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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Senate Health Care Bill

Update: While I'm reading, go check out Carl at NOFP's post on how many Americans are really uninsured. I believe the data he cites to be good, and my conclusion on these bills has so far been that they would raise, not lower, the number of uninsured Americans. The reason for this is that they will all raise the cost of insurance and mandate additional coverage; the inevitable result will be that many Americans will lose coverage. End Update.

Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, now substituted for the original text in 3590. You can read it here.

I copied the table of contents below. I am going to concentrate on the revenue section first. I highlighted all the sections I'm going to read with special attention.

Curiosity drives the interest in the hospice programs and the "nondiscrimination" provisions relating to assisted suicide (coverage?). Hospices that don't manage to shuffle their patients off to the mortuary have been under severe pressure lately; people think that hospices save a great deal of money, but they often don't. It will be interesting to see what they come up with next. My guess is they want 'em dead within two weeks. The problem is that sometimes terminally ill people recover on their own or experience substantial remissions, so the only way to accomplish the two week plan is basically to off the hospice patients by giving them enough drugs to suppress their breathing, knock 'em out, no liquids - they die quickly from pneumonia.
‘‘PART A—INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MARKET REFORMS
‘‘SUBPART II—IMPROVING COVERAGE
‘‘Sec. 2711. No lifetime or annual limits.
‘‘Sec. 2712. Prohibition on rescissions.
‘‘Sec. 2713. Coverage of preventive health services.
‘‘Sec. 2714. Extension of dependent coverage.
‘‘Sec. 2715. Development and utilization of uniform explanation of coverage
documents and standardized definitions.
‘‘Sec. 2716. Prohibition of discrimination based on salary.
‘‘Sec. 2717. Ensuring the quality of care.
‘‘Sec. 2718. Bringing down the cost of health care coverage.
‘‘Sec. 2719. Appeals process.
Sec. 1002. Health insurance consumer information.
Sec. 1003. Ensuring that consumers get value for their dollars.
Sec. 1004. Effective dates.
Subtitle B—Immediate Actions to Preserve and Expand Coverage
Sec. 1101. Immediate access to insurance for uninsured individuals with a preexisting
condition.
Sec. 1102. Reinsurance for early retirees.
Sec. 1103. Immediate information that allows consumers to identify affordable
coverage options.
Sec. 1104. Administrative simplification.
Sec. 1105. Effective date.
Subtitle C—Quality Health Insurance Coverage for All Americans
PART I—HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET REFORMS
Sec. 1201. Amendment to the Public Health Service Act.
‘‘SUBPART I—GENERAL REFORM
‘‘Sec. 2701. Fair health insurance premiums.
‘‘Sec. 2702. Guaranteed availability of coverage.
‘‘Sec. 2703. Guaranteed renewability of coverage.
‘‘Sec. 2704. Prohibition of preexisting condition exclusions or other discrimination
based on health status.
‘‘Sec. 2705. Prohibiting discrimination against individual participants and
beneficiaries based on health status.
‘‘Sec. 2706. Non-discrimination in health care.
‘‘Sec. 2707. Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
‘‘Sec. 2708. Prohibition on excessive waiting periods.
PART II—OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 1251. Preservation of right to maintain existing coverage.
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Sec. 1252. Rating reforms must apply uniformly to all health insurance issuers
and group health plans.
Sec. 1253. Effective dates.
Subtitle D—Available Coverage Choices for All Americans
PART I—ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALIFIED HEALTH PLANS
Sec. 1301. Qualified health plan defined.
Sec. 1302. Essential health benefits requirements.
Sec. 1303. Special rules.
Sec. 1304. Related definitions.
PART II—CONSUMER CHOICES AND INSURANCE COMPETITION THROUGH
HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGES
Sec. 1311. Affordable choices of health benefit plans.
Sec. 1312. Consumer choice.
Sec. 1313. Financial integrity.
PART III—STATE FLEXIBILITY RELATING TO EXCHANGES
Sec. 1321. State flexibility in operation and enforcement of Exchanges and related
requirements.
Sec. 1322. Federal program to assist establishment and operation of nonprofit,
member-run health insurance issuers.
Sec. 1323. Community health insurance option.
Sec. 1324. Level playing field.
PART IV—STATE FLEXIBILITY TO ESTABLISH ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS
Sec. 1331. State flexibility to establish basic health programs for low-income individuals
not eligible for Medicaid.
Sec. 1332. Waiver for State innovation.
Sec. 1333. Provisions relating to offering of plans in more than one State.
PART V—REINSURANCE AND RISK ADJUSTMENT
Sec. 1341. Transitional reinsurance program for individual and small group
markets in each State.
Sec. 1342. Establishment of risk corridors for plans in individual and small
group markets.
Sec. 1343. Risk adjustment.
Subtitle E—Affordable Coverage Choices for All Americans
PART I—PREMIUM TAX CREDITS AND COST-SHARING REDUCTIONS
SUBPART A—PREMIUM TAX CREDITS AND COST-SHARING REDUCTIONS
Sec. 1401. Refundable tax credit providing premium assistance for coverage
under a qualified health plan.
Sec. 1402. Reduced cost-sharing for individuals enrolling in qualified health
plans.
SUBPART B—ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS
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Sec. 1411. Procedures for determining eligibility for Exchange participation,
premium tax credits and reduced cost-sharing , and individual
responsibility exemptions.
Sec. 1412. Advance determination and payment of premium tax credits and
cost-sharing reductions.
Sec. 1413. Streamlining of procedures for enrollment through an exchange and
State Medicaid, CHIP, and health subsidy programs.
Sec. 1414. Disclosures to carry out eligibility requirements for certain programs.
Sec. 1415. Premium tax credit and cost-sharing reduction payments disregarded
for Federal and Federally-assisted programs.
PART II—SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDIT
Sec. 1421. Credit for employee health insurance expenses of small businesses.
Subtitle F—Shared Responsibility for Health Care
PART I—INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
Sec. 1501. Requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage.
Sec. 1502. Reporting of health insurance coverage.
PART II—EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES
Sec. 1511. Automatic enrollment for employees of large employers.
Sec. 1512. Employer requirement to inform employees of coverage options.
Sec. 1513. Shared responsibility for employers.
Sec. 1514. Reporting of employer health insurance coverage.
Sec. 1515. Offering of Exchange-participating qualified health plans through
cafeteria plans.
Subtitle G—Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 1551. Definitions.
Sec. 1552. Transparency in government.
Sec. 1553. Prohibition against discrimination on assisted suicide.
Sec. 1554. Access to therapies.
Sec. 1555. Freedom not to participate in Federal health insurance programs.
Sec. 1556. Equity for certain eligible survivors.
Sec. 1557. Nondiscrimination.
Sec. 1558. Protections for employees.
Sec. 1559. Oversight.
Sec. 1560. Rules of construction.
Sec. 1561. Health information technology enrollment standards and protocols.
Sec. 1562. Conforming amendments.
TITLE II—ROLE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Subtitle A—Improved Access to Medicaid
Sec. 2001. Medicaid coverage for the lowest income populations.
Sec. 2002. Income eligibility for nonelderly determined using modified gross income.
Sec. 2003. Requirement to offer premium assistance for employer-sponsored insurance.
Sec. 2004. Medicaid coverage for former foster care children.
Sec. 2005. Payments to territories.
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Sec. 2006. Special adjustment to FMAP determination for certain States recovering
from a major disaster.
Sec. 2007. Medicaid Improvement Fund rescission.
Subtitle B—Enhanced Support for the Children’s Health Insurance Program
Sec. 2101. Additional federal financial participation for CHIP.
Sec. 2102. Technical corrections.
Subtitle C—Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment Simplification
Sec. 2201. Enrollment Simplification and coordination with State Health Insurance
Exchanges.
Sec. 2202. Permitting hospitals to make presumptive eligibility determinations
for all Medicaid eligible populations.
Subtitle D—Improvements to Medicaid Services
Sec. 2301. Coverage for freestanding birth center services.
Sec. 2302. Concurrent care for children.
Sec. 2303. State eligibility option for family planning services.
Sec. 2304. Clarification of definition of medical assistance.
Subtitle E—New Options for States to Provide Long-Term Services and
Supports
Sec. 2401. Community First Choice Option.
Sec. 2402. Removal of barriers to providing home and community-based services.
Sec. 2403. Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration.
Sec. 2404. Protection for recipients of home and community-based services
against spousal impoverishment.
Sec. 2405. Funding to expand State Aging and Disability Resource Centers.
Sec. 2406. Sense of the Senate regarding long-term care.
Subtitle F—Medicaid Prescription Drug Coverage
Sec. 2501. Prescription drug rebates.
Sec. 2502. Elimination of exclusion of coverage of certain drugs.
Sec. 2503. Providing adequate pharmacy reimbursement.
Subtitle G—Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Payments
Sec. 2551. Disproportionate share hospital payments.
Subtitle H—Improved Coordination for Dual Eligible Beneficiaries
Sec. 2601. 5-year period for demonstration projects.
Sec. 2602. Providing Federal coverage and payment coordination for dual eligible
beneficiaries.
Subtitle I—Improving the Quality of Medicaid for Patients and Providers
Sec. 2701. Adult health quality measures.
Sec. 2702. Payment Adjustment for Health Care-Acquired Conditions.
Sec. 2703. State option to provide health homes for enrollees with chronic conditions.
Sec. 2704. Demonstration project to evaluate integrated care around a hospitalization.
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Sec. 2705. Medicaid Global Payment System Demonstration Project.
Sec. 2706. Pediatric Accountable Care Organization Demonstration Project.
Sec. 2707. Medicaid emergency psychiatric demonstration project.
Subtitle J—Improvements to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access
Commission (MACPAC)
Sec. 2801. MACPAC assessment of policies affecting all Medicaid beneficiaries.
Subtitle K—Protections for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Sec. 2901. Special rules relating to Indians.
Sec. 2902. Elimination of sunset for reimbursement for all medicare part B
services furnished by certain indian hospitals and clinics.
Subtitle L—Maternal and Child Health Services
Sec. 2951. Maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs.
Sec. 2952. Support, education, and research for postpartum depression.
Sec. 2953. Personal responsibility education.
Sec. 2954. Restoration of funding for abstinence education.
Sec. 2955. Inclusion of information about the importance of having a health
care power of attorney in transition planning for children aging
out of foster care and independent living programs.
TITLE III—IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF
HEALTH CARE
Subtitle A—Transforming the Health Care Delivery System
PART I—LINKING PAYMENT TO QUALITY OUTCOMES UNDER THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM
Sec. 3001. Hospital Value-Based purchasing program.
Sec. 3002. Improvements to the physician quality reporting system.
Sec. 3003. Improvements to the physician feedback program.
Sec. 3004. Quality reporting for long-term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation
hospitals, and hospice programs.
Sec. 3005. Quality reporting for PPS-exempt cancer hospitals.
Sec. 3006. Plans for a Value-Based purchasing program for skilled nursing facilities
and home health agencies.
Sec. 3007. Value-based payment modifier under the physician fee schedule.
Sec. 3008. Payment adjustment for conditions acquired in hospitals.
PART II—NATIONAL STRATEGY TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE QUALITY
Sec. 3011. National strategy.
Sec. 3012. Interagency Working Group on Health Care Quality.
Sec. 3013. Quality measure development.
Sec. 3014. Quality measurement.
Sec. 3015. Data collection; public reporting.
PART III—ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PATIENT CARE MODELS
Sec. 3021. Establishment of Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation
within CMS.
Sec. 3022. Medicare shared savings program. (739) Sec. 3023. National pilot program on payment bundling.
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Sec. 3024. Independence at home demonstration program.
Sec. 3025. Hospital readmissions reduction program.
Sec. 3026. Community-Based Care Transitions Program.
Sec. 3027. Extension of gainsharing demonstration.
Subtitle B—Improving Medicare for Patients and Providers
PART I—ENSURING BENEFICIARY ACCESS TO PHYSICIAN CARE AND OTHER
SERVICES
Sec. 3101. Increase in the physician payment update.
Sec. 3102. Extension of the work geographic index floor and revisions to the
practice expense geographic adjustment under the Medicare
physician fee schedule.
Sec. 3103. Extension of exceptions process for Medicare therapy caps.
Sec. 3104. Extension of payment for technical component of certain physician
pathology services.
Sec. 3105. Extension of ambulance add-ons.
Sec. 3106. Extension of certain payment rules for long-term care hospital services
and of moratorium on the establishment of certain hospitals
and facilities.
Sec. 3107. Extension of physician fee schedule mental health add-on.
Sec. 3108. Permitting physician assistants to order post-Hospital extended care
services.
Sec. 3109. Exemption of certain pharmacies from accreditation requirements.
Sec. 3110. Part B special enrollment period for disabled TRICARE beneficiaries.
Sec. 3111. Payment for bone density tests.
Sec. 3112. Revision to the Medicare Improvement Fund.
Sec. 3113. Treatment of certain complex diagnostic laboratory tests.
Sec. 3114. Improved access for certified nurse-midwife services.
PART II—RURAL PROTECTIONS
Sec. 3121. Extension of outpatient hold harmless provision.
Sec. 3122. Extension of Medicare reasonable costs payments for certain clinical
diagnostic laboratory tests furnished to hospital patients in certain
rural areas.
Sec. 3123. Extension of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program.
Sec. 3124. Extension of the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program.
Sec. 3125. Temporary improvements to the Medicare inpatient hospital payment
adjustment for low-volume hospitals.
Sec. 3126. Improvements to the demonstration project on community health integration
models in certain rural counties.
Sec. 3127. MedPAC study on adequacy of Medicare payments for health care
providers serving in rural areas.
Sec. 3128. Technical correction related to critical access hospital services.
Sec. 3129. Extension of and revisions to Medicare rural hospital flexibility program.
PART III—IMPROVING PAYMENT ACCURACY
Sec. 3131. Payment adjustments for home health care.
Sec. 3132. Hospice reform. (page 836)
Sec. 3133. Improvement to medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH)
payments.
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Sec. 3134. Misvalued codes under the physician fee schedule.
Sec. 3135. Modification of equipment utilization factor for advanced imaging
services.
Sec. 3136. Revision of payment for power-driven wheelchairs.
Sec. 3137. Hospital wage index improvement.
Sec. 3138. Treatment of certain cancer hospitals.
Sec. 3139. Payment for biosimilar biological products.
Sec. 3140. Medicare hospice concurrent care demonstration program.
Sec. 3141. Application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation
of the Medicare hospital wage index floor.
Sec. 3142. HHS study on urban Medicare-dependent hospitals.
Subtitle C—Provisions Relating to Part C
Sec. 3201. Medicare Advantage payment.
Sec. 3202. Benefit protection and simplification.
Sec. 3203. Application of coding intensity adjustment during MA payment
transition.
Sec. 3204. Simplification of annual beneficiary election periods.
Sec. 3205. Extension for specialized MA plans for special needs individuals.
Sec. 3206. Extension of reasonable cost contracts.
Sec. 3207. Technical correction to MA private fee-for-service plans.
Sec. 3208. Making senior housing facility demonstration permanent.
Sec. 3209. Authority to deny plan bids.
Sec. 3210. Development of new standards for certain Medigap plans.
Subtitle D—Medicare Part D Improvements for Prescription Drug Plans and
MA–PD Plans
Sec. 3301. Medicare coverage gap discount program.
Sec. 3302. Improvement in determination of Medicare part D low-income
benchmark premium.
Sec. 3303. Voluntary de minimis policy for subsidy eligible individuals under
prescription drug plans and MA–PD plans.
Sec. 3304. Special rule for widows and widowers regarding eligibility for lowincome
assistance.
Sec. 3305. Improved information for subsidy eligible individuals reassigned to
prescription drug plans and MA–PD plans.
Sec. 3306. Funding outreach and assistance for low-income programs.
Sec. 3307. Improving formulary requirements for prescription drug plans and
MA–PD plans with respect to certain categories or classes of
drugs.
Sec. 3308. Reducing part D premium subsidy for high-income beneficiaries.
Sec. 3309. Elimination of cost sharing for certain dual eligible individuals.
Sec. 3310. Reducing wasteful dispensing of outpatient prescription drugs in
long-term care facilities under prescription drug plans and
MA–PD plans.
Sec. 3311. Improved Medicare prescription drug plan and MA–PD plan complaint
system.
Sec. 3312. Uniform exceptions and appeals process for prescription drug plans
and MA–PD plans.
Sec. 3313. Office of the Inspector General studies and reports.
Sec. 3314. Including costs incurred by AIDS drug assistance programs and Indian
Health Service in providing prescription drugs toward the
annual out-of-pocket threshold under part D.
Sec. 3315. Immediate reduction in coverage gap in 2010.
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Subtitle E—Ensuring Medicare Sustainability
Sec. 3401. Revision of certain market basket updates and incorporation of productivity
improvements into market basket updates that do not
already incorporate such improvements.
Sec. 3402. Temporary adjustment to the calculation of part B premiums.
Sec. 3403. Independent Medicare Advisory Board.
Subtitle F—Health Care Quality Improvements
Sec. 3501. Health care delivery system research; Quality improvement technical
assistance.
Sec. 3502. Establishing community health teams to support the patient-centered
medical home.
Sec. 3503. Medication management services in treatment of chronic disease.
Sec. 3504. Design and implementation of regionalized systems for emergency
care.
Sec. 3505. Trauma care centers and service availability.
Sec. 3506. Program to facilitate shared decisionmaking.
Sec. 3507. Presentation of prescription drug benefit and risk information.
Sec. 3508. Demonstration program to integrate quality improvement and patient
safety training into clinical education of health professionals.
Sec. 3509. Improving women’s health.
Sec. 3510. Patient navigator program.
Sec. 3511. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE IV—PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASE AND IMPROVING
PUBLIC HEALTH
Subtitle A—Modernizing Disease Prevention and Public Health Systems
Sec. 4001. National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council.
Sec. 4002. Prevention and Public Health Fund.
Sec. 4003. Clinical and community preventive services.
Sec. 4004. Education and outreach campaign regarding preventive benefits.
Subtitle B—Increasing Access to Clinical Preventive Services
Sec. 4101. School-based health centers.
Sec. 4102. Oral healthcare prevention activities.
Sec. 4103. Medicare coverage of annual wellness visit providing a personalized
prevention plan.
Sec. 4104. Removal of barriers to preventive services in Medicare.
Sec. 4105. Evidence-based coverage of preventive services in Medicare.
Sec. 4106. Improving access to preventive services for eligible adults in Medicaid.
Sec. 4107. Coverage of comprehensive tobacco cessation services for pregnant
women in Medicaid.
Sec. 4108. Incentives for prevention of chronic diseases in medicaid.
Subtitle C—Creating Healthier Communities
Sec. 4201. Community transformation grants.
Sec. 4202. Healthy aging, living well; evaluation of community-based prevention
and wellness programs for Medicare beneficiaries.
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Sec. 4203. Removing barriers and improving access to wellness for individuals
with disabilities.
Sec. 4204. Immunizations.
Sec. 4205. Nutrition labeling of standard menu items at chain restaurants.
Sec. 4206. Demonstration project concerning individualized wellness plan.
Sec. 4207. Reasonable break time for nursing mothers.
Subtitle D—Support for Prevention and Public Health Innovation
Sec. 4301. Research on optimizing the delivery of public health services.
Sec. 4302. Understanding health disparities: data collection and analysis.
Sec. 4303. CDC and employer-based wellness programs.
Sec. 4304. Epidemiology-Laboratory Capacity Grants.
Sec. 4305. Advancing research and treatment for pain care management.
Sec. 4306. Funding for Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project.
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 4401. Sense of the Senate concerning CBO scoring.
Sec. 4402. Effectiveness of Federal health and wellness initiatives.
TITLE V—HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE
Subtitle A—Purpose and Definitions
Sec. 5001. Purpose.
Sec. 5002. Definitions.
Subtitle B—Innovations in the Health Care Workforce
Sec. 5101. National health care workforce commission.
Sec. 5102. State health care workforce development grants.
Sec. 5103. Health care workforce assessment.
Subtitle C—Increasing the Supply of the Health Care Workforce
Sec. 5201. Federally supported student loan funds.
Sec. 5202. Nursing student loan program.
Sec. 5203. Health care workforce loan repayment programs.
Sec. 5204. Public health workforce recruitment and retention programs.
Sec. 5205. Allied health workforce recruitment and retention programs.
Sec. 5206. Grants for State and local programs.
Sec. 5207. Funding for National Health Service Corps.
Sec. 5208. Nurse-managed health clinics.
Sec. 5209. Elimination of cap on commissioned corps.
Sec. 5210. Establishing a Ready Reserve Corps.
Subtitle D—Enhancing Health Care Workforce Education and Training
Sec. 5301. Training in family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics,
and physician assistantship.
Sec. 5302. Training opportunities for direct care workers.
Sec. 5303. Training in general, pediatric, and public health dentistry.
Sec. 5304. Alternative dental health care providers demonstration project.
Sec. 5305. Geriatric education and training; career awards; comprehensive geriatric
education.
Sec. 5306. Mental and behavioral health education and training grants.
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Sec. 5307. Cultural competency, prevention, and public health and individuals
with disabilities training.
Sec. 5308. Advanced nursing education grants.
Sec. 5309. Nurse education, practice, and retention grants.
Sec. 5310. Loan repayment and scholarship program.
Sec. 5311. Nurse faculty loan program.
Sec. 5312. Authorization of appropriations for parts B through D of title VIII.
Sec. 5313. Grants to promote the community health workforce.
Sec. 5314. Fellowship training in public health.
Sec. 5315. United States Public Health Sciences Track.
Subtitle E—Supporting the Existing Health Care Workforce
Sec. 5401. Centers of excellence.
Sec. 5402. Health care professionals training for diversity.
Sec. 5403. Interdisciplinary, community-based linkages.
Sec. 5404. Workforce diversity grants.
Sec. 5405. Primary care extension program.
Subtitle F—Strengthening Primary Care and Other Workforce Improvements
Sec. 5501. Expanding access to primary care services and general surgery services.
Sec. 5502. Medicare Federally qualified health center improvements.
Sec. 5503. Distribution of additional residency positions.
Sec. 5504. Counting resident time in outpatient settings and allowing flexibility
for jointly operated residency training programs.
Sec. 5505. Rules for counting resident time for didactic and scholarly activities
and other activities.
Sec. 5506. Preservation of resident cap positions from closed hospitals.
Sec. 5507. Demonstration projects To address health professions workforce
needs; extension of family-to-family health information centers.
Sec. 5508. Increasing teaching capacity.
Sec. 5509. Graduate nurse education demonstration.
Subtitle G—Improving Access to Health Care Services
Sec. 5601. Spending for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Sec. 5602. Negotiated rulemaking for development of methodology and criteria
for designating medically underserved populations and health
professions shortage areas.
Sec. 5603. Reauthorization of the Wakefield Emergency Medical Services for
Children Program.
Sec. 5604. Co-locating primary and specialty care in community-based mental
health settings.
Sec. 5605. Key National indicators.
Subtitle H—General Provisions
Sec. 5701. Reports.
TITLE VI—TRANSPARENCY AND PROGRAM INTEGRITY
Subtitle A—Physician Ownership and Other Transparency
Sec. 6001. Limitation on Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician
referrals for hospitals.
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Sec. 6002. Transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment
interests.
Sec. 6003. Disclosure requirements for in-office ancillary services exception to
the prohibition on physician self-referral for certain imaging
services.
Sec. 6004. Prescription drug sample transparency.
Sec. 6005. Pharmacy benefit managers transparency requirements.
Subtitle B—Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement
PART I—IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY OF INFORMATION
Sec. 6101. Required disclosure of ownership and additional disclosable parties
information.
Sec. 6102. Accountability requirements for skilled nursing facilities and nursing
facilities.
Sec. 6103. Nursing home compare Medicare website.
Sec. 6104. Reporting of expenditures.
Sec. 6105. Standardized complaint form.
Sec. 6106. Ensuring staffing accountability.
Sec. 6107. GAO study and report on Five-Star Quality Rating System.
PART II—TARGETING ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 6111. Civil money penalties.
Sec. 6112. National independent monitor demonstration project.
Sec. 6113. Notification of facility closure.
Sec. 6114. National demonstration projects on culture change and use of information
technology in nursing homes.
PART III—IMPROVING STAFF TRAINING
Sec. 6121. Dementia and abuse prevention training.
Subtitle C—Nationwide Program for National and State Background Checks
on Direct Patient Access Employees of Long-term Care Facilities and Providers
Sec. 6201. Nationwide program for National and State background checks on
direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities and
providers.
Subtitle D—Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Sec. 6301. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research.
Sec. 6302. Federal coordinating council for comparative effectiveness research.
Subtitle E—Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP Program Integrity Provisions
Sec. 6401. Provider screening and other enrollment requirements under Medicare,
Medicaid, and CHIP.
Sec. 6402. Enhanced Medicare and Medicaid program integrity provisions.
Sec. 6403. Elimination of duplication between the Healthcare Integrity and
Protection Data Bank and the National Practitioner Data
Bank.
Sec. 6404. Maximum period for submission of Medicare claims reduced to not
more than 12 months.
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Sec. 6405. Physicians who order items or services required to be Medicare enrolled
physicians or eligible professionals.
Sec. 6406. Requirement for physicians to provide documentation on referrals to
programs at high risk of waste and abuse.
Sec. 6407. Face to face encounter with patient required before physicians may
certify eligibility for home health services or durable medical
equipment under Medicare.
Sec. 6408. Enhanced penalties.
Sec. 6409. Medicare self-referral disclosure protocol.
Sec. 6410. Adjustments to the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics,
orthotics, and supplies competitive acquisition program.
Sec. 6411. Expansion of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program.
Subtitle F—Additional Medicaid Program Integrity Provisions
Sec. 6501. Termination of provider participation under Medicaid if terminated
under Medicare or other State plan.
Sec. 6502. Medicaid exclusion from participation relating to certain ownership,
control, and management affiliations.
Sec. 6503. Billing agents, clearinghouses, or other alternate payees required to
register under Medicaid.
Sec. 6504. Requirement to report expanded set of data elements under MMIS
to detect fraud and abuse.
Sec. 6505. Prohibition on payments to institutions or entities located outside of
the United States.
Sec. 6506. Overpayments.
Sec. 6507. Mandatory State use of national correct coding initiative.
Sec. 6508. General effective date.
Subtitle G—Additional Program Integrity Provisions
Sec. 6601. Prohibition on false statements and representations.
Sec. 6602. Clarifying definition.
Sec. 6603. Development of model uniform report form.
Sec. 6604. Applicability of State law to combat fraud and abuse.
Sec. 6605. Enabling the Department of Labor to issue administrative summary
cease and desist orders and summary seizures orders against
plans that are in financially hazardous condition.
Sec. 6606. MEWA plan registration with Department of Labor.
Sec. 6607. Permitting evidentiary privilege and confidential communications.
Subtitle H—Elder Justice Act
Sec. 6701. Short title of subtitle.
Sec. 6702. Definitions.
Sec. 6703. Elder Justice.
Subtitle I—Sense of the Senate Regarding Medical Malpractice
Sec. 6801. Sense of the Senate regarding medical malpractice.
TITLE VII—IMPROVING ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE MEDICAL
THERAPIES
Subtitle A—Biologics Price Competition and Innovation
Sec. 7001. Short title.
Sec. 7002. Approval pathway for biosimilar biological products.
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Sec. 7003. Savings.
Subtitle B—More Affordable Medicines for Children and Underserved
Communities
Sec. 7101. Expanded participation in 340B program.
Sec. 7102. Improvements to 340B program integrity.
Sec. 7103. GAO study to make recommendations on improving the 340B program.
TITLE VIII—CLASS ACT
Sec. 8001. Short title of title.
Sec. 8002. Establishment of national voluntary insurance program for purchasing
community living assistance services and support.
TITLE IX—REVENUE PROVISIONS
Subtitle A—Revenue Offset Provisions
Sec. 9001. Excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage.
Sec. 9002. Inclusion of cost of employer-sponsored health coverage on W–2.
Sec. 9003. Distributions for medicine qualified only if for prescribed drug or insulin.
Sec. 9004. Increase in additional tax on distributions from HSAs and Archer
MSAs not used for qualified medical expenses.
Sec. 9005. Limitation on health flexible spending arrangements under cafeteria
plans.
Sec. 9006. Expansion of information reporting requirements.
Sec. 9007. Additional requirements for charitable hospitals.
Sec. 9008. Imposition of annual fee on branded prescription pharmaceutical
manufacturers and importers.
Sec. 9009. Imposition of annual fee on medical device manufacturers and importers.
Sec. 9010. Imposition of annual fee on health insurance providers.
Sec. 9011. Study and report of effect on veterans health care.
Sec. 9012. Elimination of deduction for expenses allocable to Medicare Part D
subsidy.
Sec. 9013. Modification of itemized deduction for medical expenses.
Sec. 9014. Limitation on excessive remuneration paid by certain health insurance
providers.
Sec. 9015. Additional hospital insurance tax on high-income taxpayers.
Sec. 9016. Modification of section 833 treatment of certain health organizations.
Sec. 9017. Excise tax on elective cosmetic medical procedures.
Subtitle B—Other Provisions
Sec. 9021. Exclusion of health benefits provided by Indian tribal governments.
Sec. 9022. Establishment of simple cafeteria plans for small businesses.
Sec. 9023. Qualifying therapeutic discovery project credit.


Comments:
Boggling.
 
Having people die sooner is one way to renounce debt to them.

In 30 years we'll never hear a thing about any obesity epidemic (probably a result of the credit bubble anyway) and we'll probably encourage "smoking bars" and maybe even restaurants. To encourage domestic automobile production, we'll probably relax safety standards, too. All ways to generate revenue, of course.

You can't get more cynical than government.
 
Charles - I hardly know whether to look at interest rates and curl up in a ball or read this thing and curl up in a ball while sucking my thumb.

What floors me is how they can directly tax insurance plans, providers and medical devices and claim that it will drive medical costs down.
 
The inmates are running the asylum. We're...screwed.

But, perhaps not? Maybe, collectively, we're just not going to stand for it.
 
MoM,

If I tried to read the thing, I'd probably die of a blood-pressure explosion.

The only way they can drive medical costs down is by driving down the demand for medical care or by driving up the supply of medical care. Restricting the supply is ingrained in the American psyche, so driving down demand is the only option being looked at by the so-called leaders. Taxation is prohibition-lite, a foolhardy way to drive drown demand.

Enjoy the entropy.
 
The table of contents is exhausting to read. It's obvious that they intend to control the healthcare system, universal coverage or not. The guvmint will be sitting in every examining room, every pharmacy, every nursing home, every healthcare transaction - even more than they are now. Aaaarrrgghh!!

Kudos to you, MOM, for doing such a service for your readers. We need specific issues to challenge our Senators on prior to their vote and this will help so much. Thank you!
 
MOM,

I really admire your ability to willingly dig into this. As previously mentioned, the table of contents alone is exhausting to read... no, exhausting to skip! The scroll bar barely budges, lol.

I followed your link and tend to agree.

From purely selfish reasons, I'd ask for just one thing. Get rid of pre-existing condition clauses. That's it.

However, if my house was on fire it would seem silly to get rid of pre-existing condition clauses on fire insurance policies. That's how I know I'm being selfish.

From a more rational standpoint, I would settle for an insurance policy that simply didn't pay for my pre-existing conditions.

Take my eye problem. Would have cost me less than $2000 total out of pocket without any insurance. It is now stopping me from getting a $3000 deductible catastrophic policy. That's just messed up. My eye is fine now and I'd be more than happy self-insuring it well into the distant future. That would be a win for the insurance company and me, and no burden on anyone else. Not an option though.

That leaves me uninsured.
 
Off topic, but worth thinking about in those end-of life decisions that the plan affects is this story.
 
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