zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Preventing Diabetes in Medicare Act of 2015

 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend Medicare coverage to medical nutrition therapy services for people with pre-diabetes and risk factors for developing type-2 diabetes.

Date: 2015-03-26
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat membership in a tax-exempt health care sharing ministry as coverage under a high deductible health plan for purposes of the tax deduction for contributions to a health savings account.

Date: 2015-04-13
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to eliminate the funding mechanism for the transitional reinsurance program. Currently, issuers of individual, group, and self-funded plans are required to pay a fee in 2014, 2015, and 2016 to fund the three-year transitional reinsurance program. Under the transitional reinsurance program, non-grandfathered individual market plans that enroll high-cost individuals are eligible for reinsurance payments. This bill eliminates the requirement for issuers to pay a fee in 2015 and 2016. Instead, it authorizes appropriations for the program.

This bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to audit 2014 expenditures under the transitional reinsurance program.

Date: 2015-04-16
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use the Secretary's existing authority to furnish health care to veterans at non-VA facilities to provide health care at non-VA facilities to veterans who reside more than 40 miles driving distance from the closest VA medical facility providing the care they seek.

Date: 2015-04-21
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
No Exemption for Washington from Obamacare Act

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to extend the requirement for participation in a health insurance exchange to the President, Vice President, executive branch political appointees, and employees of congressional committees and leadership offices of Congress. Currently, this requirement applies to Members of Congress and their staff.

The government is prohibited from contributing to or subsidizing the health insurance coverage of officials and employees subject to this requirement.

Date: 2015-04-22
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015 

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, beginning with taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans).

Date: 2015-04-28
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Improving the Quality of Disability Decisions Act of 2015

This bill amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to direct the Social Security Administration (SSA) to conduct pre-effectuation and post-effectuation quality reviews of hearing dispositions with respect to decisions in connection with applications for OASDI or SSI benefits, in a sufficient number to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and other guidance.

The SSA shall report annually Congress on: (1) the total number of cases selected for quality review, (2) the number in which a decision is remanded, and (3) the number in which a decision is modified or reversed.

Date: 2015-04-30
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Social welfare
Flexible Spending Account Act or the FSA Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal after 2015 the $2,500 limitation on salary reduction contributions to a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan.

Date: 2015-05-01
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Directs the Department of Defense to provide transportation on scheduled and unscheduled military flights within the United States and on scheduled overseas flights on a space-available basis for veterans with a service-connected, permanent disability rated as total on the same basis as such transportation is provided to members of the Armed Forces entitled to retired or retainer pay.

Date: 2015-05-12
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Rural Veterans Travel Enhancement Act of 2015

Makes permanent the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to transport individuals to and from VA facilities in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling, examination, treatment, or care.

Treats Vet Centers (centers for readjustment counseling and related mental health services for veterans) as VA facilities for purposes of providing payment of actual expenses of travel or allowance for travel to or from a VA facility.

Amends the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 to reauthorize through FY2020 a grant program to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas.

Date: 2015-05-13
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Empowering Patients First Act of 2015

This bill repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. This bill replaces those provisions with amendments to the Internal Revenue Code, the Public Health Service Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to address health care coverage.

The bill provides for refundable tax credits for health insurance coverage and health savings account (HSA) contributions.

The bill raises the annual HSA contribution limit, expands eligibility for tax-deductible HSA contributions, and allows HSAs to be used to pay periodic or capitated primary care fees.

A limit is placed on the amount of an employer's contribution to health coverage that can be excluded from the employee's taxable income.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must provide a grant to each state for high-risk pools or reinsurance pools to subsidize health insurance for high-risk populations and individuals.

Funds authorized, tax credits, and tax deductions under this Act may not be used to pay for an abortion or health coverage that includes abortion, with exceptions.

This bill provides for the establishment and governance of independent health pools, entities that form risk pools to offer health insurance coverage to their members.

Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015

This bill provides for the establishment and governance of association health plans, which are group health plans sponsored by business associations that meet certain ERISA certification requirements.

Health insurers offering individual coverage may deny coverage to an individual, outside of open enrollment periods. Preexisting conditions may be excluded from coverage under certain conditions.

Individual health insurance coverage is governed by the laws of a state designated by the health insurance issuer.

HHS must issue clinical practice guidelines. The bill specifies how these guidelines may be used in a health care lawsuit.

HHS may not use comparative effectiveness research or patient-centered outcomes research to deny coverage of an item or service under a federal health care program. This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit Medicare beneficiaries to contract with a physician or practitioner for covered health care and submit a claim for payment under Medicare. Health care professionals are exempted from federal and state antitrust laws in connection with negotiations with a health plan to provide health care items or services.

Date: 2015-05-13
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Seniors' Health Care Choice Act of 2015 

 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish: (1) a special enrollment period under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) for an individual enrolled in COBRA (health insurance continuation benefits) continuation coverage who elected not to enroll under part B during the individual's initial enrollment period, and (2) a three-month open enrollment period starting with 2015 and recurring in the first three months of each subsequent year in which a Medicare Advantage (MA)-eligible individual under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice) may change his or her Medicare enrollment election.

Date: 2015-05-20
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act of 2015

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (in effect, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to report to specified congressional committees by May 1 of each year on enrollment data for all Medicare programs (including on individuals receiving benefits under Medicare part A [Hospital Insurance]) for the plan year or, in the case of enrollment under both part A and part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance), for the fiscal year or year (as applicable), ending before January 1.

The report must also cover enrollment under a MedicareAdvantage plan under part C (Medicare+Choice Program) and enrollment under part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program).

If HHS is unable to submit such a report by May 1 of any year it shall notify those committees of the inability by April 30, with an explanation and the date by which the report will be made, which shall be not later than June 1.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Seniors' Health Care Plan Protection Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) States the intent of Congress to: (1) continue to study and request input on the effects of socioeconomic status and dual-eligible populations on the Medicare Advantage (MA) STARS rating system before reforming it, and, pending study and input results; (2) delay Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services authority to terminate MA plan contracts solely on the basis of performance under the STARS rating system.

Amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services, through the end of plan year 2018, from terminating a contract with respect to the offering of an MA plan by a MA organization solely because the plan has failed to achieve a minimum quality rating under the 5-star rating system.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends part C (Medicare+Choice) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services, by regulation and in accordance with certain notice and public comment requirements, to determine and announce annually for 2017 and each subsequent year:

 the annual MedicareAdvantage (MA) capitation rate for each MA payment area for the year concerned, the risk and other factors to be used in adjusting such rates for monthly payments in such year, the MA region-specific non-drug monthly benchmark amount for each MA region and each MA regional plan for which a bid was submitted, and the major policy changes to the risk adjustment model and the 5-star rating system that are determined to have an economic impact.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Helping Veterans Save for Health Care Act of 2015 

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that a veteran receiving hospital care or medical services for a service-connected disabililty is not disqualified from participating in or contributing to a tax-preferred health savings account.

Date: 2015-05-21
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Preservation of Access for Seniors in Medicare Advantage Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a three-year demonstration program (extendable if necessary to four or five years) to test the use of value-based insurance design methodologies under the eligible Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offered by MA organizations under part C (Medicare+Choice Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSAct).

"Value-based insurance design methodology" is one for identifying specific prescription medications, and clinical services payable under Medicare, for which copayments, coinsurance, or both would improve the management of specific chronic clinical conditions because of the high value and effectiveness of such medications and services for such specific chronic clinical conditions, as approved by HHS.

HHS may expand the duration and scope of the demonstration program to an appropriate extent if specified requirements are met.

(Sec. 3) The annual 45-day period for disenrollment from MA plans to elect to receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service program, and to elect coverage under part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program), shall end on December 31, 2015.

Starting in 2016, a Medicare Advantage eligible individual, during the first three months of any year, may change a previous election to elect to receive benefits through the original Medicare fee-for-service program or an MA plan, and to elect coverage under part D.

This continuous open enrollment and disenrollment period during the first three months of any year starting in 2016 shall apply with respect to a prescription drug plan only in the case of an individual who, previous to such change in enrollment, is enrolled in a MA plan.

No unsolicited marketing or marketing materials may be sent to such an eligible individual during the continuous open enrollment and disenrollment period.

(Sec. 4) This bill also amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of SSAct title XVIII to revise requirements (in effect, changing payment methodologies from 95% of the Average Wholesale Price to the Average Sales Price plus six) for payments for infusion drugs and biologicals furnished through durable medical equipment on or after January 1, 2017.

(Sec. 5) It is the sense of Congress that HHS:

 has incorrectly interpreted the determination of blended benchmark amounts as prohibiting any Medicare quality incentive payments with respect to MA plans that exceed the payment benchmark cap for the area served by those plans; and should immediately apply quality incentive payments with respect to such MA plans without regard to specified limits.

Date: 2015-05-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Restoring Equity, Saving Coverage, and Undoing Errors Act of 2015 or the RESCUE America's Health Care Act of 2015

This bill applies only: (1) if the Supreme Court determines that the premium tax credit under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is not applicable to health plans purchased through the federal health insurance exchange, and (2) in states without a state health insurance exchange.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for individuals with health insurance who are ineligible for federal health care and not enrolled in an employer-subsidized group health plan.

The Department of the Treasury must make payments to health insurers on behalf of taxpayers eligible for the tax credit.

This bill repeals certain provisions of PPACA and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 relating to health insurance, health savings accounts, and health flexible spending accounts. Provisions amended by the repealed provisions are restored.

Any health plan fulfills an individual's requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage.

Dental plans no longer need to provide pediatric dental benefits to be offered on a health insurance exchange.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to define individual health pools (IHPs) as nonprofit entities that form health insurance risk pools. IHPs are prohibited from conditioning membership on an individual's health status and must offer the same coverage to all members. State benefit requirements and restrictions on premium variation do not apply to IHPs.

Health insurers in the individual market must offer coverage to all individuals.

A health insurer may exclude coverage for a preexisting condition or vary premiums based on health status only for individuals who have not had continuous coverage for the last 18 months.

Date: 2015-06-04
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Insurance Rate Transparency Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to report to Congress within 30 days of receiving information on health insurance premium increases for the 2016 plan year on the increase with information presented according to specified categories of consumers (e.g., single, non-smoking male who is 30 years of age).

Date: 2015-06-09
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Commonsense Reporting and Verification Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Treasury to implement and maintain a voluntary prospective reporting system for employers subject to the employer mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Employers satisfy the information return requirement if they voluntarily report general information about the health coverage offered to full-time employees. Employers satisfy the employee statement requirement if they provide statements to employees after receiving exchange notification that employee or spouse or dependent enrolled in a qualified health plan or qualified for premium tax credits or cost-sharing subsidies.

The legislation amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) permit employers and health insurance issuers that provide minimum essential coverage to submit an information return with names and birth dates of covered dependents if the employer or health insurance issuer does not already collect or maintain their taxpayer identification numbers, and (2) permit electronic delivery of employee statement if employee consented previously to electronic delivery of other notices and does not refuse consent in writing.

It directs the Government Accountability Office to: (1) evaluate the exchange notification and appeals processes for employers whose employee or spouse or dependent enrolls in a qualified health plan or qualifies for premium tax credits or cost-sharing subsidies, and (2) evaluate the prospective reporting system functionality.

The legislation permits a health insurance exchange to automatically reenroll an individual into a qualified health plan after annually redetermining the individual's eligibility for premium tax credits or cost-sharing subsidies.

Date: 2015-06-10
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act of 2015

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require a group or individual health plan that covers anticancer medications administered by a health care provider to provide no less favorable coverage for anticancer medications administered by a patient. A plan may apply to patient-administered anticancer medications only the cost-sharing and limitations that apply to anticancer medications administered by a health care provider.

These requirements apply to medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration that is prescribed based on a finding by the treating physician that the medication is medically necessary for cancer treatment and is clinically appropriate in terms of type, frequency, extent site, and duration.

To comply with these requirements, health plans may not, for anticancer medications: (1) change or replace benefits to increase out-of-pocket costs; (2) reclassify benefits to increase costs; or (3) apply more restrictive limitations to orally administered medications than to intravenously administered or injected medications.

Date: 2015-06-11
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Help Extend Auditory Relief (HEAR) Act of 2015 

 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover aural rehabilitation services, hearing aids as durable medical equipment, audiology rehabilitation services, and related hearing services.

Date: 2015-06-12
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Patient Freedom Act of 2015

This bill provides states with three options regarding title I (provisions on health insurance reform, exchanges, and subsidies) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA): (1) continue implementing PPACA, (2) do not apply title I of PPACA except to prohibit lifetime or annual limits on health insurance benefits and require coverage of dependents up to 26 years old, or (3) the second option plus implementation of a health savings account (HSA) deposit system.

In states implementing an HSA deposit system, residents who are enrolled in health insurance coverage that meets state standards receive monthly deposits in their HSAs either from states administering federal funds or as a tax credit paid in advance. States that administer deposits are entitled to payments from the Department of Health and Human Services for population health initiatives.

States with an HSA deposit system must offer a health insurance plan that is continually available for enrollment and penalize residents who have a break in coverage.

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to disregard assets in an HSA for purposes of determining Medicaid eligibility and benefits except for long-term care services.

This bill amends SSAct title XVIII (Medicare) to require participating hospitals to limit costs to individuals for uncovered emergency medical care.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the requirement that an individual have a high deductible health plan to be eligible for the tax benefits of an HSA.

HSAs can be used to pay premiums for health insurance that meets specified requirements.

HSA tax benefits only apply to payments for health care for which the provider publishes the price.

Date: 2015-06-12
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Tax Free Health Insurance Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer a deduction from gross income of insurance premiums paid for the health care coverage of the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse and dependents. Makes such deduction available to taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize their deductions.

Date: 2015-06-17
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Planning Actively for Cancer Treatment (PACT) Act of 2015

 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of cancer care planning and coordination services.

Date: 2015-06-23
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015

 Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for establishment and governance of association health plans (AHPs), which are group health plans whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations, and which meet certain ERISA certification requirements.

Prescribes rules governing AHPs, including requirements relating to certification, sponsors and boards of trustees, participation and coverage, nondiscrimination, contribution rates, notice of voluntary termination, correction actions, and mandatory termination.

Establishes the Association Health Plan Fund to be used to make payments to an insurer to maintain coverage for a plan if there is a reasonable expectation that, without such payments, claims would not be satisfied by reason of termination of coverage.

Requires the Secretary of Labor to establish a Solvency Standards Working Group.

Allows a state to impose a contribution tax on an association health plan that commenced operations in such state after the enactment of this Act.

Preempts any state law that may preclude a health insurance issuer from: (1) offering health insurance coverage in connection with a certified AHP; or (2) offering health insurance coverage of the same policy type to other employers operating in the state that are eligible for coverage under such AHPs, whether or not such other employers are participating employers in such plan.

Subjects to criminal penalties a person who willfully makes false representations with respect to an AHP.

Date: 2015-06-24
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Small Business Healthcare Relief Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow an employer with fewer than 50 employees that does not offer group health insurance coverage to establish a health reimbursement arrangement. Under the arrangement, funds contributed by an employer are excluded from the employer's taxable income and are used to pay or reimburse employees for medical care expenses, including premiums for individual health insurance coverage or Medicare supplemental insurance.

Such a reimbursement arrangement: (1) must not pay premiums for an employee covered by a family member's coverage, (2) must be offered to all eligible employees on the same terms and may only vary based on the number of individuals covered, and (3) is not required to provide continuation coverage.

Employer contributions to a reimbursement arrangement are not included in an employee's gross income if the employee was covered by the reimbursement arrangement for more than nine months of the year. Employees covered for less than nine months have a percentage of employer contributions included in their gross income, with exceptions.

An employee offered affordable individual health insurance coverage under a reimbursement arrangement is not eligible for a premium assistance tax credit.

Employers must report contributions to a reimbursement arrangement on their employees' W-2.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to exempt reimbursement arrangements from requirements for health insurance coverage. Insurance offered under a reimbursement arrangement remains subject to the requirements.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Veteran Continuity of Care Act

This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to eliminate the 60-day limit on follow-up health care provided under the veterans choice program.

Date: 2015-07-08
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Helping Save Americans' Health Care Choices Act of 2015 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to health savings accounts (HSAs), to:

 eliminate the requirement that a participant in an HSA be enrolled in a high deductible health care plan; increase the maximum contribution amount to an HSA; permit both spouses in an HSA to make catch-up contributions to the same account; allow the use of HSAs to pay health insurance premiums and long-term care insurance premiums; treat fees paid in advance for the right to receive medical services as a deductible medical expense; permit Medicare recipients to participate in HSAs; repeal the restriction on payments from HSAs for nonprescription drugs; repeal the additional tax on distributions from HSAs and Archer Medical Savings Accounts; and repeal the $2,500 limitation on salary reduction contributions to a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan.

Date: 2015-07-09
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Medicare Ventricular Assist Device Access Act of 2015

 Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to revise the Medicare national coverage determination relating to coverage of ventricular assist devices to extend the coverage of such devices under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for individuals approved for heart transplantation to apply also to: (1) individuals undergoing an evaluation to determine candidacy for heart transplantation; and (2) individuals who would be heart transplant candidates, but are not so eligible because of a contraindication that may be favorably modified by the use of a ventricular assist device.

Directs HHS to use specified processes to revise its national coverage determination relating to ventricular assist devices to incorporate the requirements of this Act.

Date: 2015-07-14
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Better Enrollment Options Protect Employee Needs Act or the Be Open Act

This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to repeal the requirement that employers with more than 200 full-time employees that offer enrollment in one or more health benefits plans automatically enroll all new full-time employees in one of those plans.

Date: 2015-07-16
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Labor and employment
Fund Essential Menstruation Products Act of 2015 or the FEM Products Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand the tax exclusion for reimbursements from a health flexible spending arrangement to include amounts paid or incurred for feminine hygiene products.

Date: 2015-07-20
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
Youth Parity Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the medical expenses of dependents who have not attained the age of 26 years before the close of the calendar year to be paid from a health savings account. 

Date: 2015-07-23
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Veterans Emergency Treatment Act or the VET Act

(Sec. 1) This bill declares that, if a veteran who is enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care program requests a medical examination or treatment at an emergency department of a VA medical facility, the veteran shall be provided with:

 a medical screening examination to determine whether an emergency medical condition exists; and if an emergency condition exists, stabilizing medical treatment or transfer to another VA or non-VA medical facility. The VA is deemed to have met such requirements if it offers to transfer the veteran to another medical facility, informs the veteran of the transfer's risks and benefits, and the veteran refuses to consent to the transfer.

If a non-stabilized emergency medical condition exists the VA hospital may not transfer the veteran unless:

 the veteran (or individual), after being made aware of the risks, makes a written transfer request; a physician certifies that the medical benefits of a transfer outweigh the risks to the veteran and, in the case of a woman in labor, to the unborn child; if a physician is not present in the emergency department at the time of transfer, a qualified medical person has made such certification after a physician has determined that a transfer's benefit outweighs the risk and a physician subsequently countersigns the qualified medical person's certification; and the transfer is to a medical facility with the necessary treatment capacities. A VA or non-VA medical facility that has specialized capabilities or facilities (such as burn units, shock-trauma units, neonatal intensive care units, or, with respect to rural areas, regional referral centers) shall not refuse to accept a transfer if the facility has the capacity to treat the veteran.

A VA or non-VA medical facility may not delay a medical screening examination or further medical examination and treatment in order to inquire about a veteran's payment method or insurance status.

The VA may not take adverse action against a VA employee because the employee refuses to authorize the transfer of an enrolled veteran with a non-stabilized emergency medical condition or because the employee reports a violation of this bill.

Date: 2015-07-27
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Providing Innovative Care for Complex Cases Demonstration Act of 2015

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish a pilot program to demonstrate improvements in patient care and cost savings for the highest-cost Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries through enrollment of such beneficiaries with participating organizations. The program shall be designed to provide comprehensive and integrated care management and services through a network of health care providers to meet the specialized needs of such beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must design the program in such a manner as to preserve the operation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

A participating organization must meet the same requirements that apply to a Medicare Advantage (MA) organization. CMS must develop quality performance standards and, using an integrated care model, care management requirements for participating organizations.

For each individual enrolled under the program, CMS shall make a monthly capitated payment to the participating organization as would be made for an individual enrolled in an MA plan (excluding MA prescription drug plans), except that the amount of payment shall: (1) equal 98% of the projected cost under the Medicare FFS program for the highest-cost Medicare FFS beneficiaries; and (2) be adjusted to account for differences in costs among different geographic areas and among high-cost Medicare FFS beneficiaries, including outlier costs.

CMS must report to Congress on the performance of the program within two years of initial enrollment.

Date: 2015-07-28
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Seniors Have Eyes, Ears, and Teeth Act

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand Medicare coverage to include eyeglasses, hearing aids, and dental care.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Timely Payment for Veterans' Medical Care Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into contracts with an eligible entity to serve as an administrative contractor with respect to the performance of any or all of the following functions relating to providing medical care and hospital services in non-VA facilities:

 determining and making the payments required to be made to a non-VA facility; providing education and outreach to individuals enrolled in the patient enrollment system; providing consultative services to institutions, agencies, and other persons to enable them to maintain necessary fiscal records; communicating to non-VA facilities any information or instructions furnished to the administrative contractor by the VA; and performing functions relating to non-VA facility education, training, and technical assistance. An administrative contractor that performs such payment-related functions shall implement a contractor-wide information security program.

The VA shall use claims payment error rates or similar methodology of administrative contractors in the processing or reviewing of claims in order to give such contractors an incentive to implement effective education and outreach programs for non-VA facilities.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Dental and Optometric Care Access Act or the DOC Access Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group health plans and individual health insurance coverage from setting rates for items and services provided by a doctor of optometry, of dental surgery, or of dental medicine for which the plan or insurer does not pay a substantial amount.

An agreement between a plan or insurer and such a doctor: (1) may only be changed with the doctor's acknowledgement and acceptance, and (2) may not last longer than two years if the agreement is for limited scope dental or vision benefits.

Such a doctor must be allowed to participate in a: (1) plan or coverage without accepting terms for ancillary services or procedures, and (2) provider network without participating in a specific limited scope dental or vision benefit plan.

Plans and insurers may not: (1) directly communicate with an enrolled individual in a manner that interferes with an existing doctor-patient relationship or a state or federal requirement, or (2) restrict such a doctor's choice of laboratories or suppliers.

The bill establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by a violation of this Act.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
State Health Care Options Act of 2015 

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Internal Revenue Code to modify the process for state innovation waivers.

(Under current law, the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] and the Department of the Treasury may approve a state's request to waive specific provisions of PPACA if the state proposal provides health care access that is comparable to what would exist without a waiver and does not increase the federal deficit.)

The bill expedites the approval process for:

 a health-flex waiver from requirements for qualified health plans and essential health benefits; and an exchange waiver to assume responsibility for certain functions of the exchanges, including the certification of permissible health plans. If a state submits to HHS a notice of its intent to implement one or both of the waivers, the waivers shall be deemed to be approved and effective. The notice must include the years for which the waiver shall be effective (which may be indefinite), an assurance the state will comply with reporting requirements, and other specified details.

A state may not waive PPACA requirements related to coverage for preexisting conditions and the extension of coverage for adult children.

States with exchange waivers may certify permissible health plans that residents may purchase outside of an exchange, if the plans meet specified requirements regarding benefits, levels of coverage, transparency of premium justifications, and information.

Taxpayers in waiver states that are living at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (400% under current law) may receive health insurance subsidies under PPACA.

Date: 2015-07-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
VA Billing Accountability Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to waive the requirement that a veteran make copayments for medications, hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services if:

 an error committed by the VA or a VA employee was the cause of delaying copayment notification to the veteran, and the veteran received such notification later than 120 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which the veteran received the care or services. In requiring a veteran to make a copayment for care or services provided at a VA or a non-VA medical facility the VA shall notify the veteran not later than 120 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which the veteran received the care or services. If the VA does not provide notification by such date it may not collect the payment, including through a third-party entity, unless the veteran is provided with:

 information about applying for a waiver and establishing a payment plan with the VA, and opportunity to make a waiver or establish a payment plan. The VA shall review and improve its copayment billing internal controls and notification procedures.

Date: 2015-09-17
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 5, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to roll back the increased threshold for determining the amount of the tax deduction for medical expenses. Currently, individual taxpayers under age 65 may only deduct those medical expenses that exceed 10% of their adjusted gross income. This bill reduces that percentage to 7.5% for all taxpayers for tax years beginning after December 31, 2015.  

The threshold percentage remains at 10% for purposes of computing the alternative minimum tax (AMT).

Date: 2015-09-22
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Taxation
HIV Clinical Services Improvement Act

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require payment under the Medicaid program for services furnished by recipients of Ryan White Part C grants, which support comprehensive primary care in outpatient settings for individuals living with HIV.

Providers must be paid an amount equivalent to the prior average costs of providing these services. However, a state plan may establish an alternative payment methodology that: (1) is agreed to by the state and the grantee, and (2) results in payment to the grantee that at least equals the amount otherwise required to be paid to the grantee under the bill.

As a condition of receiving payment under the bill, a grantee shall be subject to specified quality management and reporting requirements.

Date: 2015-09-29
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicare Premium Fairness Act of 2015

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) prevent 2016 increases to Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles for enrollees, and (2) authorize federal funding to offset the corresponding reduction in aggregate monthly premiums.

Under current law, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must annually determine the monthly actuarial rate upon which Part B premiums and deductibles are based. The bill temporarily freezes that rate at the 2015 level for enrollees, effectively preventing increases to premiums and deductibles for those enrollees in 2016. (Current law already protects Part B enrollees whose benefits are deducted from their Social Security benefits from premium increases that would result in a smaller Social Security check.)

Date: 2015-10-07
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Access to Marketplace Insurance Act

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require health insurers to accept, on behalf of individuals enrolled in qualified health plans, payments made by certain third parties, including state and federal government programs, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and certain tax exempt organizations. (Qualified health plans are eligible for subsidies and fulfill an individual's requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage.)

Date: 2015-10-09
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Medicaid Directory of Caregivers Act or the Medicaid DOC Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require a state to publish and annually update a directory of providers that participate in the state plan for medical assistance on a fee-for-service basis or through a primary care case-management system. The directory must include each provider's name, specialty, address, and telephone number. In addition, with respect to a provider that participates in a primary care case-management system, the directory must specify: (1) the provider's language capabilities, and (2) whether the provider is accepting new Medicaid patients.

Date: 2015-10-23
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 10, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Securing Fairness in Regulatory Timing Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to extend from 45 days to 60 days the annual notice period for the announcement of payment rates under Medicare Advantage (MA). MA organizations shall have at least 30 days to comment on proposed changes.

Date: 2015-10-26
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Veterans Affairs Transfer of Information and Sharing of Disability Examination Procedures with DOD Doctors Act

This bill declares that:

 if a member of the Armed Forces who is required to receive a physical examination as part of his or her separation from active duty has or is believed to have a medical condition that will or may make the member eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation and benefits, the physical examination shall be performed by a VA-certified health care provider; and if such a condition is discovered during the physical examination and the examining health care provider is not VA-certified, the examination shall be completed by a VA-certified health care provider. An eligibility determination made as part of such physical examination shall be binding on the VA and be used as the basis for assigning the member's disability rating.

The VA and the Department of Defense shall jointly establish a system to share data and maintain the medical and personnel records of members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

Date: 2015-11-03
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Camp Lejeune Reservist Parity Act of 2015

This bill makes certain members or former members of an Armed Forces reserve component who received training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs hospital care and medical services.

The Government Accountability Office shall study the access to hospital care and medical services of veterans and family members stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Veterans Freedom of Healthcare Act

This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to make the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Choice Program permanent. (The program allows the furnishing of hospital care and medical services to eligible veterans through agreements with non-VA entities.)

Program eligibility requirements are revised.

 The VA shall ensure that veterans enrolled in the health care system, particularly those with service-connected disabilities rated 50% or greater, are able to receive:

 health care at VA medical facilities within certain wait-time goals; and the highest degree of care possible, with an emphasis on maintaining the highest degree of quality in treating ailments unique to or prevalent among the veteran population, including mental health services.

Date: 2015-11-05
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Obamacare Full Disclosure Act

This bill requires a form provided by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to group health plans and health insurers as a template for a cancellation notice to include specified information under specified circumstances. The form must include a statement that an enrollee's plan or coverage was cancelled because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) if the plan or coverage was cancelled because it did not meet PPACA requirements or because of financial losses incurred due to PPACA requirements.

Date: 2015-11-18
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health
Health Care Choices for Seniors Act

This bill amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Medicare Alternative Voucher (MAV) Program, under which a voucher may be used as a contribution into a health savings account and for the payment of enrollment premiums under a high-deductible health plan. HHS must establish a procedure under which an individual otherwise entitled to benefits under part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the SSAct may waive such entitlement and be automatically enrolled in the MAV Program.

In addition, the bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the amount of the deduction from gross income for health savings accounts by the amount of the MAV that is contributed to an individual's health savings account.

The bill also suspends Medicare late enrollment penalties for an individual between ages 65 and 70.

Date: 2015-11-19
Topic: Health (Insurance)
Subject: Health