Weekly Legislative & Regulatory Round-up
Week of November 7 - 13
| GAO reports |
No relevant reports.
| OIG reports |
No relevant reports.
| Bills introduced |
|
Number/ Title |
Date Introduced | Sponsor | Description |
| S. 2750 | 11/6/09 | CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY) | A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to eligible States for the purpose of reducing the student-to-school nurse ratio in public secondary schools, elementary schools, and kindergarten; Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
| H.R. 4038 | 11/6/09 | DAVE CAMP (R-MI) | A bill to take meaningful steps to lower health care costs and increase access to health insurance coverage without raising taxes, cutting Medicare benefits for seniors, adding to the national deficit, intervening in the doctor-patient relationship, or instituting a government takeover of health care; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and the Judiciary. |
| H.R. 4039 | 11/6/09 | CHARLES DENT (R-PA) | A bill to improve the medical justice system by encouraging the prompt and fair resolution of disputes, enhancing the quality of care, ensuring patient access to health care services, fostering alternatives to litigation, and combating defensive medicine, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary. |
| H.R. 4047 | 11/6/09 | ANH CAO (R-LA) | A bill to use historical averages to calculate the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage for disaster affected States for purposes of the Medicaid Program; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
| H.R. 4053 | 11/6/09 | JAMES MORAN (D-VA) | A bill to establish the Office of Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Treatment within the Office of Public Health and Science of the Department of Health and Human Services, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor. |
| H.R. 4062 | 11/7/09 | JOHN ADLER (D-NJ) | A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the administration of medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. |
| S. 2765 | 11/10/09 | JOHN KERRY (D-MA) | A bill to amend the Small Business Act to authorize loan guarantees for health information technology; Referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. |
| S. 2766 | 11/10/09 | JOHN KERRY (D-MA) | A bill to provide for the coverage of medically necessary food under Federal health programs and private health insurance; Referred to the Committee on Finance. |
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Office of Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management
and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Resources and Technology;
Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is
reorganizing a portion of two offices, the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Resources and Technology (ASRT) and the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (ASAM), both of
which are located within the Office of the Secretary (OS).
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System; Rate
Update for Calendar Year 2010
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This final 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 factors, and the low utilization
payment amount (LUPA) add-on payment amounts, under the Medicare
prospective payment system for home health agencies effective January
1, 2010. This rule also updates the wage index used under the HH PPS.
In addition, this rule changes the HH PPS outlier policy, requires the
submission of OASIS data as a condition for payment under the HH PPS,
implements a revised Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS-C)
for episodes beginning on or after January 1, 2010, and implements a
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Home
Health Care Survey (HHCAHPS) affecting payment to HHAs beginning in CY
2012. Also, this rule makes payment safeguards that will improve our
enrollment process, improve the quality of care that Medicare
beneficiaries receive from HHAs, and reduce the Medicare program's
vulnerability to fraud. This rule also adds clarifying language to the
``skilled services'' section and Conditions of Participation (CoP)
section of our regulations. This rule also clarifies the coverage of
routine medical supplies under the HH PPS.
DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective on January 1,
2010.
Food and Drug Administration
International Conference on Harmonisation; Draft Guidance on E7
Studies in Support of Special Populations; Geriatrics; Questions and
Answers; Availability
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the
availability of a draft guidance entitled ``E7 Studies in Support of
Special Populations: Geriatrics; Questions & Answers.''
DATES: Although you can comment on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR
10.115(g)(5)), to ensure that the agency considers your comment on this
draft guidance before it begins work on the final version of the
guidance, submit electronic or written comments on the draft guidance
by January 11, 2010.
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Interest Rate on Overdue Debts
The current rate of 10 \7/8%, as fixed by the Secretary of the
Treasury, is certified for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. This
interest rate is effective until the Secretary of the Treasury notifies
the Department of Health and Human Services of any change.
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information
Technology
ACTION: HIT Standards Committee Advisory Meeting; Notice of Meeting
Date and Time: The meeting will be held on November 19, 2009, from
9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time.
Location: The Holiday Inn-Capitol, 550 C Street, SW., Washington,
DC 20008. The hotel telephone number is 202-479-4000.
National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics
Action: Notice of Meeting
Name: National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS),
Full Committee Meeting.
Time and Date:
November 19, 2009 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
November 20, 2009 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Place: National Center for Health Statistics, 3311 Toledo Road,
Hyattsville, MD 20782, Telephone: 301 458-4200.
Status: Open.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines; Notice of Meeting
Date and Time: December 4, 2009, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST.
December 5, 2009, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST.
Place: Parklawn Building (and via audio conference call),
Conference Rooms G & H, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.
The public can join the meeting via audio conference call.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
1. Type of Information Collection Request: Extension of a currently
approved collection; Title of Information Collection: Paid Feeding
Assistants in Long-Term Care Facilities and Supporting Regulations at
42 CFR 483.160.
Food and Drug Administration
Medical Devices: Ophthalmic Devices; Laser-Assisted In Situ
Keratomileusis (LASIK) Devices; Reopening of the Comment Period
ACTION: Notice.