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) In general.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science to conduct a comprehensive empirical study, and provide recommendations as appropriate, on the accuracy of the geographic adjustment factors established under sections 1848(e) and 1886(d)(3)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e), 1395ww(d)(3)(E)).

(b) Matters included.—Such study shall include an evaluation and assessment of the following with respect to such adjustment factors:

(1) Empirical validity of the adjustment factors.

(2) Methodology used to determine the adjustment factors.

(3) Measures used for the adjustment factors, taking into account—

(A) timeliness of data and frequency of revisions to such data;

(B) sources of data and the degree to which such data are representative of costs; and

(C) operational costs of providers who participate in Medicare.

(c) Evaluation.—Such study shall, within the context of the United States health care marketplace, evaluate and consider the following:

(1) The effect of the adjustment factors on the level and distribution of the health care workforce and resources, including—

(A) recruitment and retention that takes into account workforce mobility between urban and rural areas;

(B) ability of hospitals and other facilities to maintain an adequate and skilled workforce; and

(C) patient access to providers and needed medical technologies.

(2) The effect of the adjustment factors on population health and quality of care.

(3) The effect of the adjustment factors on the ability of providers to furnish efficient, high value care.

(d) Report.—The contract under subsection (a) shall provide for the Institute of Medicine to submit, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, to the Secretary and the Congress a report containing results and recommendations of the study conducted under this section.

(e) Funding.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.