Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 - Title I: Medicare Extenders - (Sec. 101) Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to physician payment update to: (1) extend the update currently scheduled for January through March of 2014 to the entire calendar year of 2014, (2) freeze the update to the single conversion factor at 0.00% for January 1, 2015, through March 31, 2015, and (3) require that the conversion factor for April 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015, and for 2016 and subsequent years be computed as if such freeze had never applied.

(Sec. 102) Extends: (1) the geographic practice cost index (GPCI) floor through April 1, 2015; (2) the therapy cap exceptions process through March 15, 2015; (3) add-on payments for ground ambulance and super rural ground ambulance services through April 1, 2015; (4) the increased inpatient hospital payment adjustment for certain low-volume hospitals starting on April 1, 2015, for FY2016, and subsequent fiscal years; (5) the Medicare-Dependent Hospital (MDH) program through March 31, 2015; (6) specialized MedicareAdvantage (MA) plans for special needs individuals through December 31, 2016; (7) through December 31, 2016, authority to renew a reasonable cost reimbursement contract with a health maintenance organization and competitive medical plan; and (8) through March 31, 2015, the funding for any contract with a consensus-based entity regarding performance measurement as well as multi-stakeholder group input into selection of quality and efficiency measures (endorsement, input, and selection).

(Sec. 110) Amends the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the American Taxpayer Relief Act, and the Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013 to extend through March 31, 2015, the funding of various programs, including area agencies on aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and the contract with the National Center for Benefits and Outreach Enrollment.

(Sec. 111) Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue through June 2015 certain medical review activities related to the two-midnight rule.

(The two-midnight rule allows Medicare coverage of only hospital stays for which a physician admits to a hospital a beneficiary expected to require care that crosses two midnights, but generally denies coverage of care expected to require less than a two-midnight stay.)

Prohibits the Secretary, however, from conducting patient status reviews on a post-payment review basis through recovery audit contractors (RACs) for inpatient claims with dates of admission from October 1, 2013, through March 31, 2015, unless there is evidence of systematic gaming, fraud, abuse, or delays in the provision of care by a service provider.

(Sec. 112) Amends SSA title XVIII and the Medicare. Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 with respect to Medicare long-term care hospital (LTCH) requirements, making technical changes.

Exempts from the moratorium on the establishment of LTCHs any LTCH that: (1) began its qualifying period for payment on or before the date of enactment of this exemption; (2) has a binding written agreement as of the same date with an outside, unrelated party for the actual construction, renovation, lease, or demolition for a LTCH, and has expended, before that date, at least 10% of the project's estimated cost (or, if less, $2.5 million); or (3) has obtained an approved certificate of need in a state where one is required on or before that date of enactment.

Title II: Other Health Provisions - (Sec. 201) Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to extend: (1) through March 31, 2015, the qualifying individual (QI) and transitional medical assistance (TMA) programs, and (2) through September 30, 2015, express lane program eligibility under both Medicaid and SSA title XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP).

(Sec. 204) Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to extend special diabetes programs for Type I diabetes and for Indians through FY2015.

(Sec. 205) Amends SSA title V (Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant) to extend: (1) the abstinence education grant and personal responsibility education (PREP) programs through FY2015, and (2) the family-to-family health information centers through March 31, 2015.

(Sec. 208) Amends SSA title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) to extend the health workforce demonstration project for low-income individuals through FY2015.

(Sec. 209) Extends the maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs under SSA title V through March 31, 2015.

(Sec. 210) Amends SSA title XI to earmark funding for pediatric quality measures for improving the quality of children's health care. Requires the aggregate amount awarded by the Secretary for grants and contracts for the development, testing, and validation of emerging and innovative evidence-based measures under such program to equal the aggregate amount awarded by the Secretary for grants as part of the program to advance pediatric quality measures.

(Sec. 211) Delays the effective date for Medicaid amendments in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 relating to beneficiary liability settlements.

(Sec. 212) Delays until October 1, 2015, the transition from International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 to ICD-10.

(Sec. 213) Amends PPACA to repeal the limitation on cost-sharing (deductibles) for employer-sponsored health plans.

(Sec. 214) Directs the Comptroller General (GAO), if the Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013 is enacted into law, to evaluate the children's hospital graduate medical education (GME) program.

(Sec. 215) Directs the Secretary to: (1) specify a skilled nursing facility (SNF) all-cause all-condition hospital readmission measure (or any successor) by October 1, 2015; (2) specify a measure to reflect an all-condition risk-adjusted potentially preventable hospital readmission rate for SNFs by October 1, 2016; (3) devise a methodology to achieve a high level of reliability and validity, especially for SNFs with a low volume of readmissions; (4) provide confidential feedback reports to SNFs on their performance with respect to such a readmission or resource use measure; and (5) establish procedures for making available to the public by posting on the Nursing Home Compare Medicare website information on the performance of SNFs with respect to such measures. Directs the Secretary to establish a SNF value-based purchasing (SNF VBP) program under which value-based incentive payments (VBPs) are made in a fiscal year to SNFs, applying first a readmission measure, then as soon as practicable a resource use measure in lieu of the readmission measure. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish performance standards with respect to the measure applied for a performance period for a fiscal year; (2) develop a methodology for assessing the total performance of each SNF based on such performance standards; (3) rank the SNF performance scores determined from low to high; (4) increase the adjusted federal per diem rate otherwise applicable to a SNF by the VBP, which may include a zero percentage; (5) reduce that adjusted federal per diem rate by 2% beginning FY2019; and (9) make information about SNF performance under the SNF VBP program available to the public on the Nursing Home Compare Medicare website. Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to report to Congress on the progress of SNF VBP program and recommend improvements to it. (Sec. 216) Amends SSA title XVIII to prescribe requirements for establishment of Medicare payment rates for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests and new advanced diagnostic laboratory tests. Requires a Medicare administrative contractor to issue a coverage policy with respect to a clinical diagnostic test only in accordance with the process for making a local coverage determination. Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study implementation of the new payment rates for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. (Sec. 217) Amends the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 to delay to January 1, 2024, the implementation of oral-only end stage renal disease (ESRD)-related drugs in the ESRD prospective payment system. Revises Medicare requirements for the Medicare end state renal disease (ESRD) prospective payment system, including with respect to: (1) the adjustment to the ESRD bundled payment rate to account for changes in the utilization of certain drugs and biologicals, and (2) quality measures related to conditions treated by oral-only drugs under the ESRD quality incentive program. Requires the Secretary, as part of the promulgation of annual rule for the Medicare ESRD prospective payment system for calendar year 2016, to establish a process for: (1) determining when a product is no longer an oral-only drug, and (2) including new injectable and intravenous products into the bundled payment under such system. Directs the Secretary to audit Medicare cost reports, beginning during 2012, for a representative sample of service providers and renal dialysis facilities. (Sec. 218) Prescribes quality incentives to promote patient safety and health, including penalties, for certain computed tomography services. Directs the Secretary through rulemaking to specify appropriate use criteria for imaging services only from those developed or endorsed by national professional medical specialty societies or other provider-led entities. Requires the Secretary then to promote the application of such criteria by ordering professionals and furnishing professionals to imaging services furnished in a physician's office, a hospital outpatient department (including an emergency department), an ambulatory surgical center, and any other provider-led outpatient setting. (Sec. 219) Eliminates FY2014-FY2015 funding for the Medicare Improvement Fund. (Sec. 220) Authorizes the Secretary to collect and use certain information on physicians' services in the determination of relative values in the formulae for setting physicians' fees. Authorizes the Secretary to establish or adjust practice expense relative values using cost, charge, or other data from suppliers or service providers. Revises and expands the list of codes which the Secretary must examine to identify potentially misvalued codes. Sets a target for relative value adjustments for misvalued services for 2017-2020. Phases-in over a two-year period significant relative value unit (RVU) reductions Requires the GAO to study the processes used by the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) to make recommendations to the Secretary regarding relative values for specific services under the Medicare physician fee schedule. Makes metropolitan statistical areas in California fee schedule areas for calculation of the geographical adjustment factor in the formulae for setting physicians' fees. Directs the Secretary to make publicly available the information used to establish the multiple procedure payment reduction policy to the professional component of imaging services in a specified final rule. (Sec. 221) Amends SSA title XIX to increase the amounts of reductions to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments for FY2017-FY2024. Requires the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) to review and report annually to Congress on DSH payments. (Sec. 222) Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to adjust the 2% maximum reduction for specified Medicare programs for FY2024 under any presidential sequestration order to make it 4% for the first 6 months of FY2024 and 0% for the last 6 months. (Sec. 223) Requires the Secretary to publish criteria for a state-certified community behavioral health clinic to participate in a mental health services demonstration program participated in by a state.

Directs the Secretary, through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to issue guidance for the establishment of a prospective payment system that shall apply only to medical assistance for mental health services furnished by a certified community behavioral health clinic participating in a demonstration program.

Requires the Secretary to award planning grants to states to develop proposals to participate in two-year demonstration programs.

Makes appropriations for FY2014 and FY2016.

(Sec. 224) Directs the Secretary to establish a 4-year pilot program to award up to 50 grants each year to eligible entities for assisted outpatient treatment programs for individuals with serious mental illness. Authorizes appropriations for FY2015-FY2018.

(Sec. 225) Excludes the budgetary effects of this Act from the PAYGO scorecard under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 as well as from the Senate PAYGO scorecard.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure protecting_access medicare_act title medicare extenders sec amends title xviii medicare social_security_act ssa respect physician payment update extend update currently scheduled january march entire calendar year freeze update single conversion factor january march require conversion factor april december subsequent years computed freeze applied sec extends geographic practice cost index floor april therapy cap exceptions process march add payments ground ambulance super rural ground ambulance services april increased inpatient hospital payment adjustment certain low volume hospitals starting april fy2016 subsequent fiscal years medicare dependent hospital program march specialized medicareadvantage plans special needs individuals december december authority renew reasonable cost reimbursement contract health maintenance organization competitive medical plan march funding contract consensus based entity performance measurement multi stakeholder group input selection quality efficiency measures endorsement input selection sec amends medicare_improvements_for_patients_and_providers_act amended patient_protection affordable care act ppaca american taxpayer relief_act pathway sgr reform_act extend march funding programs including area agencies aging aging_and_disability_resource_centers contract national center benefits outreach enrollment sec authorizes secretary health_and_human_services hhs continue june certain medical review activities related midnight rule midnight rule allows medicare coverage hospital stays physician hospital beneficiary expected require care crosses generally denies coverage care expected require midnight stay prohibits secretary conducting patient status reviews post payment review basis recovery audit contractors inpatient claims dates admission october march evidence systematic gaming fraud abuse delays provision care service provider sec amends ssa title xviii medicare medicaid schip extension act respect medicare long-term_care hospital ltch requirements making technical changes exempts moratorium establishment ltchs ltch began qualifying period payment date enactment exemption binding written agreement date outside unrelated party actual construction renovation lease demolition ltch expended date project estimated cost million obtained approved certificate need state required date enactment title health provisions sec amends ssa title xix medicaid extend march qualifying individual transitional medical assistance tma programs september express lane program eligibility medicaid ssa title xxi children health insurance program chip sec amends public_health_service_act phsa extend special diabetes programs type diabetes indians fy2015 sec amends ssa title maternal child health services block grant extend abstinence education grant personal responsibility education prep programs fy2015 family family health information centers march sec amends ssa title block grants states social_services extend health workforce demonstration project low income individuals fy2015 sec extends maternal infant early_childhood_home_visiting programs ssa title march sec amends ssa title earmark funding pediatric quality measures improving quality children health_care requires aggregate awarded secretary grants contracts development testing validation emerging innovative evidence based measures program equal aggregate awarded secretary grants program advance pediatric quality measures sec delays effective date medicaid amendments bipartisan_budget_act relating beneficiary liability settlements sec delays october transition international statistical classification diseases icd-10 sec amends ppaca repeal limitation cost sharing deductibles employer sponsored health plans sec directs comptroller_general gao children hospital gme support reauthorization act enacted law evaluate children hospital graduate medical education gme program sec directs secretary specify skilled nursing facility snf cause condition hospital measure successor october specify measure reflect condition risk adjusted potentially preventable hospital rate snfs october devise methodology achieve high level reliability validity especially snfs low volume provide confidential feedback reports snfs performance respect resource use measure establish procedures making available public posting nursing home compare medicare website information performance snfs respect measures directs secretary establish snf value based purchasing snf program value based incentive payments fiscal year snfs applying measure soon practicable resource use measure lieu measure requires secretary establish performance standards respect measure applied performance period fiscal year develop methodology assessing total performance snf based performance standards rank snf performance scores determined low high increase adjusted federal diem rate applicable snf include zero percentage reduce adjusted federal diem rate beginning fy2019 information snf performance snf program available public nursing home compare medicare website directs medicare_payment_advisory_commission medpac report congress progress snf program recommend improvements sec amends ssa title xviii prescribe requirements establishment medicare payment rates clinical diagnostic laboratory tests new advanced diagnostic laboratory tests requires medicare administrative contractor issue coverage policy respect clinical diagnostic test accordance process making local coverage determination directs comptroller_general gao study implementation new payment rates clinical diagnostic laboratory tests sec amends american taxpayer relief_act delay january implementation oral end stage renal disease drugs esrd prospective payment system revises medicare requirements medicare end state renal disease esrd prospective payment system including respect adjustment esrd bundled payment rate account changes utilization certain drugs biologicals quality measures related conditions treated oral drugs esrd quality incentive program requires secretary promulgation annual rule medicare esrd prospective payment system calendar year establish process determining product longer oral drug including new intravenous products bundled payment system directs secretary audit medicare cost reports beginning representative sample service providers renal dialysis facilities sec prescribes quality incentives promote patient safety health including penalties certain computed tomography services directs secretary rulemaking specify appropriate use criteria imaging services developed endorsed national professional medical specialty societies provider led entities requires secretary promote application criteria ordering professionals furnishing professionals imaging services furnished physician office hospital outpatient department including emergency department ambulatory surgical center provider led outpatient setting sec eliminates fy2014 fy2015 funding medicare_improvement_fund sec authorizes secretary collect use certain information physicians services determination relative values formulae setting physicians fees authorizes secretary establish adjust practice expense relative values cost charge data suppliers service providers revises expands list codes secretary examine identify potentially misvalued codes sets target relative value adjustments misvalued services phases year period significant relative value unit reductions requires gao study processes relative value scale update committee ruc recommendations secretary relative values specific services medicare physician fee schedule makes metropolitan statistical areas california fee schedule areas calculation geographical adjustment factor formulae setting physicians fees directs secretary publicly available information establish multiple procedure payment reduction policy professional component imaging services specified final rule sec amends ssa title xix increase amounts reductions medicaid disproportionate share hospital dsh allotments fy2017 fy2024 requires medicaid chip payment access commission review report annually congress dsh payments sec amends balanced_budget emergency deficit control act gramm rudman hollings act adjust maximum reduction specified medicare programs fy2024 presidential sequestration order months fy2024 months sec requires secretary publish criteria state certified community behavioral health clinic participate mental health services demonstration program participated state directs secretary administrator centers medicare medicaid_services issue guidance establishment prospective payment system shall apply medical assistance mental health services furnished certified community behavioral health clinic participating demonstration program requires secretary award planning grants states develop proposals participate year demonstration programs makes appropriations fy2014 fy2016 sec directs secretary establish year pilot program award grants year eligible entities assisted outpatient treatment programs individuals mental illness authorizes appropriations fy2015 fy2018 sec excludes budgetary effects act paygo scorecard statutory pay act senate paygo scorecard


Summary: Obamacare Taxpayer Bailout Protection Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, with respect to the program of risk corridors (under which a qualified health plan offered in the individual or small group market 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), to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that payments to and from a plan are provided for in amounts necessary to reduce to zero the cost to the government of carrying out the program.

obamacare taxpayer bailout protection act_-_amends patient_protection affordable care act respect program risk corridors qualified health plan offered individual small group market required participate payment adjustment system based ratio allowable costs plan plan aggregate premiums require secretary health_and_human_services hhs ensure payments plan provided amounts necessary reduce zero cost government carrying program


Summary:
Taxpayer Bailout Protection Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, with respect to the program of risk corridors (under which a qualified health plan offered in the individual or small group market 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), to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that the amount of payments to plans for a plan year beginning during calendar years 2014 through 2016 does not exceed the amount of payments to the Secretary for such plan year.

Requires the Secretary to proportionately decrease the amount of payments to plans in order to ensure that such requirement is satisfied each year.

taxpayer bailout protection act_-_amends patient_protection affordable care act respect program risk corridors qualified health plan offered individual small group market required participate payment adjustment system based ratio allowable costs plan plan aggregate premiums require secretary health_and_human_services hhs ensure payments plans plan year beginning calendar years exceed payments secretary plan year requires secretary proportionately decrease payments plans order ensure requirement satisfied year


Summary:
Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2014 - Sets forth requirements for the first update of the Strategic Plan Refresh for Fiscal Years 2012 through 2014 after the enactment of this Act.

Requires the Director of the Office of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prepare the update in consultation with the Director of the Health Care Retention and Recruitment Office, the Director of the Office of Quality and Performance, and the Director of the Office of Care Coordination Services of the Department.

Requires the update to include: (1) goals and objectives for the provision of health care in rural areas, including for recruiting and retaining health care personnel, ensuring timeliness and improving quality in the delivery of health care services through contract and fee-basis providers, implementing and enhancing the use of telemedicine services, ensuring the full and effective use of mobile outpatient clinics, and coordinating and sharing of resources among federal agencies; (2) procedures for soliciting from each Veterans Health Administration facility that serves a rural area a statement of the facility's clinical capacity, the facility's procedures in the event of an emergency outside the scope of such capacity, and the facility's procedures and mechanisms for the provision and coordination of health care for women veterans; and (3) modification of funding allocation mechanisms to ensure that the Office of Rural Health distributes funds to VA components to best achieve goals and objectives in a timely manner.

rural veterans health_care improvement act sets forth requirements update strategic plan fiscal years enactment act requires director office rural health department_of_veterans_affairs prepare update consultation director health_care retention recruitment office director office quality performance director office care coordination services department requires update include goals objectives provision health_care rural areas including recruiting retaining health_care personnel ensuring timeliness improving quality delivery health_care services contract fee basis providers implementing enhancing use telemedicine services ensuring effective use mobile outpatient clinics coordinating sharing resources federal agencies procedures soliciting veterans_health_administration facility serves rural area statement facility clinical capacity facility procedures event emergency outside scope capacity facility procedures mechanisms provision coordination health_care women veterans modification funding allocation mechanisms ensure office rural health distributes funds components best achieve goals objectives timely manner


Summary:
State Exchange Accountability Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require a state to reimburse the federal government for the amount of establishment or early innovator grants the state received to operate a health care exchange if it operated an exchange in 2014 but subsequently elected to provide for enrollment in qualified health plans solely through the federal health care exchange.

Requires that: (1) reimbursement be made in full within 10 years of such election, pursuant to an agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and (2) in case of failure to enter such an agreement, the Secretary of HHS shall reduce the state's Medicaid funding for 10 fiscal years in an aggregate amount equal to the reimbursement amount.

state exchange accountability act_-_amends patient_protection affordable care act require state reimburse federal_government establishment early innovator grants state received operate health_care exchange operated exchange subsequently elected provide enrollment qualified health plans solely federal health_care exchange requires reimbursement years election pursuant agreement department_of_health_and_human_services hhs case failure enter agreement secretary hhs shall reduce state medicaid funding fiscal years aggregate equal reimbursement


Summary:
Certify It Act of 2014 - Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on small businesses and the Office of the Actuary, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to study the Act's impact on small group health insurance costs.

Declares that, if GAO or the Office of the Actuary reports to Congress that PPACA has caused either net employment loss amongst small businesses or small group health insurance costs to rise, certain PPACA assessments that may be imposed on employers for failing to offer their full-time employees (and their dependents) the opportunity to enroll in minimum essential coverage shall not apply for a specified one-year period.

Declares further that, if GAO or the Office fails to submit such a report in accordance with specified timelines, such assessments shall not apply during the following calendar year.

certify act directs comptroller_general gao study impact patient_protection affordable care act ppaca small businesses office actuary centers medicare medicaid_services study act impact small group health insurance costs declares gao office actuary reports congress ppaca caused net employment loss small businesses small group health insurance costs rise certain ppaca assessments imposed employers failing offer time employees dependents opportunity enroll minimum essential coverage shall apply specified year period declares gao office fails submit report accordance specified timelines assessments shall apply following calendar year


Summary:
Health Care Fairness and Stability Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to provide a temporary shift in the scheduled collection of payments for the transitional reinsurance program intended to help stabilize premiums for coverage in the individual health insurance markets from 2014 through 2016.

Amends PPACA to delay the collection of reinsurance payments from health insurance issuers and third party administrators of certain self-insured group health plans until January 1, 2018.

Amends PPACA to change the formula for determining the amount of contributions collected for payments to health insurance issuers that cover high risk individuals in the individual market.

health_care fairness stability act_-_amends patient_protection affordable care act ppaca provide temporary shift scheduled collection payments transitional reinsurance program intended help stabilize premiums coverage individual health insurance markets amends ppaca delay collection reinsurance payments health insurance issuers party administrators certain self insured group health plans january amends ppaca change formula determining contributions collected payments health insurance issuers cover high risk individuals individual market


Summary:
Standard of Care Protection Act of 2014 - Provides that the development, recognition, or implementation of any guideline or other standard under any provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the health care-related parts of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act shall not be construed to: (1) establish the standard or duty of care owed by a health care provider to a patient in any medical malpractice or medical product liability action or claim, or (2) preempt any standard or duty of care established under state or common law.

Prohibits such health care provisions from being construed to preempt any state or common law governing medical professional or medical product liability actions or claims.

standard care protection act provides development recognition implementation guideline standard provision patient_protection affordable care act health_care related parts health_care_and_education reconciliation act titles xviii medicare xix medicaid social_security_act shall construed establish standard duty care owed health_care provider patient medical malpractice medical product liability action claim preempt standard duty care established state common law prohibits health_care provisions construed preempt state common law governing medical professional medical product liability actions claims


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:
Our Vets Deserve Better Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), within 30 days after this Act's enactment, to meet with specified advisory committees to receive administrative and policy recommendations to improve the VA health care system.

Lists those advisory committees as:

 the Advisory Committee on Prosthetics and Special-Disabilities Programs, the Genomic Medicine Program Advisory Committee, the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee, the Health Services Research and Development Service Scientific Merit Review Board, the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses, the Special Medical Advisory Group, the Veterans' Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation, and the Veterans' Rural Health Advisory Committee.

vets deserve better act_-_directs secretary veterans_affairs days act enactment meet specified advisory committees receive administrative policy recommendations improve health_care system lists advisory committees advisory_committee prosthetics special disabilities programs medicine program advisory_committee geriatrics gerontology advisory_committee health services research development service scientific merit review board research advisory_committee gulf war veterans illnesses special medical advisory group veterans advisory_committee rehabilitation veterans rural health advisory_committee


Summary: Local Care for Veterans Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that a veteran may elect to receive health care treatment and services under the Patient-Centered Community Care program if: (1) the veteran is enrolled in the VA health care system and resides not more than 50 miles from the nearest VA facility that the Secretary has identified in a prospectus level lease request as being deficient with respect to providing certain treatment or services or as needing expansion; and (2) the Secretary determines that such deficiency has not been resolved or such expansion has not occurred.

local care veterans act_-_directs secretary veterans_affairs ensure veteran elect receive health_care treatment services patient centered community care program veteran enrolled health_care system resides miles nearest facility secretary identified prospectus level lease request deficient respect providing certain treatment services needing expansion secretary determines deficiency resolved expansion occurred


Summary: Ensuring Medicaid and Medicare Access to Providers Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the employer health insurance mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2014 and 2015 employers whose Medicare and Medicaid payments comprise 60% of their total gross receipts during a preceding three-year period.

ensuring medicaid medicare access providers act amends_the_internal_revenue_code exempt employer health insurance mandate patient_protection affordable care act employers medicare medicaid payments comprise total gross receipts preceding year period


Summary: Medicare Employer Relief Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to Medicare as secondary payer to repeal requirements for identification of secondary payer situations.

medicare employer relief_act amends title xviii medicare social_security_act respect medicare secondary payer repeal requirements identification secondary payer situations


Summary:
Protecting Seniors' Medicare Choices from Obamacare Act of 2014 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to eliminate the increased Medicaid federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP, or federal matching amount) for prisoners with respect to their hospital care under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) part C (Medicare+Choice) to establish a Medicare Advantage (MA) stabilization program under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall distribute a stabilization funding amount to each eligible MA plan for plan year 2015 to address any beneficiary plan inadequacies.

protecting seniors medicare choices obamacare act amends title xix medicaid social_security_act ssa eliminate increased medicaid federal medical assistance percentage fmap federal matching prisoners respect hospital care patient_protection affordable care act amends ssa title xviii medicare establish medicare_advantage stabilization program secretary health_and_human_services hhs shall distribute stabilization funding eligible plan plan year address beneficiary plan


Summary: Breaking Addiction Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a five-year demonstration project under which payment may be made to each participating state for any medical assistance provided with respect to a qualified individual being treated for a substance use condition in a community-based institution for mental diseases.

breaking addiction act directs secretary health_and_human_services hhs establish year demonstration project payment participating state medical assistance provided respect qualified individual treated substance use condition community based institution mental diseases


Summary: Get Your Refund, Get Your Health Care Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to require health care exchanges to provide a 60-day special enrollment period for uninsured individuals eligible to enroll in exchange health plans who are subject to a penalty for not maintaining minimum essential coverage in 2014.

refund health_care act_-_requires secretary health_and_human_services hhs require health_care exchanges provide day special enrollment period uninsured individuals eligible enroll exchange health plans subject penalty maintaining minimum essential coverage


Summary: Protecting Americans from Illegal Bailouts Act of 2014 - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to repeal the risk corridor program for health plans offered in the individual and small group markets, thus eliminating payments to plans that experience higher than expected health care costs and collections from plans that experience lower than expected health care costs.

protecting americans illegal bailouts act amends patient_protection affordable care act repeal risk corridor program health plans offered individual small group markets eliminating payments plans experience higher expected health_care costs collections plans experience lower expected health_care costs


Summary: Simplifying Technical Aspects Regarding Seasonality Act of 2014 or the STARS Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt seasonal employees from the definition of "full-time employee" for purposes of the employer mandate to provide employees with minimum essential health care coverage. Defines "seasonal employee" as an employee who is employed in a position for which the customary annual employment is not more than six months and which requires performing labor or services that are ordinarily performed at certain seasons or periods of the year.

simplifying technical aspects act stars act amends_the_internal_revenue_code exempt seasonal employees definition time employee purposes employer mandate provide employees minimum essential health_care coverage defines seasonal employee employee employed position customary annual employment months requires performing labor services ordinarily performed certain periods year


Summary: Student Worker Exemption Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude students who are employed by an institution of higher education (IHE) and carrying a full-time academic workload at the IHE from being counted as full-time employees in calculating the IHE's shared responsibility regarding health care coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

student worker exemption act amends_the_internal_revenue_code exclude students employed institution higher education ihe carrying time academic workload ihe counted time employees calculating ihe shared responsibility health_care coverage patient_protection affordable care act


Summary:
Veterans Equitable Treatment Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to: (1) establish a maximum specialist referral period (the period between the date a veteran is referred to a VA specialty clinic by the veteran's VA primary care physician and the date the veteran is scheduled for an appointment with a VA specialist), subject to such exceptions as the Secretary considers necessary and consistent with current VA treatment policies based on clinical need and with the VA's 30-30-20 performance goal for such referral period; and (2) take steps to ensure that the VA is able to provide appropriate transportation services for qualified veterans within a reasonable time period of a scheduled appointment.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) promptly provide for such specialty care or transportation from a private source if the Secretary is not able to meet such standards, (2) reimburse such private provider or the reasonable value of such care or services, and (2) take steps to expedite such required reimbursement, consistent with the Veterans Health Administration policy that 90% of all non-VA contract care claims are processed within 30 days of receipt.

Terminates the requirement that a veteran must have received care from the VA within the 24-month period preceding the furnishing of emergency treatment at a non-VA facility in order to be considered an active VA health-care participant who is eligible for reimbursement for such treatment.

veterans equitable treatment act_-_directs secretary veterans_affairs establish maximum specialist referral period period date veteran referred specialty clinic veteran primary care physician date veteran scheduled appointment specialist subject exceptions secretary considers necessary consistent current treatment policies based clinical need performance goal referral period steps ensure able provide appropriate transportation services qualified veterans reasonable time period scheduled appointment requires secretary promptly provide specialty care transportation private source secretary able meet standards reimburse private provider reasonable value care services steps expedite required reimbursement consistent veterans_health_administration policy non-va contract care claims processed days receipt terminates requirement veteran received care month period preceding furnishing emergency treatment non-va facility order considered active health care participant eligible reimbursement treatment


Summary: Student Job Protection Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude students who are employed by an institution of higher education (IHE) and carrying what the school considers a full-time academic workload at the IHE from being counted as full-time employees in calculating the IHE's shared responsibility regarding health care coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

student job protection act amends_the_internal_revenue_code exclude students employed institution higher education ihe carrying school considers time academic workload ihe counted time employees calculating ihe shared responsibility health_care coverage patient_protection affordable care act


Summary:
Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with regard to payment for telehealth services to include in the term "originating site" additional sites, including any federally qualified health center and any rural health clinic, at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system.

Prohibits application of the originating site facility fee to the additional sites.

Authorizes additional telehealth providers, including a certified diabetes educator or licensed respiratory therapist, audiologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech language pathologist.

Extends Medicare coverage to remote patient management services for certain chronic health conditions.

Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study the effectiveness of remote patient monitoring on decreasing hospital readmissions for specified chronic conditions, and the savings to the Medicare program associated with use of such monitoring.

Authorizes home telehealth sites as additional originating sites.

Directs GAO to study the effectiveness of using described telehealth services between therapy providers and patients, any associated savings, and the potential for greater use of telehealth services for other forms of therapy

Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and implement payment methods to apply in the case of anyone who would be an eligible telehealth individual except that the telehealth services are furnished at a site other than an originating site.

medicare telehealth parity act amends title xviii medicare social_security_act regard payment telehealth services include term originating site additional sites including federally qualified health center rural health clinic eligible telehealth individual located time service furnished telecommunications system prohibits application originating site facility fee additional sites authorizes additional telehealth providers including certified diabetes educator licensed respiratory therapist audiologist occupational therapist physical therapist speech language extends medicare coverage remote patient management services certain chronic health conditions directs comptroller_general gao study effectiveness remote patient monitoring decreasing hospital specified chronic conditions savings medicare program associated use monitoring authorizes home telehealth sites additional originating sites directs gao study effectiveness described telehealth services therapy providers patients associated savings potential greater use telehealth services forms therapy authorizes secretary health_and_human_services hhs develop implement payment methods apply case eligible telehealth individual telehealth services furnished site originating site


Summary: Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in developing methodology for designating areas with limited access to goods and services generally only found in urban areas (e.g., advanced medical care) as frontier and remote (FAR) areas, to: (1) designate as a FAR area any area in Hawaii or Alaska that the state designates as rural for a federal program, and (2) include, in addition to otherwise defined levels of remoteness for FAR areas, a level for areas with unique characteristics that should qualify those areas to be designated as FAR areas.

requires secretary health_and_human_services hhs developing methodology designating areas limited access goods services generally found urban areas advanced medical care frontier remote far areas designate far area area hawaii alaska state designates rural federal program include addition defined levels far areas level areas unique characteristics qualify areas designated far areas


Summary:
Small Business Hardship Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the employer mandate to provide minimum essential health care coverage for its employees a small business (i.e., an employer of not more than 100 full-time employees) experiencing a hardship. Defines "hardship" to include situations in which a small business has missed two or more consecutive loan payments, is a debtor in a Chapter 11 (reorganization) bankruptcy proceeding, has received a notice of termination of utility services or a notice of eviction, has experienced a fire, flood, or other disaster, or has experienced another hardships as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study to identify additional hardships appropriate for granting an hardship exemption.

Prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from taking into account the applicability of a hardship exemption to a small business as the sole factor in determining whether to audit such business.

small business hardship relief_act amends_the_internal_revenue_code exempt employer mandate provide minimum essential health_care coverage employees small business employer time employees experiencing hardship defines hardship include situations small business missed consecutive loan payments debtor chapter reorganization bankruptcy proceeding received notice termination utility services notice eviction experienced fire flood disaster experienced hardships determined secretary treasury directs secretary conduct study identify additional hardships appropriate granting hardship exemption prohibits internal_revenue_service irs taking account applicability hardship exemption small business sole factor determining audit business


Summary: Patient Freedom Act of 2014 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal, after 2013, the requirement that individuals maintain minimum essential health care coverage.

patient freedom act amends_the_internal_revenue_code repeal requirement individuals maintain minimum essential health_care coverage


Summary: ObamaCare Repeal Act - Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. Restores provisions of law amended by such Acts.

obamacare repeal act repeals patient_protection affordable care act health_care_and_education reconciliation act effective enactment restores provisions law amended acts


Summary: Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2013 - Repeals sections of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care (PPACA) (and restores provisions of law amended by such sections) related to the establishment of an Independent Payment Advisory Board to develop and submit detailed proposals to reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending to the President for Congress to consider.

protecting seniors access medicare_act repeals sections patient_protection affordable care ppaca restores provisions law amended sections related establishment independent_payment_advisory_board develop submit detailed proposals reduce capita rate growth medicare spending president congress consider


Summary: American Job Protection Act - Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that: (1) impose fines on large employers (employers with more than 50 full-time employees) who fail to offer their full-time employees the opportunity to enroll in minimum essential health insurance coverage, and (2) require such large employers to file a report with the Secretary of the Treasury on health insurance coverage provided to their full-time employees. Applies the Internal Revenue Code as if such provisions had never been enacted.

american job protection act repeals provisions internal_revenue_code added patient_protection affordable care act impose fines large employers employers time employees fail offer time employees opportunity enroll minimum essential health insurance coverage require large employers file report secretary treasury health insurance coverage provided time employees applies internal_revenue_code provisions enacted


Summary: Patient Choice Restoration Act - Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Restores provisions of law amended by such Acts.

patient choice restoration act repeals patient_protection affordable care act health_care_and_education reconciliation act restores provisions law amended acts


Summary: Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to provide that provisions of such Act imposing a penalty for failure to purchase minimum essential health care coverage shall not be construed as imposing any tax or as an exercise of any power of Congress under the Constitution to impose a tax. Makes the effective date of the amendment made by this Act retroactive to the enactment date of PPACA.

amends patient_protection affordable care act ppaca provide provisions act imposing penalty failure purchase minimum essential health_care coverage shall construed imposing tax exercise power congress constitution impose tax makes effective date amendment act retroactive enactment date ppaca


Summary:
IRS Accountability Act of 2013 - Amends the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 to prohibit any amounts made available in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 from being appropriated to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for purposes of carrying out such Acts.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) none of the amounts made available in PPACA or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 should be appropriated to the IRS to carry out any provisions of such Acts in FY2014 or thereafter; and (2) no amounts appropriated to the IRS, from whatever source, for FY2014 or thereafter should be used to implement, enforce, or carry out the provisions of such Acts.

irs accountability_act amends consolidated continuing appropriations act prohibit amounts available patient_protection affordable care act ppaca health_care_and_education reconciliation act appropriated internal_revenue_service irs purposes carrying acts expresses sense senate amounts available ppaca health_care_and_education reconciliation act appropriated irs carry provisions acts fy2014 amounts appropriated irs source fy2014 implement enforce carry provisions acts


Summary: Preventing an Unrealistic FMAP Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to repeal amendments by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with respect to increased federal medical percentages (FMAPs, or federal matching amounts) for: (1) newly eligible mandatory individuals, and (2) certain states.

preventing fmap act_-_amends title xix medicaid social_security_act repeal amendments patient_protection affordable care act respect increased federal medical percentages federal matching amounts newly eligible mandatory individuals certain states


Summary: Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013 - Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury, or any delegate of the Secretary, from implementing or enforcing any provisions of or amendments made by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

irs health_care act prohibits secretary treasury delegate secretary implementing enforcing provisions amendments patient_protection affordable care act health_care_and_education reconciliation act


Summary:
Defund Obamacare Act of 2013 - Prohibits any federal funds from being made available to carry out the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

Prohibits any entitlement to benefits under such provisions from remaining in effect on and after the date of the enactment of this Act. Prohibits any payments from being awarded, owed, or made to any state, district, or territory under any such provision.

Rescinds any unobligated balances available under such provisions.

defund obamacare act prohibits federal funds available carry provisions patient_protection affordable care act health_care provisions health_care_and_education reconciliation act prohibits entitlement benefits provisions remaining effect date enactment act prohibits payments awarded owed state district territory provision rescinds unobligated balances available provisions


Summary:
Realistic Employer Responsibility Act of 2013 - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to delay until 2016 enforcement of requirements that large employers offer their full-time employees the opportunity to enroll in minimum essential coverage. Delays the effective date of related reporting requirements for such employers.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to:

 publish the forms and other guidance necessary for large employers to make the information return required under the Internal Revenue Code and provide opportunity to make the return, at the option of the employer, for 2014 and 2015 in the case of those that would be required to do so for either such year but for the amendments made by this Act; and in consultation with the State American Health Benefit Exchanges established under PPACA, establish an Internet website (which may be combined with the existing website to identify affordable health insurance coverage options) through which employers and residents of any state may obtain information in an easily understandable format relating to the responsibilities of, and benefits available to, such employers and residents under such Act.

employer responsibility act amends patient_protection affordable care act ppaca delay enforcement requirements large employers offer time employees opportunity enroll minimum essential coverage delays effective date related reporting requirements employers directs secretary treasury publish forms guidance necessary large employers information return required internal_revenue_code provide opportunity return option employer case required year amendments act consultation state american health benefit exchanges established ppaca establish internet website combined existing website identify affordable health insurance coverage options employers residents state obtain information easily understandable format relating responsibilities benefits available employers residents act


Summary:
Delays for one year the effective date of any provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or of any health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2011 that were scheduled to take effect on or after January 1, 2014.

Suspends for one year, beginning January 1, 2014, any tax or tax increase imposed by such provisions if the tax or increase takes effect before that date.

delays year effective date provisions patient_protection affordable care act health_care provisions health_care_and_education reconciliation act scheduled effect january suspends year beginning january tax tax increase imposed provisions tax increase takes effect date


Summary:
Delay Until Fully Functional Act of 2013 - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Comptroller General (GAO) to: (1) determine whether health care exchanges and all other point of enrollment options are fully functional and operating in a manner consistent with the role envisioned under the Act and report study results to Congress, and (2) conduct subsequent studies every 60 days until the Comptroller General determines that exchanges are fully functional and operating in such manner.

 Delays the effective date of the penalty for failure to maintain minimum essential coverage to apply the requirements to taxable years beginning six months after the date on which the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) certifies to Congress the results of the GAO determination that exchanges are operating successfully.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the penalty an individual who is unable to enroll in a qualified health plan because of the technical or customer service issues of an exchange.

delay fully functional act amends patient_protection affordable care act require comptroller_general gao determine health_care exchanges point enrollment options fully functional operating manner consistent role act report study results congress conduct subsequent studies days comptroller_general determines exchanges fully functional operating manner delays effective date penalty failure maintain minimum essential coverage apply requirements taxable years beginning months date inspector_general department_of_health_and_human_services hhs certifies congress results gao determination exchanges operating successfully amends_the_internal_revenue_code exempt penalty individual unable enroll qualified health plan technical customer service issues exchange


Summary: Amends the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to delay until 2015 the requirement that individuals maintain minimal essential health care coverage.

amends_the_internal_revenue_code amended patient_protection affordable care act delay requirement individuals maintain minimal essential health_care coverage


Summary: Union Tax Fairness Act of 2013 - Requires that the payments to an applicable reinsurance entity for any plan year beginning in the three-year period beginning January 1, 2014, required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be applied equally to all health insurance issuers and third party administrators (on behalf of group health plans). Prohibits such payments from being waived on behalf of any such issuer, administrator, or group health plan.

union tax fairness act requires payments applicable reinsurance entity plan year beginning year period beginning january required patient_protection affordable care act applied equally health insurance issuers party administrators behalf group health plans prohibits payments waived behalf issuer administrator group health plan


Summary:
USF Equitable Distribution Act of 2013 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require at least 75% of all amounts collected by interstate telecommunications providers from consumers in a rural state for the purpose of making certain contributions to universal service funds established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to be allocated to consumers in that rural state.

Defines "rural state" as a state in which the total population density is not more than 200 people per square mile, as determined by the latest available decennial census.

Prohibits this Act from being construed to require an increase in amounts collected by interstate telecommunications providers from consumers for the purpose of making such contributions.

equitable distribution act amends communications act require amounts collected interstate telecommunications providers consumers rural state purpose making certain contributions universal service funds established federal_communications_commission fcc allocated consumers rural state defines rural state state total population density people square mile determined latest available decennial census prohibits act construed require increase amounts collected interstate telecommunications providers consumers purpose making contributions


Summary:
American Health Security Act of 2013 - Expresses the sense of the Senate concerning: (1) enactment of a Medicare-for-All Single Payer Health Care System; (2) recognition of health care as a human right; (3) state flexibility in designing health care programs; and (4) the goals of a new single-payer health care system, efficiencies through integrated care, and implementation of policies to ensure higher quality, better prevention, and lower per capita costs.

Establishes the State-Based American Health Security Program to provide every U.S. resident with health care services. Requires each participating state to establish a state health security program.

Eliminates benefits under: (1) titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XXI (Children's Health Insurance) (CHIP, formerly known as SCHIP) of the Social Security Act; (2) the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program; and (3) TRICARE.

Repeals provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) related to health insurance coverage, including provisions concerning state health insurance exchanges.

Requires each state health security program to prohibit the sale of health insurance in that state that duplicates benefits provided under the program.

Establishes the American Health Security Standards Board to: (1) develop policies, procedures, guidelines and requirements to carry out this Act; (2) establish uniform reporting requirements and quality performance standards; (3) provide for an American Health Security Advisory Council; and (4) establish a national health security budget specifying the total federal and state expenditures to be made for covered health care services.

Establishes the American Health Security Quality Council to: (1) review and evaluate practice guidelines, standards of quality, performance measures, and medical review criteria; and (2) develop minimum competence criteria. Creates the Center for American Health Security Innovation to accelerate the implementation of new models of care that would improve patient care, improve population health, and lower costs.

Establishes the Office of Primary Care and Prevention Research within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Creates the American Health Security Trust Fund and appropriates to it specified tax liabilities and current health program receipts, including premium assistance credit amounts under PPACA.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose on individuals: (1) a health care income tax, and (2) an income tax surcharge on amounts of modified adjusted gross income exceeding $1 million. Imposes an excise tax on securities transactions and allows an income tax credit for such taxes.

american health security act expresses sense senate concerning enactment medicare single payer health_care system recognition health_care human right state flexibility designing health_care programs goals new single payer health_care system efficiencies integrated care implementation policies ensure higher quality better prevention lower capita costs establishes state based american health security program provide resident health_care services requires participating state establish state health security program eliminates benefits titles xviii medicare xix medicaid xxi children health insurance chip known schip social_security_act federal_employees_health_benefits_program tricare repeals provisions patient_protection affordable care act ppaca related health insurance coverage including provisions concerning state health insurance exchanges requires state health security program prohibit sale health insurance state duplicates benefits provided program establishes american health security standards board develop policies procedures guidelines requirements carry act establish uniform reporting requirements quality performance standards provide american health security advisory_council establish national health security budget specifying total federal state expenditures covered health_care services establishes american health security quality council review evaluate practice guidelines standards quality performance measures medical review criteria develop minimum competence criteria creates center american health security innovation accelerate implementation new models care improve patient care improve population health lower costs establishes office primary care prevention research office_of_the_director national_institutes_of_health nih creates american health security trust_fund appropriates specified tax liabilities current health program receipts including premium assistance credit amounts ppaca amends_the_internal_revenue_code impose individuals health_care income tax income tax surcharge amounts modified adjusted gross income exceeding million imposes excise tax securities transactions allows income tax credit taxes


Summary:
Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that a qualified emergency services volunteer shall not be counted in determining the number of full-time employees of an employer for the purpose of shared responsibility requirements for employers with respect to health coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

 Defines "qualified emergency services volunteer" as a bona fide volunteer performing fire fighting and prevention services, emergency medical services, or ambulance services.

protecting volunteer firefighters emergency responders act amends_the_internal_revenue_code provide qualified emergency services volunteer shall counted determining number time employees employer purpose shared responsibility requirements employers respect health coverage patient_protection affordable care act defines qualified emergency services volunteer bona fide volunteer performing fire fighting prevention services emergency medical services ambulance services