zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in implementing special payment requirements for certain long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) and LTCH satellites under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, for a 12-month cost reporting period beginning on or after October 1, 2013, to continue the same 25% rule patient threshold payment adjustment and exemptions as were established for the 12-month cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2012, in the same manner as provided for in a specified rule published on August 31, 2012, regarding hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPSs) for acute care hospitals and theLTCH prospective payment system and FY2013 rates.

Prohibits the Secretary from applying such special payment requirements to certain grandfathered LTCHs which are subsection (d) hospitals.

(Generally, a subsection (d) hospital is an acute care hospital, particularly one that receives payments under the Medicare IPPS when providing covered inpatient services to eligible beneficiaries.)

Excludes from the calculation of such special payment requirements any Medicare beneficiaries who: (1) were inpatients in a subsection (d) hospital within one day before their admission to a LTCH which has an average inpatient length of stay of more than 25 days, and (2) had a stay of more than seven days in an intensive care unit.

Declares that, for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2014, payments made to such hospitals at amounts comparable or equivalent to amounts payable to a subsection (d) hospital for short stay patients and under the 25% rule shall be at amounts not less than what would be paid to a subsection (d) hospital had it performed the same services.

Declares that, for discharges occurring on or after enactment of this Act, in calculating the length of stay requirement applicable to a LTCH or satellite facility, the Secretary shall exclude any patient for whom payment is based on an amount comparable or equivalent to that payable to a subsection (d) hospital had such a hospital provided the same service.

Date: 2013-11-21
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 to make permanent the exemption of grandfathered long-term care hospitals from the 25% patient threshold payment adjustment under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.

Date: 2013-12-05
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Notification of Your Eldercare Rights - Directs the Secretary of Labor to: (1) draft disclosures which describe the rights and liabilities of customers and providers of domestic care services; (2) require that any provider of domestic care services give such disclosures to each customer before entering into a contract with the customer; and (3) disclose to the customer whether the individual or individuals who will provide such services are employees of the provider of domestic care services or independent contractors.

Makes it unlawful for any provider of domestic care services to enter into contract with a customer without first providing the disclosure document required by this Act.

Prescribes penalties for violations of this Act.

Date: 2014-01-09
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Commerce
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to home health agencies to revise surety bond condition of participation requirements to: (1) repeal the requirement for a four-year bond, and (2) require that any surety bond be at least $50,000.

Date: 2014-01-09
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Healing Our Heroes Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2008 to extend for one year the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program to assess the effectiveness of providing assisted living services to veterans with a traumatic brain injury to enhance the rehabilitation, quality of life, and community integration of such veterans.

Date: 2014-01-29
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 16, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2014 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to alter the reporting requirements under the pilot program to assess the effectiveness of providing assistance to eligible veterans with traumatic brain injury to enhance their rehabilitation, quality of life, and community integration.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit reports to the congressional veterans committees on the pilot program for each quarter occurring between January 1, 2015, and September 30, 2017. Requires each quarterly report to include for the preceding quarter:

 the number of individuals who participated in the pilot program, the number of individuals who successfully completed the program, the degree to which pilot program participants and their family members were satisfied with the program, and the interim findings and conclusions of the Secretary regarding the success of the program and recommendations for improving it. Requires the Secretary to include in the report the Secretary submits to the congressional veterans committees after the completion of the pilot program:

 an evaluation of the pilot program in light of the VA's independent living programs, including an assessment of whether  the pilot program should be incorporated into such independent living programs; and recommendations for improving the pilot program. Replaces references to "assisted living" with the term "community-based brain injury residential rehabilitative care," including rehabilitation services within the meaning of such care.

Requires this Act and its amendments to be carried out using funds already available for such purposes.

Date: 2014-03-18
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act of 2014 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to direct the Assistant Secretary of Aging to carry out a program awarding grants to eligible entities to carry out six separate demonstration projects that focus on care coordination and service delivery for older individuals with chronic illness or at risk of institutional placement by: (1) designing and testing new models of care coordination and service delivery that thoughtfully and effectively deploy advanced aides to improve efficiency and quality of care for frail older individuals; and (2) giving direct-care workers opportunities for career advancement through additional training, an expanded role, and increased compensation.

Date: 2014-04-10
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
PACE Pilot Act of 2014 - Amends title XI (General Provisions, Peer Review, and Administrative Simplification) of the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive applicable general and Medicaid requirements of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly (PACE) in order to conduct demonstration projects through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovations (CMMI) that involve PACE. Prohibits the Secretary, however, as part of a CMMI demonstration, from waiving: (1) the requirement to offer items and services under Medicare without limitations, and (2) certain requirements regarding enrollment in and disenrollment from PACE programs.

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary should use waiver authority under this Act to provide, in a budget neutral manner, PACE programs with increased operational flexibility to support their ability to improve and innovate and to reduce technical and administrative barriers that have hindered enrollment.

Date: 2014-05-01
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Medicare Home Health Rebasing Relief and Reassessment Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to the system for prospective payments for home health services, to suspend for a 12-month period a specified adjustment to (rebasing of) Medicare home health prospective payment amounts.

Revises the home health outlier adjustment to equal not to exceed 2.25% (currently, 2.5%) for 2015 through 2023.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study alternative methods for determining the appropriate adjustment for 2014 and subsequent years to the prospective payment for home health services, including methods offered by stakeholders.

Date: 2014-05-09
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2014 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize lifespan respite care programs (services for family caregivers of children and adults with special needs) through FY2019.

Requires each state agency awarded a grant or cooperative agreement for such purposes to collect, maintain, and report data and records in a manner as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) may require to enable monitoring and evaluation of the lifespan programs and activities.

Date: 2014-05-20
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Care for our Heroes Act - Makes each veteran eligible to participate in a hospice program (or a similar program) conducted by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) regardless of: (1) the net worth or income of the veteran, the veteran's spouse, or the veteran's child; or (2) whether or not the Secretary has otherwise furnished the veteran with any veterans' benefit.

Date: 2014-05-22
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to include recreational therapy services among the therapeutic modalities that constitute an intensive rehabilitation therapy program in determining whether inpatient services in an inpatient rehabilitation facility are reasonable and necessary.

Date: 2014-05-29
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2014 - Expands eligibility for the family caregiver program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include members of the Armed Forces or veterans who are seriously injured or who became ill on active duty prior to September 11, 2001 (currently, limited to service after September 11, 2001). Expands services to caregivers of veterans under such program to include child care services, financial planning services, and legal services.

Authorizes the transfer of entitlement to post 9/11 education assistance to family members by veterans who are retired for a physical disability or who are seriously injured veterans in need of family caregiver services, without regard to length-of-service requirements.

Authorizes the VA Secretary to pay monthly special compensation to seriously injured or ill veterans in need of personal care services and to their caregivers. Excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, such compensation paid to injured or ill veterans.

Authorizes flexible work schedules or telework for federal employees who are caregivers of veterans.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to designate a veteran participating in the program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers as an adult with a special need for purposes of the lifespan respite care program.

Establishes in the executive branch an interagency working group to review and report on policies relating to the caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces.

Directs the Secretary to provide for studies on members of the Armed Forces who commenced service after September 11, 2001, and veterans who have incurred a serious injury or illness, including a mental health injury, and their caregivers.

Date: 2014-06-18
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Securing Access Via Excellence for Medicare Home Health Act of 2014 or the SAVE Medicare Home Health Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to the prospective payment system (PPS) for home health services, to repeal the rebasing reduction adjustment for 2014 and subsequent years required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

Establishes a calendar year 2014 payment adjustment under such PPS.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a detailed analysis of the rebasing reduction in Medicare payments for home health services promulgated under the rule for home health prospective payment system rate update for calendar year 2014.

Directs the Secretary to specify a home health all-cause all-condition hospital unplanned readmission measure for readmissions (for any cause) to a hospital for an individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) (or enrolled under Medicare part B [Supplementary Medicare Insurance]) and who is receiving post-hospital home health services. Requires this measure to be risk adjusted for potentially preventable readmission to a hospital for such an individual.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish: (1) a Medicare home health agency value-based purchasing program (HHA VBP) under which value-based incentive payments are made in a year to home health agencies, and (2) performance standards for application of the unplanned readmission measure.

Directs the Secretary to develop by regulation a methodology for assessing the total performance of each home health agency based on these performance standards.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) withhold from the payment rates made for each year for home health services the amount necessary so that enactment of this Act is estimated not to result in any net change in payments made for Medicare services, and (2) provide for a distribution of a portion of those withheld amounts for performance payments to home health agencies.

Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to review the progress of the HHA VBP and make appropriate recommendations on any improvements that should be made to the program.

Date: 2014-07-15
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Care Coordination for Older Americans Act of 2014 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to make it a duty and function of the Administration on Aging (AOA) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide technical assistance to, and share best practices with, states, area agencies on aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and service providers to carry out outreach and coordinate activities with health care entities in order to assure better care coordination for individuals with multiple chronic illnesses. Requires AOA also to coordinate activities with other federal agencies working to improve care coordination and developing new models and best practices.

Requires the designated state agency to promote the development and implementation of a state system to: (1) address the care coordination needs of older individuals with multiple chronic illnesses; and (2) work with acute care providers, area agencies on aging, service providers, and federal agencies to ensure that the system uses best practices.

Requires area and state plans to provide assurances that the area agencies on aging will facilitate the area-wide development and implementation of an area-wide system to address the care coordination needs of older individuals with multiple chronic illnesses.

Date: 2014-07-24
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Put a Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act of 2014 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act with respect to coverage of nursing care services in skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities, respectively, to revise the standards for 24-hour licensed nursing service care which a professional registered nurse is required to provide at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week.

Requires such facilities, instead, to use the services of at least one registered professional nurse to provide assessment, surveillance, and direct care to residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Hospice Opportunities for Supporting Patients with Integrity and Care Evaluations (HOSPICE) Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to subject any entity certified as a hospice program to a standard survey by an appropriate state or local survey agency, or an approved accreditation agency, at least once every 36 months.

Specifies funding from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for FY2014-FY2016 for such survey requirements.

Applies certain rules for the limitation of a beneficiary's liability with respect to denial of a Medicare payment for hospice care provided to an individual for more than 180 days in the same manner as such limitation applies with respect to denial of a payment for items and services as not reasonable or necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury.

Date: 2014-08-01
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Medicare Home Infusion Site of Care Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize Medicare coverage of home infusion therapy and home infusion drugs.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement the Medicare home infusion therapy benefit in a manner that ensures that: (1) Medicare beneficiaries have timely and appropriate access to infusion therapy in their homes, and (2) there is rapid and seamless coordination between drug coverage under Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) and home infusion therapy services coverage under Medicare part B (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to avoid the filing of duplicative or otherwise improper claims.

Date: 2014-09-10
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Community Integration Act of 2014 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require state Medicaid plans to give an individual with disabilities needing the level of care provided in an institutional setting the choice and opportunity to receive such care in a home and community-based setting, including rehabilitative services, assistance and support in accomplishing activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and health-related tasks, and assistance in acquiring, maintaining, or enhancing skills necessary to accomplish such activities, tasks, or services.

Prescribes requirements for providing in home and community-based settings those services such an individual would otherwise receive in an institutional setting, such as a nursing facility, intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, institution for mental disease, or other similarly restrictive or institutional setting.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
In-Home Caregiver Assessment Resources and Education Act or the In-Home CARE Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Administration for Community Living to award grants to carry out home visiting programs for unpaid caregivers.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate with the National Family Caregiver Support Program, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and others on this grant program.

Requires grantees to provide:

 caregiver education and training regarding medication management, food preparation, falls prevention, and other subjects; services or referrals for services related to home care, such as transportation, home modification, or respite care; and an assessment and referral for physical and mental health services for the caregiver or person receiving care from the caregiver.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Creating American Prosperity through Preservation Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to tax credits for building rehabilitation expenditures, to: (1) allow an increased 30% credit for projects involving $7.5 million or less in rehabilitation expenditures, (2) provide for an additional 2% credit amount for a building that is a qualified energy efficient rehabilitated building (increased energy efficiency of 30% or more), (3) change the placed-in-service requirement for non-historic rehabilitated buildings from before 1936 to 50 years prior to the year in which qualified rehabilitation expenditures are taken into account, and (4) exempt from tax the proceeds of a state historic tax credit.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Taxation
Fostering Independence Through Technology Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct pilot projects under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for the purpose of providing incentives to home health agencies to furnish remote patient monitoring services that reduce expenditures.

Directs the Secretary to specify the criteria for identifying Medicare beneficiaries within the scope of the pilot projects.

Directs the Secretary to establish for each participating home health agency a performance target using specified methodologies.

Date: 2013-03-18
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 2013 - Directs the Commissioner of Social Security, for purposes of determining cognitive, behavioral, and physical disability under titles II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act (SSA), to amend specified Listings of Impairments by providing medical and evaluation criteria for Huntington's Disease.

Amends SSA title II to waive the 24-month waiting period for coverage under the Medicare program for individuals diagnosed with Huntington's Disease.

Date: 2013-04-15
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act of 2013 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover, as medical and other health services, complex rehabilitation technology items designed and configured for a specific qualified individual to meet that individual's unique: (1) medical, physical, and functional needs related to a medical condition; and (2) capacities for basic activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: (1) designate complex rehabilitation technology items (excluding adaptive equipment to operate motor vehicles or certain prosthetic devices and orthotics), and (2) establish eligibility criteria for them.

Prescribes requirements for payments for CRT items.

Directs the Secretary to establish standards for clinical conditions for CRT item payment as well as quality standards for suppliers of such items.

Directs the Secretary to establish a Healthcare Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) coding subset that uses specified HCPCS codes for CRT items.

Requires payment for replacement of a CRT item (or any part of one), without regard to certain continuous use or useful lifetime restrictions established for items of durable medical equipment (DME), if a qualified ordering practitioner determines that a replacement item (or part) is necessary.

Date: 2013-05-14
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Hospice Evaluation and Legitimate Payment Act of 2013 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to the face-to-face encounter framework in hospice care. Allows a clinical nurse specialist, physician assistant, or other health professional (in addition to a hospice physician or a nurse practitioner, as under current law) to conduct the face-to-face encounter with the individual to determine continued eligibility for hospice care before the first 60-day (currently 180-day) recertification period and each subsequent recertification.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a Medicare Hospital Payment Reform demonstration program to test any revisions to the methodology for determining payment rates for routine home care and other hospice care services.

Sets at every three years the frequency of surveys of certified hospice programs.

Date: 2013-05-23
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2013 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study whether there should be an increase in the prospective payment rate for inpatient rehabilitation services that would otherwise be made to a rehabilitation innovation center to cover additional costs incurred in: (1) furnishing items and services to individuals conducting research, and (2) providing medical training.

Requires the study also to specify the amount of such an increase if the Secretary determines that it is recommended.

Date: 2013-06-25
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2013 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise conditions of and limitations on payment for home health care services.

Allows payment for home health services to Medicare beneficiaries by: (1) a nurse practitioner, (2) a clinical nurse specialist working in collaboration with a physician in accordance with state law, (3) a certified nurse-midwife, or (4) a physician assistant under a physician's supervision.

Date: 2013-07-18
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Care Planning Act of 2013 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to cover advanced illness planning and coordination services furnished to an eligible individual with progressive illness, including Alzheimer's disease, by a hospice or other provider through an interdisciplinary team.

Amends SSA title XI with respect to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and its selection for Phase I testing of innovative payment and service delivery models to reduce Medicare and Medicaid expenditures while preserving or enhancing the quality of care. Adds a model for payments to providers that furnish advanced illness care coordination services to eligible individuals who are entitled to, or enrolled for, benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and enrolled under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance), but not enrolled under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice).

Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in awarding grants, contracts, or agreements under provisions for quality measure development, to give priority to the development of quality measures that allow the assessment of various specified factors including the effectiveness, patient-centeredness (and, where relevant, family caregiver-centeredness), and accuracy of care plans, including documentation of individual goals, preferences, and values.

Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to require inclusion of information on advanced care planning materials in the "Medicare and You Handbook."

Directs the Secretary to establish a Care Planning Advisory Board.

Revises requirements for the use under Medicare and Medicaid of advanced directives, portable treatment orders, and other treatment directions from an individual or legally authorized representative.

Amends the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 with respect to advanced directives.

Establishes additional requirements under Medicare for hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and hospice programs with respect to completion before discharge of care plan documentation.

Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to certain entities to: (1) develop online training modules, decision support tools, and instructional materials for individuals, family caregivers, and health care providers; (2) establish a website and telephone hotline to disseminate such resources and any materials designed by the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for faith communities; and (3) conduct a national public education campaign to raise public awareness of advance care planning and advanced illness care.

Directs the Secretary to study state and regional activities with respect to storing completed advance directives and portable treatment orders.

Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act, including the quality associated with them.

Date: 2013-08-01
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in conducting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical foster home program, to cover the costs associated with the care of veterans at medical foster homes.

Date: 2013-10-28
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Community Integration Act of 2014 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require state Medicaid plans to give an individual with disabilities needing the level of care provided in an institutional setting the choice and opportunity to receive such care in a home and community-based setting, including rehabilitative services, assistance and support in accomplishing activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and health-related tasks, and assistance in acquiring, maintaining, or enhancing skills necessary to accomplish such activities, tasks, or services.

Prescribes requirements for providing in home and community-based settings those services such an individual would otherwise receive in an institutional setting, such as a nursing facility, intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, institution for mental disease, or other similarly restrictive or institutional setting.

Date: 2014-06-24
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Assisted Living Pilot Program for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Extension Act - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to extend the pilot program to assess the effectiveness of providing assistance to eligible veterans with traumatic brain injury to enhance their rehabilitation, quality of life, and community integration.

Requires that at least one location of the program be in each health care region of the Veterans Health Administration that contains a polytrauma center of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). (Under current law, selected locations also must include any location other than one described above in an area that contains a high concentration of veterans with traumatic brain injuries.)

Expands requirements for reports on the pilot program.

Replaces references to "assisted living" with the term "community-based brain injury residential rehabilitative care," including rehabilitation services within the meaning of such care.

Requires a veteran, in order to be eligible for such services, to have a traumatic brain injury that is classified as complex-mild to severe.

Date: 2014-07-15
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Older Americans Community Access Revitalization and Education Act or the Older Americans CARE Act - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) to redefine Aging and Disability Resource Center as a collaborative network that has a no wrong door single entry point system and a comprehensive and integrated program as part of a state system of integrated long-term care (LTC) for individuals with disabilities and older individuals.

(Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a "no wrong door single entry point system" is a statewide system to enable consumers to access all LTC services and supports through an agency, organization, coordinated network, or portal giving information on: (1) the availability of such services, (2) how to apply for them, (3) referral services in the community, and (4) financial and functional eligibility for services and supports, including assistance with eligibility assessment processes.)

Includes status as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) individual as a factor indicative of greatest social need.

Directs the Assistant Secretary of Aging, through a coordinated public education and outreach campaign carried out by the National Eldercare Locator Service, and in coordination with other appropriate federal agencies, to promote: (1) enhanced public awareness of the importance of advance planning for integrated LTC; and (2) the availability of national, state, and local information and resources to assist in such planning, as well as the existence of area agencies and aging service providers to give direct assistance with it.

Directs the Assistant Secretary to make grants to states for the modernization of facilities to serve as multipurpose senior centers.

Authorizes the Assistant Secretary to provide funding through area agencies on aging, and other approved entities, to not-for-profit owners or managers of housing for a pilot project service packaged and targeted for residents of federally assisted housing.

Directs the Assistant Secretary to establish a community care wrap-around support demonstration program of grants to enable eligible entities to: (1) establish community care wrap-around support partnerships; and (2) enable them to carry out specified activities, including longitudinal care plans for each eligible older individual as well as medication management and medical nutrition therapy.

Requires a State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to: (1) identify interventions or devices that affect the rights and safety of residents, including the use of chemical and physical restraints; and (2) educate providers, residents, and families about the danger of those interventions and devices.

Authorizes appropriations for the prevention of financial abuse, fraud, and other financial exploitation.

Directs a state agency, in order to receive an allotment from appropriated funds, to develop and enhance programs to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (including financial abuse, fraud, and other financial exploitation).

Date: 2014-07-31
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Social welfare
Patient Centered Quality Care for Life Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to convene a Patient-Centered Health Care and Quality of Life Stakeholder Strategic Summit to analyze health system barriers to patient-centered care and make recommendations to improve patient-centered care and address quality of life concerns for individuals with serious, complex, and chronic illness and their families.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to award grants to increase demand for and delivery of integrated, patient-centered care to improve the quality of life of seriously ill patients.

Directs the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to award health care professional workforce training grants to promote quality of life focused clinical core competencies across clinical specialties that serve patients who are seriously ill or have complex chronic disease.

Requires the Secretary to update and expand the September 2002 HRSA report "The Supply, Demand and Use of Palliative Care Physicians in the United States" and to establish a Quality of Life Cross-Agency Advisory Committee to disseminate findings on best practices and to assist the CDC and HRSA in conducting the grant programs established by this Act.

Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop and implement a strategy to expand national research programs in symptom management, palliative, psychosocial, and survivorship care in accordance with the Advisory Committee's recommendations.

Date: 2014-09-11
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Caregiver Corps Act of 2014 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to contract with a nonprofit to develop an online toolkit and guidance providing for the establishment and implementation of Caregiver Corps volunteer programs in which volunteers provide assistance to individuals who are in need of assistance to remain in the community and are either aged 65 or older, or eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance.

Requires Caregiver Corps volunteers to provide assistance by giving an informal caregiver respite from caregiving duties, serving as a companion, or providing other assistance for which the volunteer is qualified. Prohibits volunteers from providing personal care or administering prescription medications.

Allows the Secretary to award grants for the operation of local Corps programs.

Requires local Corps programs to screen, train, and supervise volunteers.

Directs local Corps programs to appropriately recognize volunteers. Allows programs to provide compensation to volunteers.

Date: 2014-09-17
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
In-Home Caregiver Assessment Resources and Education Act or the In-Home CARE Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Administration for Community Living to award grants to carry out home visiting programs for unpaid caregivers.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate with the National Family Caregiver Support Program, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and others on this grant program.

Requires grantees to provide:

 caregiver education and training regarding medication management, food preparation, falls prevention and other subjects; services or referrals for services related to home care, such as transportation, home modification, or respite care; and an assessment and referral for physical and mental health services for the caregiver or person receiving care from the caregiver.

Date: 2014-09-18
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2014 - Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 to alter the reporting requirements under the pilot program to assess the effectiveness of providing assistance to eligible veterans with traumatic brain injury to enhance their rehabilitation, quality of life, and community integration.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to submit reports to the congressional veterans committees on the pilot program for each quarter occurring between January 1, 2015, and September 30, 2017. Requires each quarterly report to include for the preceding quarter:

 the number of individuals who participated in the pilot program, the number of individuals who successfully completed the program, the degree to which pilot program participants and their family members were satisfied with the program, and the interim findings and conclusions of the Secretary regarding the success of the program and recommendations for improving it. Requires the Secretary to include in the report the Secretary submits to the congressional veterans committees after the completion of the pilot program:

 an evaluation of the pilot program in light of the VA's independent living programs, including an assessment of whether  the pilot program should be incorporated into such independent living programs; and recommendations for improving the pilot program. Replaces references to "assisted living" with the term "community-based brain injury residential rehabilitative care," including rehabilitation services within the meaning of such care.

Requires this Act and its amendments to be carried out using funds already available for such purposes.

Date: 2014-12-12
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Extends from 5 to 10 years after discharge or release from active duty after January 28, 2003, a combat veteran's eligibility for veterans' hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for illnesses that have not been medically proven to be attributable to such veteran's service.

Date: 12/4/2014
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
Adult Day Center Enhancement Act

Requires the Administration on Aging to initiate a comprehensive survey of current adult day programs that provide care and support to individuals, including young adults, living with neurological diseases or conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or traumatic brain injury. Requires the Administration to identify ongoing successful adult day programs and which of these serve young adults with neurological diseases and conditions and develop best practices to help guide the establishment of additional successful adult day programs.

Directs the Administration to establish a competitive grant program to fund adult day programs serving younger people with neurological diseases or conditions. Defines an "adult day program" as a program that provides comprehensive and effective care and support services to individuals living with neurological diseases or conditions and to their family caregivers and that may assist participants in ways that: (1) maintain or improve their functional abilities or otherwise help them adjust to their changing functional abilities; (2) prevent the onset of complications associated with severe forms of the disease or condition; (3) promote alternatives to placement in nursing homes; (4) reduce the strain on family caregivers taking care of a family member living with neurological diseases or conditions; (5) focus on supporting the emotional, social, and intellectual needs of a younger adult population; or (6) address the needs of veterans living with neurological diseases or conditions.

Date: 2015-01-09
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Families
Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior (CARES) Act of 2015

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to coverage of extended care services without regard to the three-day prior hospitalization requirement (non-post-hospital extended care services).

Restricts such coverage to non-post-hospital extended care services in a qualified skilled nursing facility.

Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study the cost of impact of this Act.

Date: 2015-01-13
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Long-Term Care Veterans Choice Act

(Sec. 2) Authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), during the three-year period beginning on October 1, 2015, at the request of a veteran for whom the VA is required to provide nursing home care, to place such veteran in a medical foster home that meets VA standards. Requires such veteran to agree, as a condition of such placement, to accept VA home health services.

Limits the number of veterans placed in a medical foster home that may have their care covered at the expense of the United States to 900.

Amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to reduce the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses that may be paid by the VA in each of FY2015-FY2018 to $300 million.

Date: 2015-01-13
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security
This bill amends the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, as amended by other specified federal law, with respect to the five-year moratorium begining April 1, 2014, on the establishment of long-term care (LTC) hospitals and LTC satellite facilities and on the increase of LTC hospital beds in existing LTC hospitals or satellite facilities for purposes of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.

A technical correction is made to an exception to this moratorium for certain LTC hospitals that:

 began their qualifying period for Medicare payment on or before April 1, 2014; have a binding written agreement as of that date with an outside, unrelated party for the actual construction, renovation, lease, or demolition for an LTC hospital, and have expended, before that date, at least 10% of the project's estimated cost (or, if less, $ 2.5 million); or have obtained on or before that date an approved certificate of need in a state where one is required. This bill applies the exception to any similar moratorium.

Date: 2015-01-21
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Medicare Home Infusion Site of Care Act of 2015 

 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to authorize Medicare coverage of home infusion therapy and home infusion drugs.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement the Medicare home infusion therapy benefit in a manner that ensures that: (1) Medicare beneficiaries have timely and appropriate access to infusion therapy in their homes, and (2) there is rapid and seamless coordination between drug coverage under Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) and home infusion therapy services coverage under Medicare part B (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to avoid the filing of duplicative or otherwise improper claims.

Date: 2015-01-28
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 9, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Special Needs Trust Fairness and Medicaid Improvement Act

 (Sec. 2) This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act with respect to the treatment of revocable trusts for the benefit of an individual for purposes of meeting income requirements for Medicaid coverage.

 The bill extends the supplemental needs trust exemption from treatment of a trust as resources available to the individual to supplemental needs trusts for Medicaid beneficiaries established by those beneficiaries.

 (Sec. 3) Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation services shall continue to be provided for mothers of newborns through the first year after the child's birth.

The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services must report to the Congress on the use of the tobacco cessation service benefit under the Medicaid program.

(Sec. 4) The bill eliminates federal financial participation regarding expenditures under Medicaid for drugs used for cosmetic purposes or hair growth, except where such drugs are medically necessary.

 (Sec. 5) The bill makes additional funding available to the Medicaid Improvement Fund for FY2021 and FY2022.

Date: 2015-02-03
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2015

 Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to repeal the caps on Medicare outpatient rehabilitation physical therapy services and speech-language pathology services.

Date: 2015-02-05
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Put a Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act of 2015

Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act with respect to coverage of nursing care services in skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities, respectively, to revise the standards for 24-hour licensed nursing service care which a professional registered nurse is required to provide at least eight consecutive hours a day, seven days a week.

Requires such facilities, instead, to use the services of at least one registered professional nurse to provide assessment, surveillance, and direct care to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Date: 2015-02-12
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Health
Veterans' Independent Living Enhancement Act

Repeals provisions that: (1) prohibit the initiation of Department of Veterans Affairs programs providing independent living services and assistance for greater than 2,700 veterans in each fiscal year, and (2) require giving first priority under such programs to veterans for whom the reasonable feasibility of achieving a vocational goal is precluded solely as a result of disability.

Date: 2015-02-13
Topic: Health (Long-term Care)
Subject: Armed forces and national security