Weekly Legislative & Regulatory Round-up
Week of August 1 - 7
| GAO reports |
Biosafety Laboratories: BSL-4 Laboratories Improved Perimeter Security Despite Limited Action by CDC GAO-09-851
Unemployment Insurance Measures Included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as of July 2009
Hurricane Katrina: Barriers to Mental Health Services for Children Persist in Greater New Orleans, Although Federal Grants Are Helping to Address Them GAO-09-935T
Ryan White CARE Act: Estimated Effect of Proposed Stop-Loss Provision in H.R. 3293 on Urban Areas GAO-09-947R
| OIG reports |
Prevalence and Qualifications of Nonphysicians Who Performed Medicare
Physician Services (PDF)
(OEI-09-06-00430)
Review of the Calculation of Additional Medicaid Funding Awarded Under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(A-09-09-00080)
| Bills introduced |
|
Number/ Title |
Date Introduced | Sponsor | Description |
S. 1555 |
7/31/09 |
MEL MARTINEZ (R-FL) |
A bill to establish the Office of the National Alzheimer's Project; Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
H.R. 3454 |
7/31/09 |
SULLIVAN (R-OK) |
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reform payments and coverage for hospice care under the Medicare Program; Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
H.R. 3438 |
7/31/09 |
DARRELL ISSA (R-CA) |
A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to establish a national health program administered by the Office of Personnel Management to offer Federal employee health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means. |
H.R. 3459 |
7/31/09 |
BRIAN BAIRD (D-WA) |
A bill to provide comprehensive reform regarding medical malpractice; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary. |
H.R. 3468 |
7/31/09 |
MICHAEL CASTLE (R-DE) |
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Public Health Service Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to promote the use of prevention and wellness programs; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor. |
H.R. 3470 |
7/31/09 |
STEVE COHEN (D-TN) |
A bill to authorize funding for the creation and implementation of infant mortality pilot programs in standard metropolitan statistical areas with high rates of infant mortality, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
H.R. 3472 |
7/31/09 |
KATHY DAHLKEMPER (D-PA) |
A bill to provide for health insurance coverage premium discounts for healthy behavior and improvements toward healthy behavior; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor. |
H.R. 3475 |
7/31/09 |
RANDY FORBES (R-VA) |
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to double the amount of funds authorized to be appropriated to the National Institutes of Health for medical research with the greatest potential for near-term clinical benefit; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
H.R. 3478 |
7/31/09 |
LOUIE GOHMERT (R-TX) |
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify rules relating to health savings accounts, to provide payments for a health savings account and for a high deductible health plan instead of entitlement to benefits under Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP, to give more control and coverage to patients, to lower health care costs through increased price transparency, and to require immigrants to have a health savings account and high deductible health coverage at time of admission; Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce. |
H.R. 3483 |
7/31/09 |
DEAN HELLER (R-NV) |
A bill to reform the medical liability system, improve access to health care for rural and indigent patients, enhance access to affordable prescription drugs, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
H.R. 3495 |
7/31/09 |
MARCY KAPTUR (D-OH) |
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure access to quality home health services for all Americans, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
S. 1572 |
8/4/09 |
JIM DEMINT (R-SC) |
A bill to provide for a point of order against any legislation that eliminates or reduces the ability of Americans to keep their health plan or their choice of doctor or that decreases the number of Americans enrolled in private health insurance, while increasing the number of Americans enrolled in government-managed health care; read the first time. |
S. 1578 |
8/5/09 |
PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT) |
A bill to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, (commonly referred to as the Federal Torts Claim Act) to extend medical malpractice coverage to free clinics and the officers, governing board members, employees, and contractors of free clinics in the same manner and extend as certain Federal officers and employees; Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. |
S. 1585 |
8/5/09 |
RICHARD DURBIN (D-IL) |
A bill to permit pass-through payment for reasonable costs of certified registered nurse anesthetist services in critical access hospitals notwithstanding the reclassification of such hospitals as urban hospitals, including hospitals located in ``Lugar counties'', and for on-call and standby costs for such services; Referred to the Committee on Finance. |
S. 1591 |
8/6/09 |
PATTY MURRAY (D-WA) |
A bill to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, to establish the Health Technology Program in the United States Agency for International Development to research and develop technologies to improve global health, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. |
S. 1625 |
8/6/09 |
CHRISTOPHER DODD (D-CT) |
A bill to amend title II of the Public Health Service Act to provide for an improved method to measure poverty so as to enable a better assessment of the effects of programs under the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
S. 1626 |
8/6/09 |
AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN) |
A bill to require issuers of long term care insurance to establish third party review processes for disputed claims; Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
S. 1628 |
8/6/09 |
MARK UDALL (D-CO) |
A bill to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to increase the number of physicians who practice in underserved rural communities; Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
S. 1630 |
8/6/09 |
JOHN ROCKEFELLER (D-WV) |
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act of improve prescription drug coverage under Medicare part D and to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve prescription drug coverage under private health insurance, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Finance. |
S. 1634 |
8/6/09 |
JOHN ROCKEFELLER (D-WV) |
A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to protect and improve the benefits provided to dual eligible individuals under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; Referred to the Committee on Finance. |
| Federal Register notices |
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
Medical Device User Fee Rates for Fiscal Year 2010
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the
fee rates and payment procedures for medical device user fees for
fiscal year (FY) 2010.
Food and Drug Administration
Prescription Drug User Fee Rates for Fiscal Year 2010
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the rates
for prescription drug user fees for fiscal year (FY) 2010.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
Authorization of Emergency Use of Certain In Vitro Diagnostic
Devices; Availability
ACTION: Notice.
Food and Drug Administration
Authorization of Emergency Use of Certain Personal Respiratory
Protection Devices; Availability
ACTION: Notice.
Food and Drug Administration
Authorizations of Emergency Use of Certain Antiviral Drugs--
Zanamivir and Oseltamivir Phosphate; Availability
ACTION: Notice.
Office of the Secretary
Determination and Declarations Regarding Emergency Use of Certain
In vitro Diagnostic, Antiviral, and Personal Respiratory Products
Accompanied by Emergency Use Information
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is issuing
this notice pursuant to section 564(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3(b)(4). On April 26, 2009, the
Acting Secretary of HHS determined that a public health emergency
exists nationwide involving Swine Influenza A (now known as 2009-H1N1
Influenza A, or 2009-H1N1 influenza) that affects or has significant
potential to affect national security. On the basis of this
determination, on April 26 and April 27, 2009, the Acting Secretary
declared emergencies justifying the authorization of emergency use of
certain in vitro diagnostic, antiviral, and personal respiratory
protection products accompanied by emergency use information subject to
the terms of any authorization issued by the Commissioner of Food and
Drugs (Commissioner) under 21 U.S.C. 360bbb-3(a).
Office of the Secretary
Implementation of Section 5001 of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for Adjustments to the Third Quarter of
Fiscal Year 2009 Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) Rates for
Federal Matching Shares for Medicaid and Foster Care and Adoption
Assistance
ACTION: Notice with comment period.
SUMMARY: This notice with comment period describes the methodology for
calculating the higher federal matching funding that is made available
under Section 5001 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA). Section 5001 of the ARRA provides for temporary increases
in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) rates to provide
fiscal relief to States and to protect and maintain State Medicaid
programs in a period of economic downturn.
Health Resources and Services Administration
Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and
Children; Notice of Meeting
Dates and Times: September 24, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
September 25, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Bethesda Marriott-Pooks Hill, 5151 Pooks Hill Road,
Bethesda, MD 20814.
Status: The meeting will be open to the public.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Program; Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee
Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2010; Correction
ACTION: Correction of proposed rule.
SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors in the proposed rule
entitled ``Medicare Program; Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee
Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2010'' which appeared in
the July 13, 2009 Federal Register.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Program; Hospice Wage Index for Fiscal Year 2010
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This final rule will set forth the hospice wage index for
fiscal year 2010. The final rule adopts a MedPAC recommendation
regarding a process for certification and recertification of terminal
illness. In addition, this final rule will also revise the phase-out of
the wage index budget neutrality adjustment factor (BNAF), with a 10
percent BNAF reduction in FY 2010. The BNAF phase-out will continue
with successive 15 percent reductions from FY 2011 through FY 2016.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Medicare Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate
Update for Calendar Year 2010
ACTION: Proposed rule.
SUMMARY: This proposed rule sets forth an update to the Home Health
Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) rates; the national standardized
60-day episode rates, the national per-visit rates, the non-routine
medical supply (NRS) conversion factor, and the low utilization payment
amount (LUPA) add-on payment amount, under the Medicare prospective
payment system for home health agencies effective January 1, 2010.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Program; Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective
Payment System Payment Update for Rate Year Beginning July 1, 2009 (RY
2010); Correction
ACTION: Correction of notice.
SUMMARY: This document corrects typographical errors that appeared in
the notice published in the May 1, 2009 Federal Register entitled,
``Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System Payment
Update for Rate Year Beginning July 1, 2009 (RY 2010).''
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective
Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2010
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This final rule updates the payment rates for inpatient
rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2010.
Food and Drug Administration
Guidance for Industry on Pharmaceutical Components at Risk for
Melamine Contamination; Availability
ACTION: Notice.