Summary:
State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2015

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow states to apply for waivers to health benefits coverage requirements in order to implement a universal health care plan. The state universal health care plan must be at least as comprehensive and affordable as coverage under federal health programs and cover substantially all state residents.

States may apply to waive requirements for:

 health insurance exchanges, plans sold on exchanges, and the program to support nonprofit insurance issuers; reduced cost-sharing for individuals meeting income criteria; health insurance premium subsidies, employer shared responsibility payments, and minimum essential coverage; health benefits under titles XI (General Provisions), XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XXI (Children's Health Insurance) (CHIP) of the Social Security Act; federal employee health benefits; health benefits for members of the military; and health insurance under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must pay a state that assumes responsibility for health coverage currently provided under a federal health program the amount that would otherwise have been spent under the program.

HHS, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Departments of the Treasury, Defense, and Labor must coordinate and consolidate this state waiver process with existing waiver processes to ensure consistency and avoid duplication of effort.

state based universal health_care act bill amends patient_protection affordable care act allow states apply waivers health benefits coverage requirements order implement universal health_care plan state universal health_care plan comprehensive affordable coverage federal health programs cover substantially state residents states apply waive requirements health insurance exchanges plans sold exchanges program support nonprofit insurance issuers reduced cost sharing individuals meeting income criteria health insurance premium subsidies employer shared responsibility payments minimum essential coverage health benefits titles general_provisions xviii medicare xix medicaid xxi children health insurance chip social_security_act federal employee health benefits health benefits members military health insurance employee retirement income security act erisa department_of_health_and_human_services hhs pay state assumes responsibility health coverage currently provided federal health program spent program hhs office_of_personnel_management departments treasury defense labor coordinate consolidate state waiver process existing waiver processes ensure consistency avoid duplication effort


Summary: This bill amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office, upon receiving a request from Congress, to determine if legislation would reduce spending outside of the 10-year budget window through the use of preventive health and preventive health services.

bill amends congressional_budget impoundment control act require congressional_budget_office receiving request congress determine legislation reduce spending outside year budget window use preventive health preventive health services


Summary:
Helping our Rural Veterans Receive Health Care Act

This bill amends the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 to make permanent and expand the pilot program to provide, through qualifying non-VA health care providers, VA-authorized hospital care or medical, rehabilitative, or preventive health services to veterans in highly rural areas.

helping rural veterans receive health_care act bill amends veterans mental health care improvements act permanent expand pilot program provide qualifying non-va health_care providers authorized hospital care medical rehabilitative preventive health services veterans highly rural areas


Summary:
Veterans Health and Accountability Act

This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to revise the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Choice Program eligibility requirements.

The VA may: (1) remove or demote a VA employee based on performance or misconduct, and (2) also remove an individual from the civil service or demote the individual through a reduction in grade or annual pay rate.

An employee may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board within seven days of removal or demotion.

Between the date on which an individual appeals a removal from the civil service and the date on which the administrative judge issues a final decision, the individual may not receive any pay, awards, bonuses, or other specified benefits.

A demoted individual: (1) shall be paid at the demoted rate as of the date of demotion, (2) may not be placed on administrative leave or any other category of paid leave while an appeal is ongoing, and (3) may only receive pay and other benefits if the individual reports for duty.

The VA may not remove or demote an employee during the pendency of a whistle blower complaint made to the VA Office of Special Counsel or to the central whistle blower office until a final decision has been made.

An individual's appointment to a permanent position within the competitive service or as a career appointee within the Senior Executive Service (SES) shall become final after an 18-month probationary period, which the VA may extend. Final appointment shall be made by the employee's supervisor.

An additional method is established for filing whistle blower complaints in which a VA employee may file such complaints with his or her immediate and next-level supervisors, and ultimately with the VA after having properly filed a complaint at each supervisory level.

The VA may not exempt any employee from such whistle blower coverage.

The VA shall carry out specified adverse actions against a supervisor who commits a prohibited personnel action relating to a whistle blower complaint.

 A supervisor who commits a prohibited personnel action shall not be paid any award or bonus for a one-year period, and any award or bonus paid during that period shall be recouped.

The performance appraisal system for SES employees is revised, including by providing for five annual performance level ratings for SES employees as follows: outstanding, exceeds fully successful, fully successful, minimally satisfactory, and unsatisfactory.

The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to reduce to $300 million the aggregate amount of awards and bonuses that may be paid by the VA in each of FY2016-FY2018.

veterans health accountability_act bill amends veterans access choice accountability_act revise department_of_veterans_affairs choice program eligibility requirements remove demote employee based performance misconduct remove individual civil service demote individual reduction grade annual pay rate employee appeal merit_systems_protection_board seven days removal demotion date individual appeals removal civil service date administrative judge issues final decision individual receive pay awards bonuses specified benefits demoted individual shall paid demoted rate date demotion placed administrative leave category paid leave appeal ongoing receive pay benefits individual reports duty remove demote employee pendency whistle blower complaint office_of_special_counsel central whistle blower office final decision individual appointment permanent position competitive service career appointee senior_executive_service ses shall final month probationary period extend final appointment shall employee supervisor additional method established filing whistle blower complaints employee file complaints immediate level supervisors ultimately having properly filed complaint supervisory level exempt employee whistle blower coverage shall carry specified adverse actions supervisor commits prohibited personnel action relating whistle blower complaint supervisor commits prohibited personnel action shall paid award bonus year period award bonus paid period shall performance appraisal system ses employees revised including providing annual performance level ratings ses employees follows outstanding exceeds fully successful fully successful minimally satisfactory unsatisfactory veterans access choice accountability_act amended reduce million aggregate awards bonuses paid fy2016 fy2018


Summary:
This bill establishes in the Veterans Health Administration an Office of Health Care Quality to oversee the implementation and dissemination of best practices, quality improvements, corrective actions, and Inspector General recommendations across all Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.

The Office shall be headed by a Director who shall be an expert in health care quality or administration.

bill establishes veterans_health_administration office health_care quality oversee implementation dissemination best practices quality improvements corrective actions inspector_general recommendations department_of_veterans_affairs medical facilities office shall headed director shall expert health_care quality administration


Summary:
Telehealth Innovation and Improvement Act of 2015

This bill amends titles XI (General Provisions) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish: (1) a telehealth service model, and (2) Medicare payment rules with respect to certain services tested under the model.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall test Medicare coverage of expanded telehealth services, as defined by the bill, in conjunction with existing models that test the use of accountable care organizations, bundled payments, and other coordinated care models under Medicare. CMS must: (1) establish a methodology for determining the amounts of payment for such services, and (2) provide for evaluations of the service model by an independent entity.

CMS shall expand the application of a service tested under the model if: (1) the required evaluation demonstrates that the service either reduced Medicare spending without reducing the quality of care or improved the quality of care without increasing spending, and (2) the Chief Actuary of CMS certifies that such expansion would reduce net program spending. A service that meets these requirements is defined by the bill as a "certified enhanced telehealth service."

Medicare payment for a certified enhanced telehealth service shall equal 80% of the lesser of: (1) the actual charge for the service, or (2) the amount determined using the payment methodology established under the test model.

CMS shall pay for such services without regard to a Medicare beneficiary's location or area of residence.

telehealth innovation improvement act bill amends titles general_provisions xviii medicare social_security_act establish telehealth service model medicare payment rules respect certain services tested model centers medicare medicaid_services cms shall test medicare coverage expanded telehealth services defined bill conjunction existing models test use accountable care organizations bundled payments coordinated care models medicare cms establish methodology determining amounts payment services provide evaluations service model independent entity cms shall expand application service tested model required evaluation demonstrates service reduced medicare spending reducing quality care improved quality care increasing spending chief actuary cms certifies expansion reduce net program spending service meets requirements defined bill certified enhanced telehealth service medicare payment certified enhanced telehealth service shall equal lesser actual charge service determined payment methodology established test model cms shall pay services regard medicare beneficiary location area residence


Summary:
Transparency and Accountability of Failed Exchanges Act

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to require the Department of Health and Human Services, for certain states awarded a grant to establish a health insurance exchange, to report on how awarded amounts were used and rescind unobligated amounts. This applies to any state that terminates operation of its exchange or transfers operation to another entity. Such a state must provide to the General Services Administration any property acquired through the grant and refer matters involving fraud, waste, and abuse of funds issued pursuant to PPACA to the Department of Justice. Funds rescinded must be retained for federal budget deficit reduction.

transparency accountability failed exchanges act bill amends patient_protection affordable care act ppaca require department_of_health_and_human_services certain states awarded grant establish health insurance exchange report awarded amounts rescind unobligated amounts applies state terminates operation exchange transfers operation entity state provide general_services_administration property acquired grant refer matters involving fraud waste abuse funds issued pursuant ppaca department_of_justice funds rescinded retained federal budget deficit reduction


Summary:
Synchronization & Nonadherence Correction (SYNC) Act of 2015

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to research and test methods for improving medication adherence. "Medication adherence" refers to the taking of medications according to their prescribed dosage, time, frequency, and direction.

Research activities shall include the development of annual statistics related to medication adherence for patients with chronic diseases and mental health conditions treated under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program.

HHS shall implement innovative health care delivery models to test: (1) the efficacy of "synchronization," which refers to the coordination of medication refills such that a patient's medications are refilled according to the same schedule; and (2) 90-day fills at retail pharmacies for the first prescription of maintenance drugs that treat chronic diseases and mental health conditions.

correction act bill requires department_of_health_and_human_services hhs research test methods improving medication adherence medication adherence refers taking medications according prescribed dosage time frequency direction research activities shall include development annual statistics related medication adherence patients chronic diseases mental health conditions treated medicare medicaid federal_employees_health benefit program hhs shall implement innovative health_care delivery models test efficacy refers coordination medication patient medications according schedule day fills retail pharmacies prescription maintenance drugs treat chronic diseases mental health conditions


Summary:
State Health Flexibility Act of 2016

This bill amends the Social Security Act (SSAct) to replace federal requirements for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) with health care block grants to states. A state may use block grant funds to: (1) provide health care services to indigent individuals; (2) fund risk adjustment mechanisms for the purpose of subsidizing the cost of private health insurance for the high-risk population; and (3) support other welfare-related programs, as specified by the bill.

In addition to repealing titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (CHIP) of the SSAct, the bill repeals: (1) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and (2) the Health Care and Educational Reconciliation Act of 2010.

With respect to an alien not lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, a state may use grant funds to provide only emergency health care services, as specified by the bill.

A state shall contract with an approved auditing entity for annual audits of its grant fund expenditures.

The bill limits the authority of any federal agency to supervise a state's use of funds received under the block grant program.

state health flexibility act bill amends social_security_act ssact replace federal requirements medicaid children health insurance program chip health_care block grants states state use block grant funds provide health_care services indigent individuals fund risk adjustment mechanisms purpose subsidizing cost private health insurance high risk population support welfare related programs specified bill addition repealing titles xix medicaid xxi chip ssact bill repeals patient_protection affordable care act health_care educational reconciliation act respect alien lawfully admitted permanent residence united_states state use grant funds provide emergency health_care services specified bill state shall contract approved auditing entity annual audits grant fund expenditures bill limits authority federal agency supervise state use funds received block grant program


Summary:
Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act or the CONNECT for Health Act

This bill amends titles XI (General Provisions) and XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify the use of telehealth and remote patient monitoring services under Medicare.

The bill establishes a telehealth and remote patient monitoring services "bridge" demonstration waiver program, through which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shall waive certain limitations as a condition of Medicare payment to eligible providers of telehealth services.

CMS shall also waive such limitations as a condition of Medicare payment for telehealth services with respect to providers participating in qualifying alternative payment models.

With regard to individuals with certain chronic conditions, telehealth services shall be covered under Medicare as medical and other health services, rural health clinic services, or federally qualified health center (FQHC) services, as the case may be.

A Medicare beneficiary determined to have end stage renal disease (ESRD) and receiving home dialysis may elect to receive certain required monthly ESRD-related visits via telehealth if the beneficiary receives an in-person examination at least once every three months.

For purposes of Medicare payment for telehealth services: (1) a rural health clinic or FQHC may serve as a distant site whose clinician furnishes such services, and (2) certain requirements for originating sites shall not apply with respect to specified stroke-related services or to specified Native American health service facilities.

A Medicare Advantage (MA) plan may use telehealth services to provide benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service program option. Specified limitations are waived with regard to such services furnished under an MA plan.

creating opportunities necessary effective care technologies connect health act connect health act bill amends titles general_provisions xviii medicare social_security_act expand modify use telehealth remote patient monitoring services medicare bill establishes telehealth remote patient monitoring services bridge demonstration waiver program centers medicare medicaid_services cms shall waive certain limitations condition medicare payment eligible providers telehealth services cms shall waive limitations condition medicare payment telehealth services respect providers participating qualifying alternative payment models regard individuals certain chronic conditions telehealth services shall covered medicare medical health services rural health clinic services federally qualified health center fqhc services case medicare beneficiary determined end stage renal disease esrd receiving home dialysis elect receive certain required monthly esrd related visits telehealth beneficiary receives person examination months purposes medicare payment telehealth services rural health clinic fqhc serve distant site furnishes services certain requirements originating sites shall apply respect specified stroke related services specified native american health service facilities medicare_advantage plan use telehealth services provide benefits original medicare fee service program option specified limitations waived regard services furnished plan


Summary:
Incentivizing Medicaid Expansion Act of 2016

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regardless of when such expansion takes place.

Under current law, the enhanced FMAP is equivalent to 100% in 2014 through 2016, 95% in 2017, 94% in 2018, 93% in 2019, and 90% thereafter. The bill retains this enhanced FMAP, but bases it on a term of years rather than on specific dates.

The bill applies retroactively.

incentivizing medicaid expansion act bill amends title xix medicaid social_security_act provide enhanced federal medical assistance percentage fmap state expands medicaid coverage individuals newly eligible patient_protection affordable care act regardless expansion takes place current law enhanced fmap equivalent bill retains enhanced fmap bases term years specific dates bill applies retroactively


Summary:
Medicaid Expansion Parity Act of 2016

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regardless of when such expansion takes place.

Under current law, the enhanced FMAP is equivalent to 100% in 2014 through 2016, 95% in 2017, 94% in 2018, 93% in 2019, and 90% thereafter. The bill retains this enhanced FMAP, but bases it on a term of years rather than on specific dates.

The bill applies retroactively.

medicaid expansion parity act bill amends title xix medicaid social_security_act provide enhanced federal medical assistance percentage fmap state expands medicaid coverage individuals newly eligible patient_protection affordable care act regardless expansion takes place current law enhanced fmap equivalent bill retains enhanced fmap bases term years specific dates bill applies retroactively


Summary:
Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2016

This bill sets conditions for lawsuits arising from health care liability claims regarding health care goods or services or any medical product affecting interstate commerce.Additionally, the bill sets a statute of limitations of three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one-year after the claimant discovers the injury, with certain exceptions. The bill revises other provisions related to health care lawsuits including: (1)limiting noneconomic damages, (2)mandating joint and several liability, (3)limiting attorney contingency fees, (4) limiting punitive damages, and (5)denying punitive damages in the case of products approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

help efficient accessible low cost timely healthcare health act bill sets conditions lawsuits arising health_care liability claims health_care goods services medical product affecting interstate commerce additionally bill sets statute limitations years date manifestation injury year claimant discovers injury certain exceptions bill revises provisions related health_care lawsuits including noneconomic damages joint liability attorney contingency fees limiting punitive damages punitive damages case products approved food_and_drug_administration


Summary:
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, regardless of when such expansion takes place.

Under current law, the enhanced FMAP is equivalent to 100% in 2014 through 2016, 95% in 2017, 94% in 2018, 93% in 2019, and 90% thereafter. The bill retains this enhanced FMAP, but bases it on a term of years rather than on specific dates.

The bill applies retroactively.

bill amends title xix medicaid social_security_act provide enhanced federal medical assistance percentage fmap state expands medicaid coverage individuals newly eligible patient_protection affordable care act regardless expansion takes place current law enhanced fmap equivalent bill retains enhanced fmap bases term years specific dates bill applies retroactively


Summary: This bill amends the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 to extend through August 7, 2021, the pilot program under which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides covered health services in highly rural areas to covered veterans through qualifying non-VA health care providers.

bill amends veterans mental health care improvements act extend august pilot program department_of_veterans_affairs provides covered health services highly rural areas covered veterans qualifying non-va health_care providers


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on May 10, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report on inpatient and outpatient treatment capacity, availability, and needs, including detoxification programs, clinical stabilization programs, transitional residential support services, rehabilitation programs, treatment programs for pregnant women or adolescents, and treatment through Indian health programs. The report must include the barriers to real-time reporting of drug overdoses at the federal, state, and local level and ways to overcome those barriers.

measure amended reported house summary version repeated examining opioid treatment infrastructure act sec bill requires government_accountability_office report inpatient outpatient treatment capacity availability needs including detoxification programs clinical stabilization programs transitional residential support services rehabilitation programs treatment programs pregnant women adolescents treatment indian health programs report include barriers real time reporting drug federal state local level ways overcome barriers


Summary:
Rural Hospital Enhancement and Long Term Health Act of 2016

This bill revises the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act by increasing the maximum grant amount for hospitals under the community facilities grant program. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may not condition grants on the inability of applicants to finance their projects.

The bill amends the Public Health Service Act by reauthorizing through FY2021 and revising the grant program for state offices of rural health, including by requiring HHS to make the grants, thus removing HHS' discretion to make them.

HHS must report annually to Congress and each state office of rural health on rural hospitals' closures.

rural hospital enhancement long term health act bill revises consolidated_farm rural_development act increasing maximum grant hospitals community facilities grant program department_of_health_and_human_services hhs condition grants inability applicants finance projects bill amends public_health_service_act reauthorizing fy2021 revising grant program state offices rural health including requiring hhs grants removing hhs discretion hhs report annually congress state office rural health rural hospitals closures


Summary:
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat ambulance services as reimbursable emergency services if:

 the ambulance request was made because of the sudden onset of a medical condition of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected that a delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to the individual or could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in placing the individual in serious jeopardy, and the individual is transported to the closest and most appropriate medical facility capable of treating such emergency medical condition.

bill directs department_of_veterans_affairs treat ambulance services reimbursable emergency services ambulance request sudden onset medical condition nature prudent reasonably expected delay seeking immediate medical attention hazardous individual reasonably expect absence immediate medical attention result placing individual jeopardy individual transported closest appropriate medical facility capable treating emergency medical condition


Summary:
World's Greatest Healthcare Plan Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the requirements for individuals to maintain minimum essential coverage and for large employers to offer affordable coverage to full time employees.

Health insurance is no longer required to cover preventive care at no cost or include the essential health benefits.

Individuals enrolling in health insurance who have not maintained continuous coverage over the previous 12 months are charged an extra 20% on premiums for each consecutive year without coverage, unless the individual is subject to similar state incentives to maintain coverage.

States may enroll uninsured residents in high deductible health plans. Individuals must be permitted to opt-out of this coverage.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must develop a risk adjustment mechanism for health insurance in the individual market.

For residents of a state to qualify for premium subsidies or the health insurance tax credit in this bill, the state must permit health insurance with an annual limit on benefits to be sold on its exchange.

The bill establishes an advanceable, refundable health insurance tax credit for taxpayers enrolled in health coverage.

States may: (1) apply to HHS to use unclaimed health insurance tax credits for indigent health care; and (2) enroll Medicaid-eligible individuals in health insurance that qualifies for the tax credit instead of in Medicaid, at the individual's option.

The bill establishes Roth HSAs (health savings accounts) for paying certain medical expenses and health insurance premiums.

The tax deduction for medical expenses is eliminated.

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) and title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, including to turn federal Medicaid payments into block grants.

world greatest healthcare plan act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code repeal requirements individuals maintain minimum essential coverage large employers offer affordable coverage time employees health insurance longer required cover preventive care cost include essential health benefits individuals enrolling health insurance maintained continuous coverage previous months charged extra premiums consecutive year coverage individual subject similar state incentives maintain coverage states enroll uninsured residents high deductible health plans individuals permitted opt coverage department_of_health_and_human_services hhs develop risk adjustment mechanism health insurance individual market residents state qualify premium subsidies health insurance tax credit bill state permit health insurance annual limit benefits sold exchange bill establishes refundable health insurance tax credit taxpayers enrolled health coverage states apply hhs use unclaimed health insurance tax credits indigent health_care enroll medicaid eligible individuals health insurance qualifies tax credit instead medicaid individual option bill establishes roth hsas health savings_accounts paying certain medical expenses health insurance premiums tax deduction medical expenses eliminated bill amends title xix medicaid title xviii medicare social_security_act including turn federal medicaid payments block grants


Summary:
Health Expansion Loss Prevention Veterans Act or the HELP Veterans Act

This bill extends transitional assistance management program (TAMP) health care and dental coverage from six months to one year for service members released from active duty.

 An individual who is employed at any time during the final 180 days of such transition period and is eligible for an employer-sponsored health plan shall not be eligible for TAMP coverage.

health expansion loss prevention veterans act help veterans act bill extends transitional assistance management program health_care dental coverage months year service members released active duty individual employed time final days transition period eligible employer sponsored health plan shall eligible coverage


Summary:
Health Savings Account Expansion Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the requirements for health savings accounts (HSAs). The bill modifies the requirements to:

 increase the maximum contribution amounts, permit the use of HSAs to pay health insurance premiums and direct primary care expenses, repeal the restriction on using HSAs for over-the-counter medications, eliminate the requirement that a participant in an HSA be enrolled in a high deductible health care plan, and decrease the additional tax for HSA distributions not used for qualified medical expenses.

health savings account expansion act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code modify requirements health savings_accounts hsas bill modifies requirements increase maximum contribution amounts permit use hsas pay health insurance premiums direct primary care expenses repeal restriction hsas counter medications eliminate requirement participant hsa enrolled high deductible health_care plan decrease additional tax hsa distributions qualified medical expenses


Summary:
Mental and Behavioral Health Care Bump Act of 2016

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to 90% with respect to increased state Medicaid program expenditures for mental and behavioral health services. In general, a state's FMAP may range from 50% to 83% under current law.

mental behavioral health_care act bill amends title xix medicaid social_security_act increase federal medical assistance percentage fmap respect increased state medicaid program expenditures mental behavioral health services general state fmap range current law


Summary:
Health Care Security Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the rules for health savings accounts (HSAs) with respect to catch-up contributions for married couples, medical expenses incurred before an HSA is established, and contribution limits.

(Sec. 2) If both spouses of a married couple have family coverage under a high deductible health plan, each spouse may make catch-up contributions to the same HSA. (Catch-up contributions are additional contributions which individuals who are at least 55 years of age may make to an HSA.)

(Sec. 3) If an HSA is established within 60 days of the beginning of coverage under a high deductible health plan, any distribution from the HSA used to pay a qualified medical expense incurred during that 60-day period after the health coverage began is excludible from gross income. (Under current law, the medical expense must be incurred on or after the date that the HSA is established.)

(Sec. 4) The bill increases the maximum contribution limits for HSAs to equal the maximum for the sum of the annual deductible and out-of-pocket expenses that may be required to be paid for covered benefits under a high deductible health plan.

health_care security act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code modify rules health savings_accounts hsas respect catch contributions married couples medical expenses incurred hsa established contribution limits sec spouses married couple family coverage high deductible health plan spouse catch contributions hsa catch contributions additional contributions individuals years age hsa sec hsa established days beginning coverage high deductible health plan distribution hsa pay qualified medical expense incurred day period health coverage began excludible gross income current law medical expense incurred date hsa established sec bill increases maximum contribution limits hsas equal maximum sum annual deductible pocket expenses required paid covered benefits high deductible health plan


Summary: This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to allow a state Medicaid program to provide, and receive an enhanced federal matching rate for providing, administrative activities carried out with respect to a behavioral health access program for individuals under 21 years of age.

bill amends title xix medicaid social_security_act allow state medicaid program provide receive enhanced federal matching rate providing administrative activities carried respect behavioral health access program individuals years age


Summary:
Plan Verification and Fairness Act of 2016

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require health insurance exchanges to verify an individual's eligibility for a special enrollment period before coverage is made effective.

Individuals seeking coverage through an exchange during a special enrollment period must submit to the exchange the documents necessary to verify their eligibility for the special enrollment period.

The Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services must report on enrollment during special enrollment periods for plan year 2015. The report must include the number of individuals who: (1) sought to enroll during a special enrollment period but were prohibited, (2) were prohibited because they did not provide documentation supporting eligibility, and (3) were prohibited because they provided invalid documentation.

plan verification fairness act bill amends patient_protection affordable care act require health insurance exchanges verify individual eligibility special enrollment period coverage effective individuals seeking coverage exchange special enrollment period submit exchange documents necessary verify eligibility special enrollment period office_of_the_inspector_general department_of_health_and_human_services report enrollment special enrollment periods plan year report include number individuals sought enroll special enrollment period prohibited prohibited provide documentation supporting eligibility prohibited provided invalid documentation


Summary:
This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the requirement for up to three months of retroactive coverage under Medicaid.

Under current law, a state Medicaid program must provide coverage for up to three months prior to an individual's application for benefits if the individual would have been eligible for benefits during that period. The bill eliminates this requirement and instead specifies that coverage begins in the month during which the individual applies for benefits.

bill amends title xix medicaid social_security_act eliminate requirement months retroactive coverage medicaid current law state medicaid program provide coverage months prior individual application benefits individual eligible benefits period bill eliminates requirement instead specifies coverage begins month individual applies benefits


Summary:
Obamacare Regressive Tax Relief Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the penalties for individuals who fail to maintain the minimum essential health insurance coverage required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

obamacare tax relief_act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code reduce penalties individuals fail maintain minimum essential health insurance coverage required patient_protection affordable care act


Summary:
Stop Obamacare Spam Act of 2016

This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from using collected fees to advertise health insurance exchanges.

stop obamacare spam act bill prohibits department_of_health_and_human_services collected fees advertise health insurance exchanges


Summary:
Disability Community Act of 2016

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to temporarily establish a higher federal matching rate with respect to Medicaid expenditures for certain services furnished to individuals with developmental disabilities if such expenditures are attributable to compliance with specified regulations.

In the case of a state Medicaid program that does not require the use of an electronic visit verification system for personal care services and home health services, the federal matching rate for medical assistance expended on such services shall be incrementally reduced.

disability community act bill amends title xix medicaid social_security_act temporarily establish higher federal matching rate respect medicaid expenditures certain services furnished individuals developmental disabilities expenditures attributable compliance specified regulations case state medicaid program require use electronic visit verification system personal care services home health services federal matching rate medical assistance expended services shall incrementally reduced


Summary:
Lead by Example Act of 2016

This bill provides that, beginning January 3, 2019, the only health care plan the federal government may make available to Members of Congress and congressional staff shall be health care provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

By September 15, 2017, the VA and the Office of Personnel Management shall jointly submit to Congress a plan to carry out this bill, including recommendations for any necessary legislative actions.

lead example act bill provides beginning january health_care plan federal_government available members congress congressional staff shall health_care provided department_of_veterans_affairs september office_of_personnel_management shall jointly submit congress plan carry bill including recommendations necessary legislative actions


Summary:
Ensuring Health Care Opportunities Act

This bill waives certain health insurance benefit requirements in states with a county where only one health insurer offers individual coverage. In these states, health plans are not required to provide essential health benefits to be offered in the individual or small group market or through the health insurance exchange. (Plans offered in the individual market or through an exchange fulfill the requirement for individuals to maintain minimum essential coverage.)

ensuring health_care opportunities act bill waives certain health insurance benefit requirements states county health insurer offers individual coverage states health plans required provide essential health benefits offered individual small group market health insurance exchange plans offered individual market exchange fulfill requirement individuals maintain minimum essential coverage


Summary:
Relief from Obamacare Mandate Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to exempt individuals with certain premium increases from the requirement under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to maintain minimum essential health coverage.

The exemption applies to any individual for any month during a year that the individual resides in a state in which the average premium for self-only or family coverage under the second lowest cost silver plans within the state has increased by more than 10% from the prior year.

The bill also requires the cost of annual deductibles to be taken into account in applying the exemption for individuals who cannot afford coverage.

The bill repeals provisions added to the IRC by PPACA that: (1) restrict payments from health savings accounts (HSAs), Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs), and health flexible spending and reimbursement arrangements for medications to prescription drugs and insulin only (thus allowing payments for over-the-counter medications); (2) impose a $2,500 limitation on salary reduction contributions to a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan; and (3) impose an additional tax on HSA and Archer MSA distributions not used for qualified medical expenses.

relief obamacare mandate act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code irc exempt individuals certain premium increases requirement patient_protection affordable care act ppaca maintain minimum essential health coverage exemption applies individual month year individual resides state average premium self family coverage second lowest cost silver plans state increased prior year bill requires cost annual deductibles taken account applying exemption individuals afford coverage bill repeals provisions added irc ppaca restrict payments health savings_accounts hsas archer_medical_savings_accounts msas health flexible spending reimbursement arrangements medications prescription drugs insulin allowing payments counter medications impose limitation salary reduction contributions health flexible spending arrangement cafeteria plan impose additional tax hsa archer msa distributions qualified medical expenses


Summary:
Protection from Insurance Exchange Monopolies Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the requirement to maintain minimum essential health coverage any individual residing in a county with fewer than two health insurance issuers offering qualified health plans on an exchange.

protection insurance exchange act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code exempt requirement maintain minimum essential health coverage individual residing county fewer health insurance issuers offering qualified health plans exchange


Summary:
Relief from Obamacare Exchange Failures Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the requirement to maintain minimum essential health coverage an individual who for any month is: (1) unable to obtain coverage under a qualified health plan through an exchange established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act because no qualified health plan is offered to the individual through an exchange, (2) is not eligible for specified government-sponsored programs that provide health coverage, and (3) is not eligible for affordable employer-sponsored coverage.

relief obamacare exchange failures act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code exempt requirement maintain minimum essential health coverage individual month unable obtain coverage qualified health plan exchange established patient_protection affordable care act qualified health plan offered individual exchange eligible specified government sponsored programs provide health coverage eligible affordable employer sponsored coverage


Summary:
Medicare Affordability and Enrollment Act of 2016

This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to:

 establish an annual limit on out-of-pocket expenditures for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries; expand income-eligibility for cost-sharing and, with respect to beneficiaries consequently eligible for cost-sharing, establish a federal medical assistance percentage of 100% under Medicaid; limit the amount of coinsurance or copayment required of low-income beneficiaries; eliminate the two-year waiting period for Medicare coverage with respect to individuals with disabilities; allow beneficiaries residing in U.S. territories to be eligible for certain premium and cost-sharing subsidies available to other beneficiaries under the Medicare prescription drug benefit; and modify other provisions related to special rules for beneficiaries in Puerto Rico, income and resource determinations, and enrollment procedures. The bill also amends the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 to extend funding for specified beneficiary outreach and education activities.

medicare affordability enrollment act bill amends titles xviii medicare xix medicaid social_security_act establish annual limit pocket expenditures medicare fee service beneficiaries expand income eligibility cost sharing respect beneficiaries eligible cost sharing establish federal medical assistance percentage medicaid limit coinsurance copayment required low income beneficiaries eliminate year waiting period medicare coverage respect individuals disabilities allow beneficiaries residing territories eligible certain premium cost sharing subsidies available beneficiaries medicare_prescription_drug benefit modify provisions related special rules beneficiaries puerto_rico income resource determinations enrollment procedures bill amends medicare_improvements_for_patients_and_providers_act extend funding specified beneficiary outreach education activities


Summary:
Medicaid Gap Relief Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt certain low-income residents of states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) from the ACA's individual mandate to maintain health insurance coverage.

medicaid gap relief_act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code exempt certain low income residents states expanded medicaid patient_protection affordable care act individual mandate maintain health insurance coverage


Summary:
Hospital Outcomes Act of 2016

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to replace the existing methodology for calculating Medicare payment adjustments for subsection (d) hospitals based on outcomes in readmissions and complications with a new methodology based on potentially avoidable outcomes in those areas. (In general, a "subsection (d) hospital" is an acute care hospital that receives payments under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system.)

The bill: (1) establishes a methodology for determining a hospital's financial impact attributable to potentially avoidable outcomes performance with regard to complications and readmissions, and (2) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to select methodologies for identifying potentially avoidable outcomes in these categories. Subject to both a ceiling and a floor, a hospital's payment adjustment factor for an applicable prospective period shall be based on the ratio of the hospital's financial impact to the aggregate amount of standardized payments made to the hospital with respect to that period.

CMS must ensure budget neutrality with respect to application of the payment adjustment factor across all subsection (d) hospitals.

CMS shall regularly report to hospitals and to the public on each hospital's performance with regard to potentially avoidable outcomes.

hospital outcomes act bill amends title xviii medicare social_security_act replace existing methodology calculating medicare payment adjustments subsection hospitals based outcomes complications new methodology based potentially outcomes areas general subsection hospital acute care hospital receives payments medicare inpatient prospective payment system bill establishes methodology determining hospital financial impact attributable potentially outcomes performance regard complications requires centers medicare medicaid_services cms select methodologies identifying potentially outcomes categories subject ceiling floor hospital payment adjustment factor applicable prospective period shall based ratio hospital financial impact aggregate standardized payments hospital respect period cms ensure budget neutrality respect application payment adjustment factor subsection hospitals cms shall regularly report hospitals public hospital performance regard potentially outcomes


Summary:
Unaffordable Care Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the requirement to maintain minimum essential health coverage an individual who: (1) resides in a location with fewer than two qualified health plans offered through an exchange established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or (2) was covered under minimum essential coverage for the last month of the preceding year and the premium is at least 125% percent of the premium for that month.

care act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code exempt requirement maintain minimum essential health coverage individual resides location fewer qualified health plans offered exchange established patient_protection affordable care act covered minimum essential coverage month preceding year premium percent premium month


Summary:
Realizing Opportunity for Spouses in Employment Act or the ROSIE Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the spouses of active duty members of the Armed Forces from being counted as employees to determine if an employer is an applicable large employer, with respect to health coverage requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

realizing opportunity spouses employment act act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code exempt spouses active duty members armed_forces counted employees determine employer applicable large employer respect health coverage requirements patient_protection affordable care act


Summary:
Retirement Security for American Workers Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to modify the qualification requirements for certain multiple employer retirement plans.

A multiple employer plan that meets certain criteria may not be disqualified or otherwise lose its tax-favored status because one or more participating employers fail to take actions required with respect to the plan.

The bill applies to a multiple employer defined contribution plan or a plan that consists of Individual Retirement Accounts that either: (1) is sponsored by employers that both have a common interest other than having adopted the plan and control the plan, or (2) have a pooled plan provider.

The bill does not apply unless the terms of the plan require a noncompliant employer to, subject to the discretion of the Internal Revenue Service, (1) transfer assets of the plan attributable to the employees of the noncompliant employer to other specified retirement plans, and (2) be liable for plan liabilities attributable to employees of the noncompliant employer.

For the purposes of this bill, a defined contribution plan that is established or maintained for the purpose of providing benefits to the employees of two or more employers and that meets certain requirements (a pooled employer plan) is treated for the purposes of ERISA as a single plan that is a multiple employer plan.

The bill modifies reporting requirements under ERISA that apply to pooled employer and multiple employer plans.

retirement security american workers act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code employee retirement income security act erisa modify qualification requirements certain multiple employer retirement plans multiple employer plan meets certain criteria disqualified lose tax favored status participating employers fail actions required respect plan bill applies multiple employer defined contribution plan plan consists individual retirement accounts sponsored employers common interest having adopted plan control plan pooled plan provider bill apply terms plan require noncompliant employer subject discretion internal_revenue_service transfer assets plan attributable employees noncompliant employer specified retirement plans liable plan liabilities attributable employees noncompliant employer purposes bill defined contribution plan established maintained purpose providing benefits employees employers meets certain requirements pooled employer plan treated purposes erisa single plan multiple employer plan bill modifies reporting requirements erisa apply pooled employer multiple employer plans


Summary:
American Future Healthcare Act of 2016

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to health savings accounts (HSAs), to:

 repeal the requirement that an individual making a tax deductible contribution to an HSA be covered by a high deductible health care plan; increase the maximum HSA contribution level; allow Medicare eligible individuals to contribute to an HSA; allow HSAs to be used to purchase health insurance; provide a cost-of-living adjustment for the limits on additional contributions for individuals 55 or older (catch-up contributions); require the cost-of-living adjustments to be indexed to the CPI medical care component (the medical care component for the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Labor); and allow a rollover of HSA amounts to a Medicare Advantage Medical Savings Account (MSA).

american future healthcare act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code respect health savings_accounts hsas repeal requirement individual making tax deductible contribution hsa covered high deductible health_care plan increase maximum hsa contribution level allow medicare eligible individuals contribute hsa allow hsas purchase health insurance provide cost living adjustment limits additional contributions individuals older catch contributions require cost living adjustments indexed cpi medical care component medical care component consumer price index urban consumers published department_of_labor allow rollover hsa amounts medicare_advantage medical savings account msa


Summary:
Hire More Heroes Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to add a provision to exempt any employee with coverage under a health care program administered by the Department of Defense, including the TRICARE program, or by the Veterans Administration, from classification as an eligible employee of an applicable large employer for purposes of the employer mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide such employees with minimum essential health care coverage.

hire heroes act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code add provision exempt employee coverage health_care program administered department_of_defense including tricare program veterans administration classification eligible employee applicable large employer purposes employer mandate patient_protection affordable care act provide employees minimum essential health_care coverage


Summary:
Forty Hours is Full Time Act of 2015

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the employer mandate to provide health care coverage, to: (1) modify the formula for calculating the number of full-time employees employed by an applicable large employer subject to the mandate; and (2) define a "full-time employee" as an employee who is employed on average at least 40 hours per week (currently, 30 hours).

hours time act amends_the_internal_revenue_code respect employer mandate provide health_care coverage modify formula calculating number time employees employed applicable large employer subject mandate define time employee employee employed average hours week currently hours


Summary:
Helping Individuals Regain Employment Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the definition of "full-time employee," for purposes of the employer mandate to provide minimum essential health care coverage, any individual who is a long-term unemployed individual. Defines "long-term unemployed individual" as an individual who begins employment after enactment of this Act and has been unemployed for 27 weeks or longer.

helping individuals employment act amends_the_internal_revenue_code exclude definition time employee purposes employer mandate provide minimum essential health_care coverage individual long term unemployed individual defines long term unemployed individual individual begins employment enactment act unemployed weeks longer


Summary:
Patient Choice Restoration Act

This bill repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Provisions of law amended by those Acts are restored as if those Acts had never been enacted.

patient choice restoration act bill repeals patient_protection affordable care act health_care_and_education reconciliation act provisions law amended acts restored acts enacted


Summary:
Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015

Repeals sections of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (and restores provisions of law amended by those sections) related to the establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board to develop proposals to reduce the per capita rate of growth in spending under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act.

protecting seniors access medicare_act repeals sections patient_protection affordable care act restores provisions law amended sections related establishment independent_payment_advisory_board develop proposals reduce capita rate growth spending title xviii medicare social_security_act


Summary:
ObamaCare Repeal Act

This bill repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and restores provisions of law amended by those Acts, effective 180 days after this bill is enacted.

obamacare repeal act bill repeals patient_protection affordable care act health_care_and_education reconciliation act restores provisions law amended acts effective days bill enacted


Summary:
Freeing Americans from Inequitable Requirements Act of 2015 or the FAIR Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the individual mandate to purchase health care coverage, to delay such requirement from taking effect until the Secretary of the Treasury submits to Congress a certification that the employer mandate to provide health care coverage for employees is being applied and administered without any administratively created exceptions.

americans requirements act fair act amends_the_internal_revenue_code respect individual mandate purchase health_care coverage delay requirement taking effect secretary treasury submits congress certification employer mandate provide health_care coverage employees applied administered administratively created exceptions


Summary:
Taxpayer Bailout Protection Act

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that payments to plans do not exceed payments to HHS under the risk corridors program (under which a qualified health plan is required to participate in a payment adjustment system based on the ratio of the allowable costs of the plan to the plan's aggregate premiums) for a plan year.

HHS must proportionately decrease payments to plans in order to ensure that this requirement is satisfied each year.

taxpayer bailout protection act bill amends patient_protection affordable care act require department_of_health_and_human_services hhs ensure payments plans exceed payments hhs risk corridors program qualified health plan required participate payment adjustment system based ratio allowable costs plan plan aggregate premiums plan year hhs proportionately decrease payments plans order ensure requirement satisfied year


Summary: Amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 to extend indefinitely the requirement that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnish hospital care and medical services through non-VA facilities to veterans who reside: (1) in a state without a VA medical facility that provides hospital care, emergency medical services, and surgical care; and (2) more than 20 miles from such a facility.

amends veterans access choice accountability_act extend indefinitely requirement secretary veterans_affairs furnish hospital care medical services non-va facilities veterans reside state medical facility provides hospital care emergency medical services surgical care miles facility


Summary:
Medicare Residential Care Coordination Act of 2015

 Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and implement a demonstration project under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to evaluate the use of capitated payments made to eligible continuing care retirement communities for residential care coordination programs.

medicare residential care coordination act directs secretary health_and_human_services establish implement demonstration project titles xviii medicare xix medicaid social_security_act evaluate use capitated payments eligible continuing care retirement communities residential care coordination programs


Summary:
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), thus exempting such employers from PPACA requirements with respect to such volunteers.

The bill defines "bona fide volunteer" as an employee of any government entity and any tax-exempt charitable organization whose only compensation is in the form of: (1) reimbursement for (or reasonable allowance for) reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of volunteer services, or (2) reasonable benefits (including length-of-service awards) and nominal fees customarily paid by similar entities for the services of volunteers.

protecting volunteer firefighters emergency responders act bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code exclude services rendered bona fide volunteers providing firefighting prevention services emergency medical services ambulance services state local government tax exempt charitable organization category services usually rendered employee applicable large employer subject mandate provide minimum essential health_care coverage patient_protection affordable care act ppaca exempting employers ppaca requirements respect volunteers bill defines bona fide volunteer employee government entity tax exempt charitable organization compensation form reimbursement reasonable allowance reasonable expenses incurred performance volunteer services reasonable benefits including length service awards nominal fees customarily paid similar entities services volunteers


Summary:
Small Business Fairness in Health Care Act

 Amends the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), to: (1) exempt a small business concern, as defined by the Small Business Act, from the PPACA employer mandate to provide employees with minimum essential health care coverage; and (2) redefine "full-time employee," for purposes of such mandate, as an employee who is employed on average at least 40 (currently, 30) hours a week.

small business fairness health_care act amends_the_internal_revenue_code amended patient_protection affordable care act ppaca exempt small business concern defined small_business_act ppaca employer mandate provide employees minimum essential health_care coverage redefine time employee purposes mandate employee employed average currently hours week


Summary:
Safeguarding Classrooms Hurt by ObamaCare's Obligatory Levies

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude any elementary or secondary school, state or local educational agency, and institution of higher education from the definition of "applicable large employer" for purposes of the employer mandate to provide health care coverage for employees.

Directs the Secretary of Education to study and report on the impact of the employer health insurance mandate on educational agencies and institutions before and after the enactment of this Act.

safeguarding classrooms obamacare levies amends_the_internal_revenue_code exclude elementary secondary school state local educational agency institution higher education definition applicable large employer purposes employer mandate provide health_care coverage employees directs secretary education study report impact employer health insurance mandate educational agencies institutions enactment act


Summary:
Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act of 2015

Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) establish standards to ensure that all VA medical facilities have the structural characteristics necessary to adequately meet the gender-specific health care needs of veterans at such facilities, including privacy, safety, and dignity; (2) integrate such standards into its prioritization methodology with respect to requests for funding major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases; and (3) report on such standards, including regarding the facilities that fail to meet such standards and the costs of projects and leases required to meet them.

Requires the VA to: (1) use health outcomes for women veterans furnished health care by the the VA in evaluating the performance of VA medical center directors, (2) publish on its website information on such performance and on health outcomes for women veterans for each VA medical facility, (3) ensure that every VA medical center has a full-time obstetrician or gynecologist, and (4) carry out a pilot program to increase the number of residency program positions and graduate medical education positions for obstetricians and gynecologists at VA medical facilities in not less than three Veterans Integrated Service Networks.

Directs the VA to develop procedures to share information that includes military service and separation data, personal email addresses and telephone numbers, and mailing addresses of veterans with state veterans agencies in electronic format as a means of facilitating the furnishing of assistance and benefits to such veterans. Allows a veteran to elect to prevent their information from being shared.

Directs the Government Accountability Office to carry out an examination of whether VA medical centers are able to meet the health care needs of women veterans.

women veterans access quality care act directs department_of_veterans_affairs establish standards ensure medical facilities structural characteristics necessary adequately meet gender specific health_care needs veterans facilities including privacy safety dignity integrate standards prioritization methodology respect requests funding major medical facility projects major medical facility leases report standards including facilities fail meet standards costs projects leases required meet requires use health outcomes women veterans furnished health_care evaluating performance medical center directors publish website information performance health outcomes women veterans medical facility ensure medical center time carry pilot program increase number residency program positions graduate medical education positions medical facilities veterans_integrated_service_networks directs develop procedures share information includes military service separation data personal email addresses telephone numbers mailing addresses veterans state veterans agencies electronic format means facilitating furnishing assistance benefits veterans allows veteran elect prevent information shared directs government_accountability_office carry examination medical centers able meet health_care needs women veterans


Summary:
Health Care Choice Act of 2015

Repeals the health insurance and health coverage expansion requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and related requirements of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Restores provisions of law amended or repealed by those provisions.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide that the laws of the state designated by a health insurance issuer (primary state) apply to individual health insurance coverage offered by that issuer in the primary state and in any other state (secondary state), but only if the coverage and issuer comply with the conditions of this Act.

Exempts issuers from any secondary state's laws that would prohibit or regulate the operation of the issuer in that state, subject to certain restrictions imposed by that state.

 Gives sole jurisdiction to the primary state to enforce the primary state's covered laws in the primary state and any secondary state.

Requires the Government Accountability Office to study the effect of this Act on specified health insurance issues.

health_care choice act repeals health insurance health coverage expansion requirements patient_protection affordable care act related requirements health_care_and_education reconciliation act restores provisions law amended repealed provisions amends public_health_service_act provide laws state designated health insurance issuer primary state apply individual health insurance coverage offered issuer primary state state secondary state coverage issuer comply conditions act exempts issuers secondary state laws prohibit regulate operation issuer state subject certain restrictions imposed state gives sole jurisdiction primary state enforce primary state covered laws primary state secondary state requires government_accountability_office study effect act specified health insurance issues


Summary:
Winding Down ObamaCare Act

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require health insurers to offer at least 18 months of continuation coverage to enrollees who lose their health insurance coverage or federal premium assistance as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in King v. Burwell. Continuation coverage must be the same as an enrollee's coverage at the time of the decision, unless the health insurer modifies coverage for all similar enrollees. Individuals must elect continuation coverage within 60 days of the decision.

Health insurers cannot raise premiums during the period of continuation coverage.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cannot enter into a new contract with a state to provide the state with technology from the federal health insurance exchange.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a new tax credit for individuals with continuation coverage that is equal to 65% of the amount paid for continuation coverage, with the percentage decreasing by 5% each month after six months. The Department of the Treasury must pay advance payments on the tax credit.

This bill amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to prohibit HHS from waiving state Medicaid plan requirements in order to allow a state to undertake a demonstration project unless HHS establishes project spending limits that are reviewed by actuaries.

winding obamacare act bill amends public_health_service_act require health insurers offer months continuation coverage enrollees lose health insurance coverage federal premium assistance result supreme_court decision king continuation coverage enrollee coverage time decision health insurer modifies coverage similar enrollees individuals elect continuation coverage days decision health insurers raise premiums period continuation coverage department_of_health_and_human_services hhs enter new contract state provide state technology federal health insurance exchange bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code establish new tax credit individuals continuation coverage equal paid continuation coverage percentage decreasing month months department_of_the_treasury pay advance payments tax credit bill amends title xix medicaid social_security_act prohibit hhs waiving state medicaid plan requirements order allow state undertake demonstration project hhs establishes project spending limits reviewed


Summary:
Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees Act or the PACE Act

This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and Public Health Service Act to include employers with 51 to 100 employees as large employers for purposes of health insurance markets.

PPACA is amended to give states the option to treat these employers as small employers. Currently, employers with 51 to 100 employees are small employers, but before January 1, 2016, states have the option to treat them as large employers. (Under PPACA, health insurance offered in the small group market must meet certain requirements that do not apply to the large group market, including the requirement to cover the essential health benefits.)

protecting affordable coverage employees act pace act bill amends patient_protection affordable care act ppaca public_health_service_act include employers employees large employers purposes health insurance markets ppaca amended states option treat employers small employers currently employers employees small employers january states option treat large employers ppaca health insurance offered small group market meet certain requirements apply large group market including requirement cover essential health benefits


Summary:
Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Act

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 to make the J-1 visa waiver (Conrad state 30/medical services in underserved areas) program permanent.

Excludes from numerical immigration limitations alien physicians who have completed national interest waiver requirements by working in a health care shortage area (including alien physicians who completed such service before the date of enactment of this Act and any spouses or children of such alien physicians).

Sets forth specified employment protections and contract requirements for alien physicians working in underserved areas, including a six-month status extension for a physician whose application his been denied by an oversubscribed state who then agrees to work in an undersubscribed state.

Increases the number of alien physicians that a state may be allocated from 30 to 35 per fiscal year under specified circumstances. Provides for additional increases or decreases based upon demand.

Provides up to three visa waivers per fiscal year per state for physicians in academic medical centers.

Permits dual intent for an alien coming to the United States to receive graduate medical education or training, or to take examinations required for graduate medical education or training.

Exempts H-1B nonimmigrant aliens seeking to enter the United States to pursue graduate medical education or training from specified entry limitations.

conrad state physician access act amends immigration nationality technical corrections act j-1 visa waiver conrad state medical services underserved areas program permanent excludes numerical immigration limitations alien physicians completed national interest waiver requirements working health_care shortage area including alien physicians completed service date enactment act spouses children alien physicians sets forth specified employment protections contract requirements alien physicians working underserved areas including month status extension physician application denied state agrees work state increases number alien physicians state allocated fiscal year specified circumstances provides additional increases decreases based demand provides visa waivers fiscal year state physicians academic medical centers permits dual intent alien coming united_states receive graduate medical education training examinations required graduate medical education training exempts h-1b nonimmigrant aliens seeking enter united_states pursue graduate medical education training specified entry limitations


Summary:
Special Inspector General for Monitoring the ACA Act of 2015 or the SIGMA Act of 2015

Establishes the Office of the Special Inspector General for Monitoring the Affordable Care Act to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the implementation and administration of programs and activities established under, and payment system changes made by, the Affordable Care Act (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010). Requires the Special Inspector General to be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Requires the Special Inspector General to appoint an Assistant Inspector General for Auditing and an Assistant Inspector General for Investigations.

Places the Special Inspector General under the supervision of the Department of Health and Human Services, but prohibits federal agencies involved in implementing or administering the Affordable Care Act from preventing or prohibiting the Special Inspector General from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit or investigation.

special inspector_general monitoring act act establishes office special inspector_general monitoring affordable care act conduct supervise coordinate audits investigations implementation administration programs activities established payment system changes affordable care act patient_protection affordable care act health_care provisions health_care_and_education reconciliation act requires special inspector_general appointed president advice consent senate requires special inspector_general appoint assistant inspector_general auditing assistant inspector_general investigations places special inspector_general supervision department_of_health_and_human_services prohibits federal agencies involved implementing administering affordable care act preventing prohibiting special inspector_general initiating carrying completing audit investigation


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Access to Community Care for Veterans Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 regarding the veterans choice program to allow a veteran to access a non-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility, including a community-based outpatient clinic, if the VA facility within 40 miles driving distance of the veteran's home does not offer the needed hospital or medical services.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure access community care veterans act sec bill amends veterans access choice accountability_act veterans_choice_program allow veteran access non-department_of_veterans_affairs medical facility including community based outpatient clinic facility miles driving distance veteran home offer needed hospital medical services


Summary:
Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine Act or the FAST Act

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) expand access to certain stroke telehealth services to any originating site at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished, regardless of where the site is located; and (2) waive the facility fee for certain such originating sites.

furthering access stroke telemedicine act fast act bill amends title xviii medicare social_security_act expand access certain stroke telehealth services originating site eligible telehealth individual located time service furnished regardless site located waive facility fee certain originating sites


Summary:
Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to jointly update the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain, including guidelines regarding:

 prescribing opioids for outpatient treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain; contraindications for opioid therapy; treatment of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, psychiatric disorders, or a history of substance abuse or addiction; case management for patients transitioning between inpatient and outpatient health care; routine and random urine drug tests to help prevent substance abuse; and options to augment opioid therapy with other clinical and complementary and integrative health services to minimize opioid dependence. The VA shall:

 expand the Opioid Safety Initiative to include all VA medical facilities, including providing employees with pain management training, and establishment of pain management teams; track and monitor opioid use, including through the use of state program information; increase the availability of Food and Drug Administration-approved opioid receptor antagonists; modify the Computerized Patient Record System to ensure that any health care provider that accesses a veteran's record will be immediately notified whether the veteran is receiving opioid therapy and has a history of substance use disorder or opioid abuse; establish a Pain Management Board in each Veterans Integrated Service Network; conduct a feasibility study for a program under which veterans at risk for prescription drug abuse receive prescription drugs only from certain VA pharmacies; establish the Office of Patient Advocacy; expand research and education on, and delivery and integration of, complementary and integrative health services into veterans' health care services, including services provided to veterans with mental health or chronic conditions; assess the feasibility of using wellness programs to complement pain management and related health care services to veterans and their families; carry out a program of internal audits to improve health care services to veterans and their families; and provide to the medical board of each state in which a VA health care provider is licensed information about such provider's medical license violations. A working group on pain management and opioid therapy for individuals receiving VA or DOD health care is established within the Health Executive Committee of the VA-DOD Joint Executive Committee.

The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the VA's: (1) Opioid Safety Initiative and the opioid prescribing practices of VA health care providers, and (2) the Patient Advocacy Program.

The VA shall request from the medical board of each state in which a prospective health care provider has a medical license: (1) information on medical license violations during the past 20 years, and (2) information on whether the health care provider has entered into any settlement agreement for a medical-related disciplinary charge.

memorial opioid safety act bill directs department_of_veterans_affairs department_of_defense dod jointly update dod clinical practice guideline management opioid therapy chronic pain including guidelines prescribing opioids outpatient treatment chronic non cancer pain contraindications opioid therapy treatment patients post traumatic stress disorder psychiatric disorders history substance abuse addiction case management patients transitioning inpatient outpatient health_care routine random drug tests help prevent substance abuse options augment opioid therapy clinical complementary integrative health services minimize opioid dependence shall expand opioid safety initiative include medical facilities including providing employees pain management training establishment pain management teams track monitor opioid use including use state program information increase availability food_and_drug_administration approved opioid modify computerized patient record system ensure health_care provider accesses veteran record immediately notified veteran receiving opioid therapy history substance use disorder opioid abuse establish pain management board veterans_integrated_service_network conduct feasibility study program veterans risk prescription drug abuse receive prescription drugs certain pharmacies establish office patient advocacy expand research education delivery integration complementary integrative health services veterans health_care services including services provided veterans mental health chronic conditions assess feasibility wellness programs complement pain management related health_care services veterans families carry program internal audits improve health_care services veterans families provide medical board state health_care provider licensed information provider medical license violations working_group pain management opioid therapy individuals receiving dod health_care established health executive committee dod joint executive committee government_accountability_office shall report congress opioid safety initiative opioid prescribing practices health_care providers patient advocacy program shall request medical board state prospective health_care provider medical license information medical license violations past years information health_care provider entered settlement agreement medical related disciplinary charge


Summary:
Rural Emergency Acute Care Hospital Act

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to designate as a rural emergency hospital any facility that as of December 31, 2014, was:

 a critical access hospital (CAH) or a hospital with at most 50 beds located in a county in a rural area or treated as located in a rural area, or one of such hospitals that ceased operations during the period beginning five years before enactment of this Act and ending on December 30, 2014. A rural emergency hospital:

 must provide 24-hour emergency medical care and observation care not exceeding an annual per patient average of 24 hours or more than 1 midnight, does not provide any acute care inpatient beds and has protocols in place for the timely transfer of patients who require acute care inpatient services or other inpatient services, has elected to be designated as a rural emergency hospital, has received approval to operate as one from the state, and is certified by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits) shall cover rural emergency hospital emergency services as well as ambulance services provided by a rural emergency hospital or other provider to transport patients who require acute care inpatient services or other inpatient services from the rural emergency hospital to a hospital or a CAH.

Payment for rural emergency hospital outpatient services of a rural emergency hospital, including telehealth and ambulance services, shall be 110% percent of their reasonable costs.

Rural emergency hospitals must be approved by the state and certified by HHS.

States shall have the option of waiving a specified distance requirement between a CAH certified as a rural emergency hospital and another facility located in the state that is seeking designation as a CAH.

Primary health services which the National Health Service Corps may provide under the Public Health Service Act shall include emergency medicine provided by physicians in a rural emergency hospital.

Hospitals with approved residency programs in emergency medicine shall include time spent by interns and residents in the emergency department of a rural hospital in the full-time equivalent count with respect to reimbursement for the indirect (stipend, fringe benefit) and direct (all or substantially all training) costs of medical education in subsection (d) hospitals.

(Generally, a subsection [d] hospital is an acute care hospital, particularly one that receives payments under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system [IPPS] when providing covered inpatient services to eligible beneficiaries.)

rural emergency acute care hospital act bill amends title xviii medicare social_security_act designate rural emergency hospital facility december critical access hospital hospital beds located county rural area treated located rural area hospitals ceased operations period beginning years enactment act ending december rural emergency hospital provide hour emergency medical care observation care exceeding annual patient average hours midnight provide acute care inpatient beds protocols place timely transfer patients require acute care inpatient services inpatient services elected designated rural emergency hospital received approval operate state certified department_of_health_and_human_services hhs medicare supplementary_medical_insurance benefits shall cover rural emergency hospital emergency services ambulance services provided rural emergency hospital provider transport patients require acute care inpatient services inpatient services rural emergency hospital hospital payment rural emergency hospital outpatient services rural emergency hospital including telehealth ambulance services shall percent reasonable costs rural emergency hospitals approved state certified hhs states shall option waiving specified distance requirement certified rural emergency hospital facility located state seeking designation primary health services national_health_service_corps provide public_health_service_act shall include emergency medicine provided physicians rural emergency hospital hospitals approved residency programs emergency medicine shall include time spent interns residents emergency department rural hospital time equivalent count respect reimbursement indirect stipend fringe benefit direct substantially training costs medical education subsection hospitals generally subsection hospital acute care hospital particularly receives payments medicare inpatient prospective payment system ipps providing covered inpatient services eligible beneficiaries


Summary:
Equalizing the Playing Field for Agents and Brokers Act

 Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a toll-free customer service support help line to enable certified health insurance agents and brokers to seek assistance regarding qualified health plans offered in the federal health insurance marketplace.

Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require HHS to:

 make available on the federal government website for health insurance coverage a list of all certified agents and brokers; contract with the National Insurance Producers Registry to regularly verify the licensure status of all such agents and brokers and develop a mechanism to enable submission of changes to contact and licensure information; and provide trained navigators, agents, and brokers, no later than five business days after promulgation or issuance of any new cost- or enrollment-related policies, with a clear description of such policy changes.

equalizing playing field agents brokers act directs_the_department_of_health_and_human_services hhs establish toll free customer service support help line enable certified health insurance agents brokers seek assistance qualified health plans offered federal health insurance marketplace amends patient_protection affordable care act require hhs available federal_government website health insurance coverage list certified agents brokers contract national insurance producers registry regularly verify licensure status agents brokers develop mechanism enable submission changes contact licensure information provide trained navigators agents brokers later business days promulgation issuance new enrollment related policies clear description policy changes


Summary:
Four Rationers Repeal Act of 2015

This bill repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) related to the establishment of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (also known as the Independent Medicare Advisory Board), effective as of enactment of PPACA. (The purpose of the board is to develop proposals to reduce the growth rate of Medicare spending without restricting benefits or modifying eligibility.) Provisions amended by the repealed provisions are restored.

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act and title XI, title XVIII (Medicare), and title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. (The purpose of the center is to test innovative payment and service delivery models to reduce expenditures while preserving or enhancing the quality of care.)

Group health plans and health insurers are no longer required to cover, without cost-sharing, certain items and services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is no longer required to convene the USPSTF.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force is eliminated. (This task force developed recommendations regarding community preventive interventions based on scientific evidence.)

The Department of Health and Human Services may not use comparative effectiveness research to deny or delay coverage of an item or service under a federal health care program. Comparative effectiveness research conducted or supported by the federal government must account for factors contributing to differences in the treatment response and treatment preferences of patients.

repeal act bill repeals provisions patient_protection affordable care act ppaca related establishment independent_payment_advisory_board known independent medicare advisory_board effective enactment ppaca purpose board develop proposals reduce growth rate medicare spending restricting benefits modifying eligibility provisions amended repealed provisions restored bill amends public_health_service_act title title xviii medicare title xix medicaid social_security_act eliminate center medicare medicaid_innovation purpose center test innovative payment service delivery models reduce expenditures preserving enhancing quality care group health plans health insurers longer required cover cost sharing certain items services recommended united_states_preventive_services_task_force uspstf agency healthcare_research_and_quality longer required convene uspstf community preventive services task_force eliminated task_force developed recommendations community preventive interventions based scientific evidence department_of_health_and_human_services use comparative effectiveness research deny delay coverage item service federal health_care program comparative effectiveness research conducted supported federal_government account factors contributing differences treatment response treatment preferences patients


Summary:
TELEmedicine for MEDicare Act of 2015 or the TELE-MED Act of 2015

This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow a Medicare provider to provide telemedicine services to a Medicare beneficiary who is in a different state from the one in which the provider is licensed or authorized to provide health care services. The licensing or authorizing state has jurisdiction to enforce its licensure or other legal authorization requirements with regard to such a provision of service.

telemedicine medicare_act tele act bill amends title xviii medicare social_security_act allow medicare provider provide telemedicine services medicare beneficiary different state provider licensed authorized provide health_care services licensing authorizing state jurisdiction enforce licensure legal authorization requirements regard provision service