount of such deduction and repeal the requirement for coverage under a high deductible health plan; (4) repeal the 7.5% adjusted gross income threshold for the tax deduction for medical expenses; (5) allow a tax credit for the purchase of insurance against negative outcomes from surgery, including those caused by physician malpractice; and (6) allow an exclusion from gross income for damages awarded for medical malpractice in binding arbitration. Permits interstate purchase of health insurance. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to repeal provisions restricting the importation of prescription drugs.

Date: 2010-05-27
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2010 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) establish a special Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) enrollment period period for individuals enrolled in COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) continuation coverage who elected not to enroll under part B during the individual's initial enrollment period; (2) require a continuous open Medicare part B enrollment, apart from an initial enrollment period or a special enrollment period, during which there shall be an increase in the monthly premium; (3) provide for special enrollment periods to correct errors, misrepresentations, or the inaction of officers, employees, or agents of group health plans or plan sponsors; and (4) direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure appropriate coordination of Medicare part B with American Health Benefit Exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on enrollment in the Medicare part B program.

Date: 2010-06-23
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a demonstration project under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to evaluate the benefits of providing payment for items and services needed for the administration, within the homes of Medicare beneficiaries, of intravenous immune globin (IVIG) for the treatment of primary immune deficiency diseases. Amends SSA title XVIII to treat as durable medical equipment (DME) any disposable drug delivery systems, including elastomeric infusion pumps, for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Date: 2010-06-24
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
High-Risk Pool Fairness Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow otherwise qualified individuals to enroll in a state's high risk health insurance pool if such an individual's maximum length of COBRA coverage (health insurance continuation benefits) has expired in the six months before applying for coverage in such pool or will expire within 30 days of applying for coverage in such pool. (Currently, only individuals without creditable coverage for six months are eligible for such pools.)

Date: 2010-07-01
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to make the prohibition against health plans rescinding coverage of an enrollee effective on the day of enactment of PPACA. Requires a health plan that rescinded the coverage of an enrollee during the period beginning on March 23, 2010, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act to reinstate such enrollee in the plan or coverage and treat claims for services furnished to such enrollee during such period as if such rescission had not occurred. Exempts the plan or issuer from any penalty for any violation occurring during such period.

Date: 2010-07-15
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Personalize Your Care Act of 2010 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid), as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to cover a Voluntary Advance Care Planning Consultation. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make grants to eligible entities to: (1) establish statewide programs for physician orders for life-sustaining treatment; or (2) expand or enhance existing programs for physician orders for life-sustaining treatment. Directs the Secretary to adopt, by rule, standards for a qualified electronic health record, with respect to patient communications with a health care provider about values and goals of care, to adequately display the patient's current: (1) advance directive; and/or (2) physician order for life-sustaining treatment. Requires under Medicare and Medicaid that an advance directive validly executed outside the state in which the directive is presented must be given effect by a service provider or an organization to the same extent as an advance directive validly executed under the law of the state in which it is presented. Requires that, in the absence of a validly executed advance directive, any authentic expression of a person's wishes with respect to health care be honored.

Date: 2010-07-20
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal provisions authorizing appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for debt service on, or direct construction or renovation of, a health care facility that provides research, inpatient tertiary care, or outpatient clinical services and that meets certain requirements, including a requirement that it is critical for the provision of greater access to health care within the state. Rescinds any unobligated balances available on the date of enactment of this Act of funds appropriated to HHS for such provisions and requires all amounts made available under such section before such date to be returned to the Treasury.

Date: 2010-07-20
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer through Exchanges a health benefits plan (public health insurance option) that ensures choice, competition, and stability of affordable, high-quality coverage throughout the United States. Declares that the Secretary's primary responsibility is to create a low-cost plan without compromising quality or access to care. Sets forth provisions related to the establishment and governance of the public health insurance option, including that such plan: (1) may be made available only through Exchanges; (2) must comply with requirements applicable to other health benefits plans offered through such Exchanges, including requirements related to benefits, benefit levels, provider networks, notices, consumer protections, and cost sharing; and (3) must offer bronze, silver, and gold plan levels. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish an office of the ombudsman for the public health insurance option; (2) collect such data as may be required to establish premiums and payment rates; (3) establish geographically adjusted premiums at a level sufficient to fully finance the costs of the health benefits provided and administrative costs related to the operation of the plan; and (4) establish payment rates and provide for greater payment rates for the first three years. Requires repayment of start-up costs for the public health insurance option. Authorizes the Secretary to utilize innovative payment mechanisms and policies to determine payments for items and services under the public health insurance option.

Date: 2010-07-21
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Fairness in Medigap Options Act of 2010 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to make eligible for guaranteed issue of Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policies: (1) all Medicare beneficiaries; (2) Medicare Advantage plan enrollees who disenroll from the plan and elect to receive benefits through the original Medicare fee-for-service program; and (3) Medicaid (SSA title XIX) plan enrollees who have lost eligibility for such medical assistance. Allows individuals with end stage renal disease (ESRD) to receive Medicare benefits through enrollment in a Medicare+Choice plan. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to specify an annual period during which individuals enrolled in a Medigap policy with a particular benefit package may change to another such policy if the other policy: (1) is offered by a different issuer and is available for issuance to new enrollees; and (2) has the same benefit package or a benefit package with lesser benefits.

Date: 2010-07-22
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 that: (1) restrict payments from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements for medications to prescription drugs and insulin only; and (2) impose a $2,500 limitation on salary reduction contributions to a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan.

Date: 2010-07-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Restoring Assistance for Families' and Seniors' Health Expenses Act of 2010 - Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that: (1) increase from 7.5% to 10% the adjusted gross income threshold for claiming the tax deduction for medical expenses; (2) restrict payments from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements for medications solely to prescription drugs or insulin; (3) increase to 20% the penalty for distributions from a health savings or Archer medical savings account not used for qualified medical expenses; and (4) limit to $2,500 the annual salary reduction contribution to a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan. Amends PPACA to treat a high deductible health plan as a qualified health plan under such Act.

Date: 2010-07-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Thou Shalt Not Kill Thy Customers Act - Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to one year on any responsible officer or employee of an insurance entity that engages in a denial of coverage under a health plan in violation of provisions of the Public Health Service Act. Makes such offense punishable as involuntary manslaughter if it results in death. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) establish a website and a toll-free telephone number to receive reports of instances of denial of health care treatment or coverage by insurance entities for investigation of such reports; and (2) report instances for which sufficient evidence exists of a violation of this Act to the Attorney General for further investigation and prosecution. Expresses the sense of Congress that each state should thoroughly investigate violations of this Act.

Date: 2010-07-30
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Ensuring Equality for Early EHR Adoption Act of 2010 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to treat as certified electronic health record (EHR) technology, for incentive payment years 2011 and 2012, an EHR that is not certified and that: (1) enables the demonstration of meaningful EHR use for an EHR reporting period for the payment year involved; and (2) enables a Medicaid provider to demonstrate meaningful EHR use.

Date: 2010-07-30
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Telehealth Improvement and Expansion Act of 2010 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize appropriations for telehealth network and telehealth resource center grant programs. Includes state, local, and tribal health departments (currently, local health departments), skilled nursing facilities, community mental health centers, county mental health and public mental health facilities, and renal dialysis facilities as the entities that may be part of an eligible telehealth network. Revises the preferences for telehealth network grants to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to give preference to an eligible entity that: (1) is a health care provider in a health care network that furnishes services in a medically underserved area or a health professional shortage area; (2) demonstrates broad geographic coverage in the rural or medically undeserved areas of the state or states in which the entity is located; and (3) demonstrates its ability to use the grant to establish or develop plans for telehealth systems that will link rural hospitals and rural health care providers to other hospitals, health care providers, and patients. Reauthorizes appropriations for grants to state professional licensing boards to develop and implement state policies that will reduce statutory and regulatory barriers to telemedicine.

Date: 2010-09-14
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services.

Date: 2010-09-15
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Considers military service in Operation New Dawn as service in a theater of operations, for purposes of eligibility for veterans' hospital and nursing home care and medical services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Date: 2010-09-16
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Patient-Doctor Freedom Act of 2010 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from precluding an enrollee, participant, or beneficiary in a health benefits plan from entering into any contract or arrangement for health care with any health care provider. Defines "health benefits plan" to exclude Medicaid and TriCare.

Date: 2010-09-22
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medical Freedom Act of 2010 - Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) or any state from requiring any health care provider to participate in any health plan as a condition of licensure of the provider in any state.

Date: 2010-09-22
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Extended TRICARE Coverage for Military Families Now Act - Prohibits terminating the eligibility of an individual who qualifies for treatment as a dependent under TRICARE (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed care program) solely by reason of exceeding the age limit of 21 years, or 23 years if enrolled in a full-time course of study at an approved institution of higher learning and is, or was at the time of the member's or former member's death, in fact dependent on the member or former member for over one-half of the child's support. Requires the continuation of such coverage for the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the earlier of September 30, 2011, or the effective date of the extension of dependent coverage under TRICARE to individuals up to the age of 26. Provides for the reenrollment of individuals whose eligibility ceased during the period beginning on June 1, 2010, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act by reason of exceeding such age limit.

Date: 2010-09-28
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Critical Care Assessment and Improvement Act of 2010 - Requires studies on critical care in the United States by the Institute of Medicine and the Comptroller General.  Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to establish the Critical Care Coordinating Council to coordinate the collection and analysis of information on current NIH research relating to the care of the critically ill and injured, identify gaps in such research, and make recommendations to the Director of NIH on how to improve such research. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the adequacy of the number of critical care practitioners in disaster medical assistance teams, the Medical Reserve Corps, and the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to develop guidelines or best practices for the evacuation of intensive care units during a national health emergency, including a pandemic or natural disaster. Requires the Secretary to establish the Panel on Emergency Preparedness Databases to: (1) assess the adequacy of existing national preparedness databases in facilitating effective and coordinated medical responses during a national health emergency; (2) identify gaps in existing information networks; and  (3) recommend specific ways to improve awareness of the availability of resources before, during, and after an incident.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2010 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations to carry out lifespan respite care programs for FY2012 and subsequent fiscal years.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Amends the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 to repeal the unearned income Medicare contribution provision, under which: (1) net investment income (interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents, passive income, and net gain from the disposition of nonbusiness property) is included in the Medicare taxable base; (2) a 3.8% tax is imposed on it, beginning in 2013; and (3) the net investment income of taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of under $200,000 ($250,000 for joint returns) is excluded from such tax.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Prostate Research, Outreach, Screening, Testing, Access, and Treatment Effectiveness Act of 2010 or the PROSTATE Act - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish the Interagency Prostate Cancer Coordination and Education Task Force, which shall: (1) develop a summary of advances in federal prostate cancer research and compile a list of best practices for treatment of prostate cancer that warrant broader adoption in health care programs; (2) consider establishing guidance to enable physicians to allow screening of men over age 74; (3) coordinate information on federal research and health care program activities relating to prostate cancer; (4) develop a comprehensive interagency strategy on, and advise agencies in, the solicitation of proposals for collaborative, multidisciplinary research and health care programs relating to prostate cancer; (5) develop a coordinated message related to screening and treatment for prostate cancer to be reflected in educational and beneficiary materials for federal health programs; and (6) submit recommendations regarding federal research and health care programs. Directs the Secretary to establish and carry out a program to coordinate and intensify prostate cancer research, including by establishing clinical registries for prostate cancer and awarding research grants. Establishes in the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a Prostate Cancer Scientific Advisory Board to be responsible for accelerating real-time sharing of the latest research data and accelerating movement of new medicines to patients. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish four-year telehealth pilot projects for the purpose of analyzing the clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness associated with telehealth services in a variety of geographic areas that contain high proportions of medically underserved populations and those in rural areas; and (2) develop a national education campaign for prostate cancer.

Date: 2010-09-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Sixth Health Insurance Protects America--Can't Repeal IT (HIPA-CRIT) Act - Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that require a health plan offering group or individual health insurance coverage that provides dependent coverage of children to continue to make such coverage available until the child turns 26 years old.

Date: 2010-11-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Second Health Insurance Protects America--Can't Repeal IT (HIPA-CRIT) Act - Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that prohibit a health plan offering group or individual health insurance coverage from establishing annual limits on the dollar value of benefits for any participant or beneficiary.

Date: 2010-11-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Third Health Insurance Protects America--Can't Repeal IT (HIPA-CRIT) Act - Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that prohibit a health plan offering group or individual health insurance coverage from establishing lifetime limits on the dollar value of benefits for any participant or beneficiary.

Date: 2010-11-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
First Health Insurance Protects America--Can't Repeal IT (HIPA-CRIT) Act - Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that: (1) prohibit a health plan offering group or individual health insurance coverage from rescinding coverage once an enrollee is covered, and (2) require prior notice to an enrollee before coverage is cancelled.

Date: 2010-11-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Dependent Care Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care for the physical and mental injuries suffered by a spouse, child, or dependent parent victim of abuse by a veteran who is enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, as long as such victim is not eligible for medical coverage under a federal or state program or otherwise covered by a private medical insurance policy. Requires a report from the Secretary to the congressional veterans committees addressing any VA challenges or concerns in verifying psychological abuse in such individuals.

Date: 2010-12-01
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2010 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to repeal the allowance for disenrollment, between January 1 and March 15 of each year, only from an MedicareAdvantage plan to elect enrollment in the original Medicare fee-for-service program. Restores the option under previous law to elect to change from a MedicareAdvantage to the original Medicare fee-for-service plan, or from the original Medicare fee-for-service to a MedicareAdvantage plan, once a year during the first three months.

Date: 2010-12-08
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Coverage Continuity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase from 65 to 85% the rate of the tax credit for the health insurance costs of taxpayers who are Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) or Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) benefit recipients; and (2) extend such tax credit to certain individuals who are eligible for health insurance continuation benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).Allows individuals whose eligibility for COBRA continuation coverage terminates between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, to extend such coverage for an additional 12 months.

Date: 2009-01-07
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Healthy Businesses, Healthy Workers Reinsurance Act of 2009 - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXII (Federal Reinsurance Program for Catastrophic Health Care Costs). Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services an Office of Federal Reinsurance, which shall in turn establish a Federal Reinsurance Program for Catastrophic Health Care Costs to make reinsurance payments to eligible health plans experiencing catastrophic health care costs during a year with respect to a covered individual. Establishes in the Treasury the Federal Reinsurance for Catastrophic Health Care Costs Trust Fund.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Enhancing Health Care Coverage for Children Act - Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to revise, reauthorize, and extend the SCHIP program through FY2014. Requires the state SCHIP plan to specify how it will achieve coverage for 85% of eligible targeted low-income children in the state. Prohibits payment for child health assistance for a targeted low-income child in a family whose income exceeds 250% of the poverty line. Sets forth special rules for children with family income between 200% and 250% of the applicable poverty line. Applies Medicaid citizenship documentation requirements to SCHIP. Terminates SCHIP coverage for nonpregnant adults. Requires that individuals who are eligible for SCHIP and employer-sponsored coverage use the employer-sponsored coverage instead of SCHIP.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Long-Term Care Family Accessibility Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income-based tax credit for 50% of the first $4,000 of premiums paid for long-term care insurance coverage of a taxpayer or a taxpayer's family member or dependent.

Date: 2009-01-06
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Health Insurance Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers a tax deduction for the first $2,000 ($4,000 in the case of a married couple filing jointly) of premiums paid for health insurance. Allows such deduction to taxpayers whether or not they itemize their tax deductions. Reduces the amount of such deduction for a taxpayer whose adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of a married couple filing jointly).

Date: 2009-01-12
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Children's Health Equity Technical Amendments Act of 2009 - Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, to permit qualifying states to use their SCHIP allotments without fiscal year or percentage limitations for certain Medicaid expenditures for individuals under age 19 whose family income exceeds 150% of the poverty line. Revises the eligibility requirements for such allowable expenditures to reduce the family income threshold from a minimum of 150% of the poverty line to a minimum of 125% of the poverty line.

Date: 2009-01-12
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Quality and Payment Reform Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) review annually high volume readmission rates and resource use; (2) establish benchmarks for measuring them; and (3) make payment adjustments for subsection (d) hospitals that fail to meet such benchmarks. (Generally, a subsection (d) hospital is an acute care hospital, particularly one that receives payments under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) when providing covered inpatient services to eligible beneficiaries.) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a pilot program to provide episodic payments to hospitals and other organizing entities for items and services associated with hospitalization episodes of Medicare beneficiaries with respect to one or more conditions that have a high volume, high readmission rate, or high rate of post-acute care under the Medicare program.

Date: 2009-01-21
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Allows the schedule of payments under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) for a traumatic injury to distinguish between the severity of a loss of a dominant hand and a non-dominant hand.

Date: 2009-01-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Care Affordability for Military Families Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse a covered beneficiary under TRICARE (a Department of Defense [DOD] managed care program) for travel expenses when such beneficiary is referred by a primary care physician to a specialty care provider located more than 50 (under current law, more than 100) miles from the primary care location.

Date: 2009-02-25
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Home and Community Services Copayment Equity Act of 2009 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate part D cost-sharing for certain non-institutionalized full-benefit dual eligible individuals with income below 135% of the poverty line who: (1) reside in an assisted living facility, a resident care program facility, a board and care facility, or any other appropriate licenced facility, including a community mental health center, a psychiatric health facility, a mental health rehabilitation center, and a mental retardation developmental disability facility; or (2) receive home and community-based services in a home setting under a home and community-based waiver.

Date: 2009-03-05
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Drug Rebate Equalization Act of 2009 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for enrollees of Medicaid managed care organizations by extending to such organizations the discounts offered under fee-for-service Medicaid plans. Requires the state contract with a Medicaid managed care organization to require that payment for covered outpatient drugs dispensed to Medicaid-eligible individuals enrolled with the organization be subject to the same rebate as the state is subject to. Requires also that capitation rates paid to the organization be: (1) based on actual cost experience related to rebates; and (2) subject to the federal regulations requiring actuarially sound rates.

Date: 2009-03-09
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Access to Community Health Centers (MATCH) Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the definition of "federally qualified health center services" to include ambulatory services furnished by a federally qualified health center (FQHC) for which payment may otherwise be made under Medicare if such services were furnished by a non-FQHC health care provider or health care professional employed by or under contract with an FQHC. Permits payment for hospital-based services. Provides for a Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for Medicare-covered services provided by FQHCs.

Date: 2009-03-19
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Breast Cancer Patient Protect Act of 2009 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to require a group health plan that provides medical and surgical benefits to ensure that inpatient (and in the case of a lumpectomy, outpatient) coverage and radiation therapy are provided for breast cancer treatment. Prohibits such a plan from: (1) restricting benefits for any hospital length of stay to less than 48 hours in connection with a mastectomy or breast conserving surgery or 24 hours in connection with a lymph node dissection, insofar as the attending physician, in consultation with the patient, determines such stay to be medically necessary; or (2) requiring that a provider obtain authorization from the plan or issuer for prescribing any such length of stay. Requires such a plan or issuer to: (1) provide notice to each participant and beneficiary regarding the coverage required under this Act; and (2) ensure that coverage is provided for secondary consultations. Prohibits a group health plan from taking specified actions to avoid the requirements of this Act. Applies such requirements to health insurance issuers offering coverage in the individual market. Allows a health insurance issuer that provides individual health insurance coverage to nonrenew or discontinue an individual's coverage based on the intentional concealment of material facts regarding a health condition related to the condition for which coverage is being claimed.

Date: 2009-03-24
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
State-Based Health Care Reform Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Health Care Coverage Task Force to: (1) approve state, local, or tribal applications for a health care coverage grant; (2) submit a legislative proposal concerning such approvals and recommendations on the level of funding required; and (3) establish minimum performance measures with respect to coverage, quality, and cost of state health care programs.Prohibits the Task Force from approving an application that: (1) proposes to adopt more restrictive criteria for eligibility determinations for any federal, state, or local health care program; or (2) would result in making individuals enrolled in federal health programs ineligible.Requires states seeking a matching grant to submit to the Task Force a state health care plan that: (1) designates the lead state entity that will be responsible for administering the program; (2) describes the benefits that will be provided to all covered individuals; (3) describes the number and percentage of currently uninsured individuals who will achieve coverage; (4) describes how the state will ensure that an increased number of individuals residing within the state will have expanded access to health care coverage; (5) includes provisions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of health care in the state; and (6) complies with premium and cost sharing limitations.Sets forth procedures for congressional consideration of legislative proposals and recommendations.Authorizes appropriations for the grant program and specifies offsetting savings and fee provisions. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise requirements for the reduction in the Medicare part B premium subsidy based on income.

Date: 2009-03-25
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) phase out the waiting period for disabled individuals to become eligible for benefits under SSA title XVIII (Medicare); and (2) eliminate the waiting period for individuals with life-threatening conditions to become eligible for such benefits. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to request the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to study the range of disability conditions that can be delayed or prevented if individuals receive access to health care services and coverage before a condition reaches disability levels.

Date: 2009-03-25
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Patient IVIG Access Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect data on the differences, if any, between: (1) payments to physicians for immune globulins using average sales price payment methodology; and (2) costs incurred by physicians for furnishing these products. Requires the Secretary also to review data on the access of eligible individuals to immune globulins. Requires the Secretary, after completion of the review, to provide, if appropriate, an additional payment to such physicians for all items related to the furnishing of immune globulins as part of hospital outpatient services. Provides for Medicare coverage of and payment for intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) administered in the home. Allows the Secretary to contract for the collection of data on the practice of IVIG infusion. Directs the Secretary to review data collected under such a contract as well as data submitted by members of the medical community related to the current infusion payment codes under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of SSA title XVIII. Requires the Secretary, upon completion of any data collection and review, to: (1) notify the appropriate Medicare administrative contractors regarding which existing infusion codes shall be used for purposes of part B IVIG reimbursement; or (2) report to Congress and the RBRUS Committee (RUC) on why an additional infusion payment code is necessary. Extends the meaning of durable medical equipment to include disposable drug delivery systems, including elastomeric infusion pumps, for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Date: 2009-03-25
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to a hospital which provides acute care services to ventilator-dependent patients who are: (1) entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance); and (2) eligible for medical assistance under a state plan approved under SSA title XIX (Medicaid). Revises ventilator-dependent patient days requirements for the disproportionate patient percentage in the formula for calculation of an additional Medicare payment for each subsection (d) hospital. (Generally, a subsection (d) hospital is an acute care hospital, particularly one that receives payments under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) when providing covered inpatient services to eligible beneficiaries.)

Date: 2009-03-26
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Early Treatment for HIV Act of 2009 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give states the option of providing Medicaid coverage for certain low-income HIV-infected individuals. Provides states taking advantage of this option with an enhanced federal Medicaid match.

Date: 2009-04-20
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Long-Term Care Hospital Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, as amended by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to extend from three years to five years the delay in application of: (1) the 25% patient threshold payment adjustment to freestanding and grandfathered long-term care hospitals (LTCHs); (2) any payment adjustment, in certain circumstances, to any applicable LTCH or satellite facility located in a rural area or co-located with an urban single or metropolitan statistical area (MSA) dominant hospital; (3) the very short-stay outlier policy; and (4) a specified one-time prospective adjustment to LTCH prospective payment rates. Extends from three years to five years the moratorium on: (1) the establishment and classification of a LTCH or satellite facility, other than an existing one; and (2) an increase of LTCH beds in existing LTCHs or satellite facilities. Establishes a formula for annual adjustment of the base prospective payment rate for LTCHs for rate years 2011 through 2015 in order to implement a budget neutrality offset of the costs of implementing this Act.

Date: 2009-04-30
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Patient Access to Physical Therapists Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize qualified physical therapists to provide services for Medicare beneficiaries without the requirement of a physician referral. Provides for treatment of outpatient speech-language pathology services separately from outpatient physical therapy services.

Date: 2009-04-30
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Arthur Woolweaver, Jr., Social Security Act Improvements for the Terminally Ill Act - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting period for disability insurance benefits for terminally ill individuals.

Date: 2009-05-07
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Social welfare
Medicare Care Transitions Program Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Care Transitions Program under which outcomes-based payments are made to community-based transitional care (CTC) suppliers for: (1) furnishing care transition services to an individual after discharge from inpatient care; (2) improving quality of care; and (3) reducing rehospitalization rates.

Date: 2009-05-07
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Seniors' Medication Copayment Reduction Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a demonstration program to test Value-Based Insurance Design methodologies for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions. Defines "Value-Based Insurance Design" as a methodology for identifying specific medications or classes of medications for which, because of their high value and effectiveness when prescribed for particular clinical conditions, copayments or coinsurance should be reduced or eliminated.

Date: 2009-05-14
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Ambulance Access Preservation Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to increase to 6% permanently the rate of increase in the fee schedule for ground ambulance services furnished on or after January 1, 2010, in rural and urban areas. Makes permanent the increase in the base rate of the fee schedule the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to make for a trip in the case of ground ambulance services furnished on or after July 1, 2004, (and beyond January 1, 2010) for which the transportation originates in a qualified low population density rural area.

Date: 2009-05-18
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Annual and Lifetime Health Care Limit Elimination Act of 2009 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a group health plan from imposing an aggregate dollar annual or lifetime limit with respect to benefits payable under the plan. Applies such prohibition to individual health insurance coverage.

Date: 2009-05-21
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act of 2009 - Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001 to require a program under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides chiropractic care and services to veterans through Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics to be carried out at: (1) no fewer than 75 medical centers by December 31, 2009; and (2) all medical centers by December 31, 2011.

Date: 2009-06-08
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to require a group health plan that covers surgical benefits to also cover outpatient and inpatient diagnosis and treatment of a congenital or developmental deformity, disease, or injury of a minor child (defined as child under the age of 22). Requires that such coverage: (1) be subject to pre-authorization or pre-certification requirements of the plan or issuer; and (2) include any surgical treatment deemed by the treating physician to be medically necessary to approximate a normal appearance. Defines "treatment" to include reconstructive surgical procedures that are performed on abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors, or disease, including: (1) procedures that do not materially affect the function of the body part being treated; and (2) procedures for secondary conditions and follow-up treatment. Excludes cosmetic surgery performed to reshape normal structures of the body to improve appearance or self-esteem.

Date: 2009-06-11
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Family Building Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to require a group health plan that provides coverage for obstetrical services to include coverage for non-experimental treatment of infertility that is deemed appropriate by a participant or beneficiary and the treating physician. Requires coverage for assisted reproductive technology only if certain conditions are met. Prohibits a group health plan from taking specified actions to avoid the requirements of this Act. Applies such requirements to health insurance coverage offered in the individual market and coverage offered through Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) plans.

Date: 2009-06-15
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Consumers Health Care Act of 2009 - Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) an Office of Health Plan Management to establish and administer the Consumer Choice Health Plan to provide for health insurance coverage that is made available to all eligible individuals in the United States and its territories. Requires the Plan to comply with all regulations and requirements that are applicable with respect to other health insurance plans offered through the National Health Insurance Exchange. (The National Health Insurance Exchange has not been established.) Makes an individual or employer who is eligible to purchase coverage from a health insurance plan through the Exchange eligible to enroll in the Plan or purchase coverage for their employees from the Plan. Treats an individual's enrollment with the Plan as satisfying any requirement under federal law for such individual to demonstrate enrollment in health insurance or benefits coverage. Requires Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP, formerly known as SCHIP) providers to provide services to any individual enrolled in the Plan for three years following establishment of the Plan, after which the provider may opt-out. Sets forth provisions governing payment rates. Requires repayment of funds necessary for the establishment of the Plan. Requires the Plan to be financially self-sustaining. Authorizes the establishment of the America's Health Insurance Trust as a nonprofit corporation, to provide information on, and oversight of, health insurance plans provided through the Exchange. Establishes in the Treasury the America's Health Insurance Trust Fund. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a fee on accident and health insurance policies and self-insured health plans.

Date: 2009-06-17
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Transitional Care Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of benefits for transitional care services for qualified individuals following discharge from a hospital or critical access hospital.

Date: 2009-06-18
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the counting of time spent in outpatient settings by full-time-equivalent residents in approved medical residency training programs, for purposes of indirect medical education (IME) and direct graduate medical education (D-GME) payments. Defines all, or substantially all, of the costs for the training program in that nonhospital setting as the residents' stipends and benefits and other costs, if any, as determined by the training hospital and the entity (wholly owned or operated by the hospital) operating the nonhospital setting. Declares that the hospital is not required to pay the entity any amounts other than those determined by the hospital and the entity in order for the hospital to be considered to have incurred all, or substantially all, of the costs for the training program in that setting.

Date: 2009-06-18
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health