Health Care Coverage And Access

Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2017 [HB-2050] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Budget and Spending ] [Funding ] [Public Health ] [Senior Citizens ] [Disabilities ]
Medicare Demonstration of Coverage for Low Vision Devices Act of 2017 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to carry out a demonstration project to evaluate the fiscal impact of covering low-vision devices under Medicare in the same manner as Medicare coverage is provided for durable medical equipment. "Low-vision device" means a physician-prescribed device that magnifies, enhances, or otherwise augments or interprets visual images; the term does not include ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses. The bill appropriates (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Steve Cohen Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/21/2017

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US Congress 115th Congress

Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017 [S.870] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Public Health ] [Senior Citizens ] [Pharmaceuticals ] [Technology and Innovation ] [Science ]
Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: extend the Independence at Home demonstration program; modify provisions regarding access to home dialysis therapy under Medicare and special needs plans under Medicare Advantage (MA); expand testing of the MA Value-Based Insurance Design test model; allow an MA plan to provide additional telehealth benefits to enrollees and, to chronically ill enrollees, certain supplemental health (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Casey Committee On Finance. Reported By Senator Hatch With An Amendment In The Nature Of A Substitute. With Written Report No. 115-146. on 08/03/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Ending Homelessness Act of 2017 [HB-2076] [Housing ] [Healthcare ] [Funding ] [Grants ] [Human Services ] [Poverty ] [Mental Health ] [Community Development ] [Public Health ] [Human Rights ] [Children and Youth ]
Ending Homelessness Act of 2017 This bill amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to make additional FY2018-FY2022 appropriations available for: (1) emergency relief grants to address the unmet needs of homeless populations in jurisdictions with the highest need, (2) rental assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 for persons and households who are homeless, and (3) homeless outreach and coordination services. Beginning in FY2018, the bill provides annual additional funds for: (1) the Housing Trust Fund to provide grants (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Barbara Lee Introduced In House on 04/06/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Restoring the Patient's Voice Act of 2017 [HB-2077] [Healthcare ] [Insurance ] [Pharmaceuticals ] [Public Health ]
Restoring the Patient's Voice Act of 2017 This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require a group health plan to establish an exception to medication step-therapy protocol in specified cases. A medication step-therapy protocol establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs are covered by a group health plan or a health insurance issuer. To warrant an exception to the protocol, at least one of the following circumstances must be met: (1) the treatment is contraindicated, (2) the treatment is expected (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Sean Maloney Introduced In House on 04/06/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. [HR-262] [Healthcare ] [Public Health ] [Children and Youth ]
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. Promotes effective and comprehensive HIV prevention education programs. Urges youth-friendly and accessible health care services to better provide for the early identification of HIV through voluntary routine testing and to connect those in need to clinically and culturally appropriate care and treatment as early as possible. Commends the work of AIDS service organizations, community and (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Barbara Lee Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/07/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2017 [HB-2042] [Healthcare ] [Student Loans ] [Public Health ] [Education ]
Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2017 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish and carry out a Frontline Providers Loan Repayment Program under which HHS makes student loan repayments in exchange for a health professional providing frontline care services for two years in a frontline care scarcity area. Frontline care services include services in the fields of surgery, optometry, physical therapy, pharmacies, public health, dietetics, occupational therapy, pediatrics, (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. David Loebsack Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/07/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act [HB-1991] [Healthcare ] [Taxes ] [Labor, Jobs, Employment ] [Public Safety ] [Law Enforcement ]
Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude services rendered by bona-fide volunteers providing firefighting and prevention services, emergency medical services, or ambulance services to a state or local government or a tax-exempt charitable organization from the category of services usually rendered by an employee of an applicable large employer subject to the mandate to provide minimum essential health care coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Ryan Costello Introduced In House on 04/06/2017

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US Congress 115th Congress

Eliminating Health Disparities Act of 2017 [HB-2048] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Social Security ] [Public Health ] [Funding ] [Grants ] [Human Services ] [Poverty ] [Community Development ]
Eliminating Health Disparities Act of 2017 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow a state to establish a Health Disparities Elimination Program, through which the state shall provide incentive payments to qualified community health systems (i.e., hospitals or affiliated groups of health care providers) for approved initiatives to reduce health disparities. In selecting qualified community health systems for participation, a state shall give priority to those that: (1) have included, in their required action plans, (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Ben Lujan Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/07/2017

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US Congress 115th Congress

Medicare You Can Opt Into Act of 2017 [HB-2065] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ]
Medicare You Can Opt Into Act of 2017 This bill allows an individual to buy into Medicare for hospital insurance if the individual is residing in the United States and is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident. The Department of Health and Human Services must establish enrollment periods and coverage for individuals who buy the insurance.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Carol Shea-Porter Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/21/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017 [S.872] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Budget and Spending ]
Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017 This bill permanently extends the Medicare-Dependent Hospital program (which provides increased payments to certain smaller, rural hospitals that serve a proportionally high number of Medicare patients) and the program for increased payments under Medicare for low-volume hospitals.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Casey Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Finance. on 04/06/2017

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US Congress 115th Congress

Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act [HB-2038] [Budget and Spending ] [Healthcare ] [Taxes ] [Pharmaceuticals ] [Public Health ] [Overdose Prevention ] [Mental Health ] [Funding ] [Grants ]
Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to excise taxes on manufacturers, to impose a one cent per milligram fee on the sale of active opioids by the manufacturer, producer, or importer. The fee excludes prescription drugs used exclusively for the treatment of opioid addiction as part of a medically assisted treatment effort. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a program to provide rebates or discounts to cancer and hospice patients to ensure that they do (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Earl Blumenauer Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/07/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Behavioral Health Infrastructure Improvement Act [HB-2047] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Mental Health ] [Public Health ] [Funding ] [Grants ] [Human Services ]
Behavioral Health Infrastructure Improvement Act This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to temporarily increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for behavioral health infrastructure and systems improvements under a state medical assistance program. For a period of five years, a state's FMAP for such improvements shall equal 90%. (Generally, a state's FMAP under Medicaid may range from 50% to 83%.) The bill also establishes a grant program for states to establish or support a behavioral health assistance (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Yvette Clarke Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/07/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Mental Health Access and Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2017 [HB-1982] [Firearms/Gun Control ] [Mental Health ] [Crime ] [Funding ] [Healthcare ] [Public Safety ] [Criminal Justice ] [Law Enforcement ]
Mental Health Access and Gun Violence Prevention Act of 2017 This bill authorizes FY2018 appropriations for the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Social Security Administration to: (1) increase access to mental health care treatment and services, and (2) promote reporting of mental health information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Al Green Referred To The Subcommittee On Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, And Investigations. on 05/01/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017 [HB-1955] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Budget and Spending ]
Rural Hospital Access Act of 2017 This bill permanently extends the Medicare-Dependent Hospital program (which provides increased payments to certain smaller, rural hospitals that serve a proportionally high number of Medicare patients) and the program for increased payments under Medicare for low-volume hospitals.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Mike Johnson Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/17/2017

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US Congress 115th Congress

Health Care Options Act of 2017 [HB-1933] [Healthcare ] [Taxes ] [Insurance ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Public Health ]
Health Care Options Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to temporarily permit certain individuals to use the premium assistance tax credit to purchase health insurance outside of an exchange established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care (PPACA). The bill applies to individuals who reside in a rating area or county that the Department of Health and Human Services has certified has no qualified health plans offered through an exchange established under PPACA. Individuals residing in the areas or counties may use the (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. David Roe Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/07/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Property Tax Reduction Act of 2017 [HB-1871] [Property Tax ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Healthcare ] [Taxes ] [Budget and Spending ]
Property Tax Reduction Act of 2017 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to reduce federal Medicaid funding for certain states that require political subdivisions to contribute funds towards medical assistance. Specifically, the bill applies to states that received, for FY2016, disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments greater than six times the national average. (DSHs are hospitals that receive additional payment under Medicaid for treating a large share of low-income patients.) Excepted from the bill are contributions (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Elise Stefanik Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 04/07/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Veterans Affairs Medical Scribe Pilot Act of 2017 [HB-1848] [Healthcare ] [Veterans ] [Public Health ]
Veterans Affairs Medical Scribe Pilot Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a two-year pilot program under which it shall increase the use of medical scribes at VA medical centers. The bill defines "medical scribe" as an unlicensed individual hired to enter information into the electronic health record or chart at the direction of a physician or licensed independent practitioner whose responsibilities include: assisting the physician or practitioner in navigating the electronic health record; (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. David Young Received In The Senate And Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Veterans' Affairs. on 07/25/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Veterans Access to Community Care Act of 2017 [HB-1844] [Healthcare ] [Veterans ]
Veterans Access to Community Care Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use the VA'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.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Alexander Mooney Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 03/31/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Medicaid Expansion Incentive Act of 2017 [HB-1826] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Funding ] [Budget and Spending ]
Medicaid Expansion Incentive Act of 2017 This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide additional federal Medicaid funding to states participating in Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amount of additional funding shall be based upon the net reduction in federal funding for nonparticipating states. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must publish annually, with respect to each nonparticipating state: (1) the amount of federal funding forgone by the state as a result (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Gerald Connolly Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 03/31/2017

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Federal
US Congress 115th Congress

Improving Access to Maternity Care Act [S.783] [Healthcare ] [Public Health ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Human Services ] [Children and Youth ]
Improving Access to Maternity Care Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to identify maternity care health professional target areas, which are areas within health professional shortage areas that have a shortage of maternity care health professionals, for purposes of assigning maternity care health professionals to those areas. HRSA must collect and publish data comparing the availability of and need for maternity care health services in health professional shortage (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Edward Markey Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Health, Education, Labor, And Pensions. on 03/30/2017

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