Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Andrews) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

(a) Feedback.—Section 1848(m)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(m)(5)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(H) FEEDBACK.—The Secretary shall provide timely feedback to eligible professionals on the performance of the eligible professional with respect to satisfactorily submitting data on quality measures under this subsection.”.

(b) Appeals.—Such section is further amended—

(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking “There shall be” and inserting “Except as provided in subparagraph (I), there shall be”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(I) INFORMAL APPEALS PROCESS.—By not later than January 1, 2011, the Secretary shall establish and have in place an informal process for eligible professionals to seek a review of the determination that an eligible professional did not satisfactorily submit data on quality measures under this subsection.”.

(c) Integration of physician quality reporting and EHR reporting.—Section 1848(m) of such Act is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(7) INTEGRATION OF PHYSICIAN QUALITY REPORTING AND EHR REPORTING.—Not later than January 1, 2012, the Secretary shall develop a plan to integrate clinical reporting on quality measures under this subsection with reporting requirements under subsection (o) relating to the meaningful use of electronic health records. Such integration shall consist of the following:

“(A) The development of measures, the reporting of which would both demonstrate—

“(i) meaningful use of an electronic health record for purposes of subsection (o); and

“(ii) clinical quality of care furnished to an individual.

“(B) The collection of health data to identify deficiencies in the quality and coordination of care for individuals eligible for benefits under this part.

“(C) Such other activities as specified by the Secretary.”.

(d) Extension of incentive payments.—Section 1848(m)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(m)(1)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking “2010” and inserting “2012”; and

(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking “2009 and 2010” and inserting “for each of the years 2009 through 2012”.