Weekly Legislative & Regulatory Round-up
Week of January 24 - 30
| GAO reports |
January 28, 2009
Electronic Health Records: DOD's and VA's Sharing of Information Could
Benefit from Improved Management
January 23, 2009
VA Health Care: Long-Term Care Strategic Planning and Budgeting Need
Improvement
| OIG reports |
January 28, 2009
Medicare Administrative Law Judge Hearings: Update, 2007–2008
January 27, 2009
Iowa's Medicaid Payments Claimed for Children’s Remedial Services
Review of Retiree Drug Subsidy Costs Reported by the City of Boston for Plan Years 2006 and 2007
Review of Medicaid Overpayments at Ledgeview Living Center for Calendar Years 2004 Through 2006
| Bills introduced |
|
Number/ Title |
Date Introduced | Sponsor | Description |
H.R. 667 |
1/23/09 |
JOHN SALAZAR (D-CO) |
A bill to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in members and former members of the Armed Forces, to review and expand telehealth and telemental health programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. |
H.R. 668 |
1/23/09 |
GREG WALDEN (R-OR) |
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide flexibility in the manner in which beds are counted for purposes of determining whether a hospital may be designated as a critical access hospital under the Medicare Program and to exempt from the critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans; Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. |
S. 314 |
1/26/09 |
ORRIN G. HATCH (R-UT) |
A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to establish programs to improve the quality, performance, and delivery of pediatric care; Referred to the Committee on Finance |
S. 318 |
1/26/09 |
CHARLES E. GRASSLEY (R-IA) |
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to health care under the Medicare program for beneficiaries residing in rural areas; Referred to the Committee on Finance |
S. 319 |
1/26/09 |
JEFF BINGAMAN (D-NM) |
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide grants to promote positive health behaviors in women and children; Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions |
S. 326 |
1/26/09 |
MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY) |
A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program through fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Finance |
H.R. 676 |
1/26/09 |
JOHN CONYERS (D-MI) |
A bill to provide for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned |
H.R. 678 |
1/26/09 |
BOB FILNER (D-CA) |
A bill to require the Commissioner of Social Security to revise the medical criteria for evaluating disability in a person diagnosed with Huntington's Disease and to waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for individuals disabled by Huntington's Disease; Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. |
H.R. 684 |
1/26/09 |
JOHN TIERNEY (D-MA) |
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare Program; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned |
H.R. 686 |
1/26/09 |
SUSAN DAVIS (D-CA) |
A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to permit local public agencies to act as Medicaid enrollment brokers; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce |
H.R. 688 |
1/26/09 |
KAY GRANGER (R-TX) |
A bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program through fiscal year 2013, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
H.R. 694 |
1/26/09 |
JOE SESTAK (D-PA) |
A bill to extend temporarily the 18-month period of continuation coverage under group health plans required under COBRA continuation coverage provisions so as to provide for a total period of continuation coverage of up to 24 months; Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned |
H.R. 697 |
1/26/09 |
ANTHONY WEINER (D-NY) |
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to require coverage for the treatment of infertility; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. |
S. 330 |
1/27/09 |
RICHARD DURBIN (D-IL) |
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare program; Referred to the Committee on Finance |
S. 332. |
1/27/09 |
DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA) |
A bill to establish a comprehensive interagency response to reduce lung cancer mortality in a timely manner; Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions |
H.R. 716 |
1/27/09 |
STEVE ISRAEL (D-NY) |
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to provide coverage for individuals participating in approved cancer clinical trials; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned |
H.R. 722 |
1/27/09 |
JAMES MORAN (D-VA) |
A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide an option of States to cover a children's program of all-inclusive coordinated care (ChiPACC) under the Medicaid Program; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce |
H.R. 723. |
1/27/09 |
RICHARD NEAL (D-MA) |
A bill to amend the Social Security Act to eliminate the 5-month waiting period for Social Security disability and the 24-month waiting period for Medicare benefits in the cases of individuals with disabling burn injuries; Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. |
H.R. 724 |
1/27/09 |
ED PASTOR (D-AZ) |
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce |
H.R. 745 |
1/28/09 |
ANNA ESHOO (D-CA) |
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a Pancreatic Cancer Initiative, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
H.R. 747 |
1/28/09 |
BOBBY SCOTT (D-VA) |
A bill to amend the Social Security Act to provide health insurance coverage for children and pregnant women throughout the United States by combining the children and pregnant woman health coverage under Medicaid and SCHIP into a new All Healthy Children Program, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce |
H.R. 756 |
1/28/09 |
LOIS CAPPS (D-CA) |
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to pain care; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce |
H.R. 758 |
1/28/09 |
DIANA DEGETTE (D-CO) |
A bill to amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of pediatric research consortia; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce |
H.R. 759 |
1/28/09 |
ANNA ESHOO (D-CA) |
A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve the safety of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics in the global market, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce |
S. 343 |
1/29/09 |
BLANCHE LINCOLN (D-AR) |
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage services of qualified respiratory therapists performed under the general supervision of a physician; Referred to the Committee on Finance |
S. 350 |
1/29/09 |
MAX BAUCUS (D-MT) |
An original bill to provide for a portion of the economic recovery package relating to revenue measures, unemployment, and health; Referred from the Committee on Finance; placed on the calendar |
S. 353 |
1/29/09 |
SHERROD BROWN (D-OH) |
A bill to amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of pediatric research consortia; Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions |
| Federal Register notices |
January 26, 2009
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Program; Changes to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective
Payment System and CY 2009 Payment Rates; Changes to the Ambulatory
Surgical Center Payment System and CY 2009 Payment Rates; Hospital
Conditions of Participation: Requirements for Approval and Re-Approval
of Transplant Centers To Perform Organ Transplants--Clarification of
Provider and Supplier Termination Policy Medicare and Medicaid
Programs: Changes to the Ambulatory Surgical Center Conditions for
Coverage
ACTION: Correction of final rule with comment period.
SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the
final rule with comment period published in the Federal Register on
November 18, 2008, entitled ``Medicare Program; Changes to the Hospital
Outpatient Prospective Payment System and CY 2009 Payment Rates;
Changes to the Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System and CY 2009
Payment Rates; Hospital Conditions of Participation: Requirements for
Approval and Re-Approval of Transplant Centers To Perform Organ
Transplants--Clarification of Provider and Supplier Termination Policy
Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Changes to the Ambulatory Surgical
Center Conditions for Coverage'' (hereinafter referred to as the CY
2009 OPPS/ASC final rule with comment period).
Medicaid Program; Fiscal Year Disproportionate Share Hospital
Allotments and Disproportionate Share Hospital Institutions for Mental
Disease Limits
SUMMARY: This document corrects a technical error that appeared in the
notice published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2008 entitled,
``Medicaid Program; Fiscal Year Disproportionate Share Hospital
Allotments and Disproportionate Share Hospital Institutions for Mental
Disease Limits.''
January 27, 2009
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) allow information collection related to
implementation of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of
2005, 42 U.S.C. 299b-21 to 299b-26, in: ``Patient Safety Organization
Certification for Initial Listing and Related Forms and a Patient
Safety Confidentiality Complaint Form'' In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), AHRQ invites
the public to comment on this proposed information collection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
AGENCY: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Extension of public comment period.
SUMMARY: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
announced the availability of a draft document available for public
comment entitled ``NIOSH Criteria Document Update: Occupational
Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium'' on October 17, 2008, as well as a
public meeting to be held on January 22, 2009. The document and
instructions for submitting comments can be found at http://
www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/144/. Comments were to be provided to
the NIOSH docket by January 31, 2009, as well as given orally at the
public meeting. A request has been received to extend the comment
period to permit the public more time to gather and submit information.
Accordingly, NIOSH is extending the public comment period by 60
days to March 31, 2009.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date and reopening of comment
SUMMARY: In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2009, from
the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled
``Regulatory Review Plan,'' this action temporarily delays for 60 days
the effective date of the final rule entitled ``Medicaid Program;
Premiums and Cost Sharing'' (73 FR 71828). The temporary 60-day delay
in effective date is necessary to give Department officials the
opportunity for further review and consideration of new regulations. In
addition, this action reopens the comment period on the policies set
out in the November 25, 2008 final rule.
National Institutes of Health
Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: Multi-Domain Amphipathic
Helical Peptides for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
SUMMARY: This is notice, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37
CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i), that the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is contemplating the
grant of an exclusive license worldwide to practice the invention
embodied in: United States Provisional Patent Application No. 60/
619,392, filed October 15, 2004, entitled ``Multi-Domain Amphipathic
Helical Peptides and Methods of Their Use'' (HHS Ref. No. E-114-2004/0-
US-01), United States Patent Application Serial No. 11/577,259, filed
April 13, 2007, entitled ``Multi-Domain Amphipathic Helical Peptides
and Methods of Their Use'' (HHS Ref. No. E-114-2004/0-US-07);
Australian Patent Application Serial No. 2005295640, filed October 14,
2005, entitled ``Multi-Domain Amphipathic Helical Peptides and Methods
of Their Use'' (HHS Ref. No. E-114-2004/0-AU-03); Canadian Patent
Application Serial No. 2584048, filed October 14, 2005, entitled
``Multi-Domain Amphipathic Helical Peptides and Methods of Their Use''
(HHS Ref. No. E-114-2004/0-CA-04); European Patent Application Serial
No. 05815961.7, filed October 14, 2005, entitled ``Multi-Domain
Amphipathic Helical Peptides and Methods of Their Use'' (HHS Ref. No.
E-114-2004/0-EP-05); Japanese Patent Application Serial No. 2007-
536912, filed October 14, 2005, entitled ``Multi-Domain Amphipathic
Helical Peptides and Methods of Their Use'' (HHS Ref. No. E-114-2004/0-
JP-06) to KineMed, Inc., having a place of business in the State of
California. The field of use may be limited to FDA or foreign
regulatory body approved 5a peptide therapeutic for the prevention and
treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The United States of America is
the assignee of the patent rights in this invention. The territory may
be worldwide. This announcement is the second notice to grant an
exclusive license to this technology and supersedes any previous
announcements including the Notice published in the Federal Register on
Wednesday, May 11, 2005 (70 FR 24832).
January 29, 2009
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
SUMMARY: This notice announces the intention of the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed information collection
project: ``Assessing Organizational Responses to AHRQ's Health Literacy
Pharmacy Tools.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), AHRQ invitesthe public to comment on
this proposed information collection.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Designation of a Class of Employees for Addition to the Special
Exposure Cohort
SUMMARY: HHS gives notice of a decision to designate a class of
employees at Vitro Manufacturing in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, as an
addition to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) under the Energy
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000. On
January 16, 2009, the Secretary of HHS designated the following class
of employees as an addition to the SEC:
All AWE employees who worked at Vitro Manufacturing in Canonsburg,
Pennsylvania, from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1957, for a
number of work days aggregating at least 250 work days, occurring
either solely under this employment or in combination with work days
within the parameters established for one or more other classes of
employees in the Special Exposure Cohort.
This designation will become effective on February 15, 2009, unless
Congress provides otherwise prior to the effective date. After this
effective date, HHS will publish a notice in the Federal Register
reporting the addition of this class to the SEC or the result of any
provision by Congress regarding the decision by HHS to add the class to
the SEC.
January, 30 2009
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations (2) (3)
In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects.
Alternatively, to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and
instrument, call 404-639-5960 and send comments to Maryam I. Daneshvar,
CDC Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., MS-D74, Atlanta,
Georgia 30333; comments may also be sent by e-mail to omb@cdc.gov.
Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have a practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarify of the information to be collected; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,
including through the use of information technology. Written comments
should be received within 60 days of this notice.
Proposed Project
Prevalence Survey of Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs) in U.S.
Acute Care Hospitals--New--National Center for Preparedness, Detection,
and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID), Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC).