zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Physical Activities Recommendations for Americans Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish a report at least every 10 years that contains physical activity recommendations for the general public based on the most current scientific and medical knowledge, including information for population subgroups, as needed.

HHS must publish updated reports that detail evidence-based practices and highlight continuing physical activity issues between the publications of full reports. Updated reports may focus on particular population subgroups or issues relating to physical activity.

A federal agency that proposes to issue physical activity recommendations that differ from the recommendations in the most recent full report must submit the proposed recommendations to HHS for review.

Date: 2015-03-19
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax Act of 2015 or the SWEET Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on the sale or transfer of any specified sugar-sweetened beverage product by the manufacturer, producer, or importer thereof. Establishes the rate of such tax as 1cent per 4.2 grams of caloric sweetener contained in such product.

Transfers revenues from such tax to the Prevention and Public Health Fund for the sole purpose of funding programs and research to reduce the human and economic costs of diabetes, obesity, dental caries, and other diet-related health conditions in priority populations.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Taxation
Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants for: (1) comprehensive sex education for adolescents; (2) comprehensive sex education provided by institutions of higher education; and (3) training faculty and staff to teach comprehensive sex education to elementary and secondary school students.

Grants cannot be used for health education programs that:

 deliberately withhold health-promoting or lifesaving information about sexuality-related topics, including HIV; are medically inaccurate or have been scientifically shown to be ineffective; promote gender stereotypes; are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of survivors of sexual abuse or assault, sexually active youth, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth; or are inconsistent with the ethical imperatives of medicine and public health. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to remove limitations on using AIDS prevention program funding for education or information that promotes sexual activity or intravenous substance abuse.

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow funding to be used for contraceptive distribution in schools.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Supporting Colorectal Examination and Education Now Act of 2015 or the SCREEN Act of 2015

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to maintain calendar year 2015 Medicare reimbursement rates for colonoscopy procedures for providers participating in colorectal cancer screening quality improvement registry.

Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing is eliminated for colorectal cancer screening tests, for the removal of tissue or other matter during the screening test, or for a follow-up procedure.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation shall test a payment and service delivery model that is a demonstration project to evaluate the effectiveness of a pre-operative visit before screening colonoscopy and hepatitis C screening.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must reduce the physician fee schedule conversion factor and the hospital outpatient department conversion factor to the extent necessary to reduce expenditures for related items and services to achieve budget-neutral results.

Date: 2015-04-27
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act of 2015

 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to provide coverage of diabetes prevention program services to an eligible diabetes prevention program individual.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the criteria for a diabetes prevention program in accordance with the standards under the National Diabetes Prevention Program established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Excludes items and services under a diabetes prevention program from the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system.

Includes: (1) items and services under a diabetes prevention programs among federally qualified health center services, (2) rates of referrals of eligible individuals to diabetes prevention programs among the quality measures for covered professional services in the Medicare physician quality reporting system, and (3) an individual's diabetes risk assessment in the individual's Medicare personalized prevention plan.

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the National Diabetes Prevention Program presents an opportunity for states to reduce the incidence of diabetes among individuals enrolled in their Medicaid programs under SSAct title XIX.

Date: 2015-04-29
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Vaccinate All Children Act of 2015

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services from awarding grants to public entities of a state for preventive health service programs unless the state requires each student in public elementary or secondary school to be vaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The bill provides an exception for students whose health would be endangered by vaccination in the opinion of a physician conforming to the accepted standard of medical care.

Date: 2015-05-01
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to the establishment of physicians' fee schedules, to extend for 2016 and each subsequent year the classification of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry services as imaging services used in bone mass scans.

The Department of Health and Human Services shall establish national minimum payment amounts for such services as identified by specified Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes and adjusted by the pertinent geographical adjustment factors.

Date: 2015-05-20
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Including Families in Mental Health Recovery Act of 2015

Amends the HITECH Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate regulations clarifying the circumstances under which, consistent with the standards governing the privacy and security of individually identifiable health information promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), health care providers and covered entities may disclose the protected health information of patients with a mental illness, including for purposes of:

 communicating with a patient's family, friends, or caregivers, including about treatments, side effects, risk factors, and the availability of community resources, with or without patient consent; considering the patient's capacity to agree or object to the sharing of patient information; involving a patient's family members, friends, or caregivers in the patient's care plan in dealing with patient failures to adhere to medication or other therapy; communicating with family members, caregivers, law enforcement, or others when the patient presents a serious and imminent threat of harm to self or others; and communicating to law enforcement and family members or caregivers about the admission or release of a patient who was admitted to a facility for an emergency psychiatric hold or involuntary treatment. Requires HHS to: (1) carry out such provisions in coordination with its Office for Civil Rights of HHS; and (2) ensure that the regulations pertaining to such provisions are consistent with the guidance entitled "HIPAA Privacy Rule and Sharing Information Related to Mental Health," issued by HHS on February 20, 2014.

Directs HHS to develop and disseminate model programs for: (1) training health care providers regarding the circumstances under which the protected health information of patients with a mental illness may be disclosed, (2) training lawyers and others in the legal profession on such circumstances, and (3) training patients and their families regarding their rights to protect and obtain information.

Date: 2015-06-09
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
National Prostate Cancer Plan Act

Establishes in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the National Prostate Cancer Council on Screening, Early Detection, Assessment, and Monitoring of Prostate Cancer to: (1) develop and implement a strategic plan for the accelerated development of diagnostic tools for prostate cancer, (2) review the effectiveness of diagnostic tools for prostate cancer, (3) coordinate prostate cancer research and services across federal agencies, (4) evaluate all active federal prostate cancer programs, and (5) ensure the inclusion of men at high risk for prostate cancer in clinical, research, and service efforts.

Directs the Council to submit annual reports. Requires the first report to include recommendations based on an evaluation of prostate cancer research and gaps in the development and validation of diagnostic tools for prostate cancer. Requires subsequent reports to include an outline for a national research plan, roles for specified agencies, an analysis of the disparities in the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer in high-risk men, and a review of the progress towards the realization of the strategic plan.

Terminates the Council on December 31, 2020.

Date: 2015-06-11
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Native American Suicide Prevention Act of 2015

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require a state or state-designated entity, as a condition of receiving a grant or cooperative agreement for development or implementation of a statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention strategy, to agree to consult with each federally recognized Indian tribe and tribal organization and each urban Indian organization regarding the development or implementation of the strategy.

Date: 2015-07-22
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Promoting Healthier Lifelong Improvements in Food and Exercise Act of 2015 or the LIFE Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out a national program to conduct and support activities regarding individuals who are overweight or obese in order to make progress toward the goal of significantly reducing obesity. The activities must include training health professionals, educating the public, and developing and demonstrating intervention strategies for use at worksites and in community settings.

Date: 2015-07-23
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screenings Act (PALS Act)

This bill requires that any provision of law referring to current recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) with respect to breast cancer screening, mammography, and prevention be administered as if: (1) the provision referred to USPSTF recommendations last issued before 2009; and (2) those recommendations applied to any screening mammography modality, including any digital modality of such a procedure. (In 2009, the USPSTF updated its guidelines to recommend against routine screening mammography for women between 40 to 49 years of age and to recommend biennial, instead of annual, screening mammography for most women between 50 to 74 years of age.)

In addition, the bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to preserve Medicare coverage for screening mammography, without a requirement for coinsurance, and expand the definition of screening mammography to include any digital modality of such a procedure.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may not decrease the frequency with which screening mammography may be paid by Medicare for a woman over 39 years of age.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Communities United with Religious leaders for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act of 2015 or CURE Act of 2015

The Office of Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may make grants to health entities, including public health agencies, health centers, community-based organizations, or faith-based organizations for HIV/AIDS: (1) education and outreach activities, (2) prevention and access to treatment, and (3) testing. Priority must be given to applications that propose to serve minority groups with an HIV occurrence rate that exceeds a minimum determined by HHS.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration may make grants to provide HIV testing, counseling, and referral for medical treatment to youth who are members of minority groups, are HIV positive or at risk for HIV/AIDS, and are engaged in substance abuse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may make grants for public health intervention and prevention activities with respect to minority groups, including: (1) rapid HIV testing, (2) measures to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and minimize its symptoms, (3) outreach activities, and (4) referrals to health and mental health resources and health organizations.

The CDC must: (1) expand and intensify HIV/AIDS prevention and education activities for minority groups, and (2) implement a national media outreach campaign that urges sexually active members of minority groups to be tested for and know their HIV/AIDS status.

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities may make grants to study behavioral factors that lead to increased HIV/AIDS prevalence in minority groups.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax-free distribution from a health savings account for amounts paid for membership in, or programs of physical exercise or activity at, a fitness facility.  

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Taxation
Mobile Mammography Promotion Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the motor fuel excise tax fuel used in any highway vehicle designed exclusively to provide mobile mammography services.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Taxation
Educating to Prevent Eating Disorders Act of 2015

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to permit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to establish a pilot program to provide students with interventions for eating disorders. Under this pilot program, grants must be awarded to schools that serve students in grades 6-8 and need a nurse trained in recognizing and responding to eating disorders.

Schools must use these grants to develop best practices for health care providers to assess, recognize, and respond to students with eating disorders and to hire a health care provider to: (1) follow these best practices, (2) provide information and seminars on eating disorders to teachers and parents, and (3) otherwise serve as a full time health care provider for the school.

Date: 2015-12-02
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Comprehensive Behavioral Health Reform and Recovery Act of 2016

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) authorities, oversight, and programs, including to establish various grant programs.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education must: (1) organize a national awareness campaign regarding serious mental illness, and (2) support a public health approach to mental health services.

 This bill amends the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to require HHS to carry out activities regarding disclosure of the protected health information of individuals with mental or substance use disorders.

 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to require state Medicaid plans to cover specified services, including same day primary care and mental health care services.

 Title XVIII (Medicare) of the SSAct is revised, including to eliminate the lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services.

 HHS must award grants for programs and services, including telehealth services provided by psychiatrists or psychologists.

The bill provides liability protection to certain health professional volunteers.

HHS must maintain a Minority Fellowship Program for mental and substance use disorder treatment professionals to improve services for racial and ethnic minority populations.

The bill makes occupational therapists eligible for the National Health Service Corps.

 The bill revises provisions regarding parity between mental health and substance use disorder benefits and medical and surgical benefits.

 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act, including to require practitioners to complete training before dispensing opioids, which are drugs with effects similar to opium, such as certain pain medications.

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must provide support to entities to improve drug overdose surveillance and reporting.

HHS must establish a loan repayment program for substance use disorder health professionals.

Date: 2016-02-02
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Zika Response and Safety Act of 2016

This bill authorizes funds made available in prior appropriation Acts to any federal agency for Ebola response and preparedness to be used for Zika virus response and preparedness.

Date: 2016-02-03
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Zika Is Preventable Plan Act or the ZIPP Act

This bill authorizes funds made available under the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Ebola response and preparedness to also be used for Zika virus response and preparedness.

Date: 2016-02-12
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Zika Authorization Plan Act of 2016

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize grants for state mosquito control programs through FY2020.

Date: 2016-02-12
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Zika Immunization Plan Act or the ZIP Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 10% of qualified research expenses related to the development of a vaccine for the Zika virus.

Date: 2016-02-12
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Taxation
CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act of 2016

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide Medicare coverage for screening computed tomography colonography (CTC) as a colorectal cancer screening test, and (2) exclude screening CTC from a special Medicare payment rule applicable to certain imaging services.

Date: 2016-02-25
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Diabetic Eye Disease Prevention Act of 2016

This bill amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare) to establish a demonstration project through which primary care practices may receive incentives for referring diabetic Medicare beneficiaries to local eye doctors for comprehensive dilated eye exams. The project must test the extent to which these incentives: (1) improve early detection and treatment of diabetes-related vision problems, (2) reduce the cost of Medicare services, and (3) achieve beneficiary satisfaction.

The project shall identify for participation at least 100 primary care practices in at least 10 states that have high per capita costs of diabetes care for Medicare beneficiaries.

Project costs shall be paid from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.

Date: 2016-02-26
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Zika Eradication and Good Government Act of 2016

This bill authorizes amounts made available to any department or agency for Ebola response and preparedness under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 to be used for Zika virus response and preparedness. No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for Zika virus response and preparedness until such amounts have been fully obligated.

The President shall: (1) require all federal officials and employees responsible for insect-bourne infectious disease response and preparedness, including efforts to eradicate such disease, to cooperate by sharing best practices; and (2) report to Congress at specified intervals on the programs and activities of the federal government for Zika virus response and preparedness.

Date: 2016-04-21
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act or the SMASH Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend through FY2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants for mosquito control programs. The grant program is expanded so that grants may be used to address emerging, infectious mosquito-borne diseases and to improve existing control programs. The CDC must give preference to applicants that have: (1) a public health emergency due to a mosquito-borne disease, or (2) a control program that is consistent with existing state preparedness plans. The requirement for matching funds may be waived if the area covered by a grant applicant has an extreme need due to the size or density of the human population, the size or density of the mosquito population, or the severity of the mosquito-borne disease.

Date: 2016-06-13
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act or the SMASH Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend through FY2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants for mosquito control programs. The grant program is expanded so that grants may be used to address emerging, infectious mosquito-borne diseases and to improve existing control programs. The CDC must give preference to applicants that have: (1) a public health emergency due to a mosquito-borne disease, or (2) a control program that is consistent with existing state preparedness plans. The requirement for matching funds may be waived if the area covered by a grant applicant has an extreme need due to the size or density of the human population, the size or density of the mosquito population, or the severity of the mosquito-borne disease.

Date: 2016-06-15
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Zero Impacted Kids in America (ZIKA) Act

This bill provides FY2016 emergency supplemental appropriations to the Departments of State and Health and Human Services (HHS) to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Zika virus and other infectious diseases.

The bill specifies permissible uses for the funds and designates the funds as an emergency requirement, which exempts the funds from discretionary spending limits. The emergency funding is only available if the President also designates the amounts as an emergency requirement.

The bill provides appropriations to HHS for:

 the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to permit Project BioShield to be used to support the advanced development and procurement of medical countermeasures to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat harm from any infectious disease that may pose a threat to the public health. (Under current law, Project BioShield supports only countermeasures against specific chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorist threats.)

The bill provides funds for HHS to award grants to U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands) for the purpose of combating the Zika virus.

The bill provides appropriations to the Department of State for:

 the Administration of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bilateral Economic Assistance, International Security Assistance, and Multilateral Assistance. This bill amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to adjust the FY2017-FY2025 funding levels for the Social Services Block Grant Program.

Date: 2016-09-15
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Donald Payne Sr. Colorectal Cancer Detention Act of 2016

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage and payment, subject to specified frequency limits, of certain colorectal cancer screening blood-based tests.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Preventive Services Medicare Parity Act of 2016

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for Medicare coverage of certain preventive services for which coverage is required by group and individual health insurance plans, and (2) revise the authority of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use the process for making national coverage determinations with respect to determining coverage of additional preventive services.

Date: 2016-12-07
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Gestational Diabetes Act or the GEDI Act

Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a multisite gestational diabetes research project within the diabetes program of the CDC to expand and enhance surveillance data and public health research on gestational diabetes. 

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand and intensify public health research on gestational diabetes, including; (1) developing and testing novel approaches for improving postpartum testing or screening and for preventing type 2 diabetes in women with a history of gestational diabetes, and (2) conducting research to further understanding of the factors and health systems that influence the risk of gestational diabetes and the development of type 2 diabetes in women with a history of gestational diabetes.

Requires the CDC to: (1) award grants for demonstration projects to reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes, the recurrence of such disease in subsequent pregnancies, and the development of type 2 diabetes in women with a history of gestational diabetes; and (2) work with state and Indian tribal-based diabetes prevention and control programs assisted by the CDC to encourage postpartum follow-up after gestational diabetes to reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes and its recurrence, the development of type 2 diabetes in at-risk women, and related complications.

Date: 2015-01-07
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Mobile Mammography Promotion Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the motor fuel excise tax fuel used in any highway vehicle designed exclusively to provide mobile mammography services.

Date: 2015-01-07
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Taxation
Access to Appropriate Immunizations for Veterans Act of 2015

Includes within authorized preventive health services available to veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) immunizations against infectious diseases, including each immunization on the recommended adult immunization schedule established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Requires the inclusion, in an annual report from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on VA preventive health services, of programs conducted to ensure that veterans have received each immunization on such immunization schedule at the appropriate time.

Directs the Secretary to develop and implement quality measures and metrics to ensure that veterans receiving VA medical services receive each immunization at the time indicated on the schedule. Requires statistics related to such quality measures and metrics to be included in the annual report described above. Provides deadlines for the publication and implementation of the measures and metrics.

Date: 2015-01-13
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Fitness Integrated Into Teaching Kids Act or the FIT Kids Act 

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize and amend the Carol M. White Physical Education Program. The program is administered by the Department of Education (ED) and awards grants to local educational agencies, community-based organizations, and states to initiate, expand, and improve physical education programs for kindergarten through 12th grade students.

Of the funds appropriated for the program, ED must reserve a portion to award competitive grants for states to implement comprehensive programs based on: (1) scientifically valid research, and (2) an analysis of need that considers indicators in a state system measuring conditions related to physical fitness, physical education, student health, and nutrition.

A state applying for a competitive grant must submit: (1) an analysis of needs in the areas of physical activity, physical education, fitness, and nutrition; (2) a plan for improvement; and (3) a description of how the state will implement a measurement system, coordinate with other state and federal programs, assist local educational agencies, and award subgrants.

States receiving competitive grants must: (1) reserve no more than 5% of the funds for administration, technical assistance, professional development for teachers, and a measurement system; and (2) use the remaining funds for competitive subgrants.

States receiving grants must also: establish a statewide physical education requirement, implement a measurement system, provide a public report including data from the measurement system, award subgrants using specified criteria, use the measurement system to assist subgrantees in addressing needs, provide professional development for teachers, and monitor subgrants.

Date: 2015-04-23
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Education
Supporting Colorectal Examination and Education Now Act of 2015 or the SCREEN Act of 2015

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to maintain calendar year 2015 Medicare reimbursement rates for colonoscopy procedures for providers participating in colorectal cancer screening quality improvement registry.

Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing is eliminated for colorectal cancer screening tests, for the removal of tissue or other matter during the screening test, or for a follow-up procedure.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation shall test a payment and service delivery model that is a demonstration project to evaluate the effectiveness of a pre-operative visit before screening colonoscopy and hepatitis C screening.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must reduce the physician fee schedule conversion factor and the hospital outpatient department conversion factor to the extent necessary to reduce expenditures for related items and services to achieve budget-neutral results.

Date: 2015-04-23
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act of 2015

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to provide coverage of diabetes prevention program services to an eligible diabetes prevention program individual.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the criteria for a diabetes prevention program in accordance with the standards under the National Diabetes Prevention Program established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Excludes items and services under a diabetes prevention program from the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system.

Includes: (1) items and services under a diabetes prevention programs among federally qualified health center services, (2) rates of referrals of eligible individuals to diabetes prevention programs in Medicare quality reporting requirements, and (3) an individual's diabetes risk assessment in the individual's Medicare personalized prevention plan.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that the National Diabetes Prevention Program presents an opportunity for states to reduce the incidence of diabetes among individuals enrolled in their Medicaid programs under SSAct title XIX.

Date: 2015-04-29
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
USPSTF Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the scope and responsibilities of the United States Preventive Services Task Force to require it to: (1) publish research plans to guide its review of scientific evidence relating to the effectiveness of preventive services; (2) make evidence reports and recommendations available for public comment; (3) establish a system for grading preventive care (Grades A, B, C, and D and a Grade I for insufficient information); and (4) convene a preventive services stakeholders board to provide feedback on Task Force activities and recommend preventive services and scientific evidence for the Task Force to review. Members of the Task Force and the preventive services stakeholders board are considered federal employees for purposes of disclosure and management of conflicts of interest.

The Government Accountability Office must submit a report that: (1) lists current recommendations of the Task Force; (2) compares Task Force recommendations and recommendations of other federal health agencies, national medical professional societies, and patient and disease advocacy organizations; and (3) analyzes the impact of Task Force recommendations on public and private insurance coverage, access, and outcomes, including the impact on morbidity and mortality.

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the authority of HHS to make no payment for a preventive service that has not been graded by the Task Force.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish a report at least every 10 years that contains physical activity recommendations for the general public based on the most current scientific and medical knowledge, including information for population subgroups, as needed.

HHS must publish updated reports that detail evidence-based practices and highlight continuing physical activity issues between the publications of full reports. Updated reports may focus on particular population subgroups or issues relating to physical activity.

Date: 2015-07-16
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Vaccinate America's Children through Complete Information & Education Act of 2015

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require a state to certify that it has established, in its pediatric vaccine distribution program, administrative procedures regarding nonmedical exemptions from state immunization requirements.

These procedures must include at least two of the following prerequisites for granting a nonmedical exemption:

 the child's parent or guardian shall discuss the consequences of nonvaccination with the child's primary care provider, as noted in the child's medical record; the child's parent or guardian shall read, sign, and submit to the state a form discussing the risks of nonvaccination; the child's parent of guardian shall submit to the state a notarized letter describing why the exemption is being sought; or all medical exemptions shall be granted for only a one-year period and shall be required to be renewed annually only if the child's parent or guardian wants the exemption to continue for another year. A state that does not comply with these requirements is subject to a monetary penalty.

Date: 2015-08-04
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screenings Act or the PALS Act

This bill requires that any provision of law referring to current recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) with respect to breast cancer screening, mammography, and prevention be administered as if: (1) the provision referred to USPSTF recommendations last issued before 2009; and (2) those recommendations applied to any screening mammography modality, including any digital modality of such a procedure. (In 2009, USPSTF updated its guidelines to recommend against routine screening mammography for women between 40 to 49 years of age and to recommend biennial, instead of annual, screening mammography for most women between 50 to 74 years of age.)

In addition, the bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to preserve Medicare coverage for screening mammography, without a requirement for coinsurance, and expand the definition of screening mammography to include any digital modality of such a procedure.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid may not revise the frequency with which screening mammography may be paid by Medicare for a woman over 39 years of age.

Date: 2015-08-04
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Mental Health and Safe Communities Act of 2015

This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants for: (1) mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, (2) state compliance with federal mental health records requirements, (3) court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment, (4) pretrial screening and supervision, (5) behavioral health assessments and intervention, (6) forensic assertive community treatment, and (7) the establishment of a National Criminal Justice and Mental Health Training and Technical Assistance Center.

In addition, the bill expands the purposes for which grant funds may be used under existing programs related to: (1) public safety and community policing, (2) staffing for adequate fire and emergency response, (3) school security, and (4) residential substance abuse treatment for inmates.

DOJ must establish a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of diverting eligible offenders to drug or mental health courts.

Each of the federal uniformed services must be provided specialized mental health training.

With respect to an existing grant program for drug treatment alternatives to incarceration, the bill revises program requirements and expands the program to also cover mental health treatment alternatives.

Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015

DOJ is further authorized to award grants: (1) for sequential intercept mapping, which is aimed at minimizing criminal justice involvement for individuals with mental illness; (2) for various programs related to the behavioral health of veterans; (3) to assist correctional facilities in addressing the needs of inmates with mental illness; and (4) to train law enforcement in responding to situations involving individuals with mental illness.

The bill revises the definition of "preliminarily qualified offenders" who must be targeted by certain grant-funded collaboration programs between mental health and justice agencies.

The bill reauthorizes through FY2020 and revises the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act of 2007.

Current law prohibits the sale or disposition of a firearm or ammunition to any person who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution. The bill instead prohibits such a sale or disposition to any person who has been adjudicated mentally incompetent or committed to a psychiatric hospital, as defined by the bill.

The bill also establishes: (1) procedures for administrative review of a determination that a person has been adjudicated mentally incompetent or committed to a psychiatric hospital, and (2) conditions for removal of records from NICS.

The bill reauthorizes through FY2020 the following: (1) adult and juvenile collaboration programs, and (2) mental health courts and qualified drug treatment programs.

Date: 2015-08-05
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Crime and law enforcement
Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2015 or the PHIT Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a medical care tax deduction for up to $1,000 ($2,000 for a joint return or a head of household) of qualified sports and fitness expenses. The bill defines "qualified sports and fitness expenses" as amounts paid exclusively for the sole purpose of participating in a physical activity, including: (1) for membership at a fitness facility, (2) for participation or instruction in physical exercise or activity, or (3) for equipment used in a program (including a self-directed program) of physical exercise or activity.

Date: 2015-10-29
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Taxation
Workforce Health Improvement Program Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the tax exclusion of the value of on-premises employer-provided athletic facilities. The bill provides for an exclusion from the gross income of an employee for: (1) the value of any on-premises employer-provided athletic facility; and (2) so much of the fess, dues, or other membership expenses paid by an employer on behalf of an employee, but not exceeding $900 per employee per year. The bill sets forth an expanded definition of "athletic or fitness facility," which specifies that the health or fitness component of such a facility cannot be incidental to its overall function and purpose.

The bill also allows an employer to claim a tax deduction for the fees, dues, or membership expenses paid to an athletic or fitness facility on behalf of an employee.

Date: 2015-11-18
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Taxation
Patient Safety Improvement Act of 2016

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and stakeholders, to develop a framework to improve the consistency and reliability of hospital data on health care-associated infections. AHRQ must establish a pilot program to test collection and reporting of health care-associated infections data by additional health facilities.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must support: (1) state-based collaboratives implementing infection prevention, control, and surveillance; and (2) state medical boards that require health care professionals to complete coursework or training in patient safety topics.

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) and title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require participating hospitals to: (1) transmit information about a patient's infection to the patient and the patient's other health care providers, and (2) require new members of a participating hospital's board to receive training on patient safety topics.

The CDC must: (1) issue an electronic form for providers to use to transmit information about infections, and (2) support and conduct antibiotic stewardship activities.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must require that acute care hospitals report antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance.

Patient safety organizations may collect patient-reported information. AHRQ must research best practices for enabling this collection of information and establish a public website to access data from the network of patient safety databases.

Date: 2016-01-27
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Zika Response and Safety Act of 2016

This bill authorizes funds made available in prior appropriation Acts to any federal agency for Ebola response and preparedness to be used for Zika virus response and preparedness.

Date: 2016-02-09
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Thorough Evaluation of State Testing to Kick-start Investigations before Damage is Suffered Act or the TEST KIDS Act

This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to direct states to report the number of residents under two years old who have elevated blood lead levels.

The CDC must identify areas where children with high blood lead levels are concentrated and investigate the sources of lead in those areas.

Date: 2016-02-25
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act of 2015

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and Internal Revenue Code to direct the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury to require group health plans and health insurers to disclose specified information regarding compliance of plans or coverage with requirements for parity between mental health and substance use disorder benefits and medical and surgical benefits. Information that must be disclosed includes the specific analyses performed to ensure parity, findings and conclusions regarding parity in applying nonquantitative treatment limitations (e.g., tiered benefits, step therapy, or preauthorization), and a comparison of denials of claims between types of benefits.

HHS, Labor, and Treasury must: (1) issue guidance on the process for current and potential participants and beneficiaries to file formal complaints of plans or insurers being in violation of the requirement for parity, and (2) conduct audits of plans and insurers to determine compliance with parity requirements and publish information from those audits.

HHS must establish a consumer parity unit to collect and respond to complaints and provide information to consumers on parity. Plans and insurers must respond to consumer complaints received by the unit.

State health insurance commissioners must report on compliance of plans and insurers with parity requirements and include a comparison of benefits.

The Government Accountability Office must report on HHS, Labor, and Treasury efforts to enforce parity.

Date: 2016-03-07
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health
Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2016

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award competitive grants for: (1) comprehensive sex education for adolescents, (2) comprehensive sex education provided by institutions of higher education, and (3) training faculty and staff to teach comprehensive sex education to elementary and secondary school students.

Grants cannot be used for health education programs that:

 deliberately withhold health-promoting or lifesaving information about sexuality-related topics, including HIV; are medically inaccurate or have been scientifically shown to be ineffective; promote gender stereotypes; are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of survivors of sexual abuse or assault, sexually active youth, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth; or are inconsistent with the ethical imperatives of medicine and public health. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to remove limitations on using AIDS prevention program funding for education or information that promotes certain sexual activity or intravenous substance abuse.

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow funding to be used for contraceptive distribution in schools.

This bill amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to repeal the program for abstinence education. Unobligated funds for abstinence education for FY2016 and FY2017 are transferred and made available to carry out this Act.

Date: 2016-04-07
Topic: Health (Disease Prevention)
Subject: Health