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) Report on nursing facility payment policies.—Section 1900(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(10) REPORTS ON SPECIAL TOPICS ON PAYMENT POLICIES.—

“(A) NURSING FACILITY PAYMENT POLICIES.—Not later than January 1, 2012, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on nursing facility payment policies under Medicaid that includes—

“(i) information on the difference between the amount paid by each State to nursing facilities in such State under the Medicaid program under this title and the cost to such facilities of providing efficient quality care to Medicaid eligible individuals;

“(ii) an evaluation of patient outcomes and quality as a result of the supplemental payments under section 1745(b) of the Affordable Health Care for America Act; and

“(iii) whether adjustments should be made under the Medicaid program to the rates that States pay skilled nursing facilities to ensure that such rates are sufficient to provide efficient quality care to Medicaid eligible individuals.”.

(b) Pediatric subspecialist payment policies.—Section 1900(b)(10) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(B) PEDIATRIC SUBSPECIALIST PAYMENT POLICIES.—Not later than January 1, 2011, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on payment policies for pediatric subspecialist services under Medicaid that includes—

“(i) a comprehensive review of each State’s Medicaid payment rates for inpatient and outpatient pediatric speciality services;

“(ii) a comparison, on a State-by-State basis, of the rates under clause (i) to Medicare payments for similar services;

“(iii) information on any limitations in patient access to pediatric speciality care, such as delays in receiving care or wait times for receiving care;

“(iv) an analysis of the extent to which low Medicaid payment rates in any State contributes to limits in access to pediatric subspecialty services in such State; and

“(v) recommendations to ameliorate any problems found with such payment rates or with access to such services.”.

(c) Additional amendments.—

(1) COMMISSION STATUS.—Section 1900(a) of the Social Security Act is amended by inserting “as an agency of Congress” after “established”.

(2) EXPANSION OF SCOPE.—Section 1900(b)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act is amended by striking “children’s access” and inserting “access by low-income children and other eligible individuals”.

(3) CHANGE IN REPORT DEADLINES.—Subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 1900(b)(1) of such Act are amended by striking “2010” and inserting “2011” each place it appears.

(4) REPORT IN HEALTH REFORM.—Section 1900(b)(2) of such Act is amended—

(A) in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking “skilled”;

(B) by striking subparagraph (B);

(C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B); and

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

“(C) IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTH REFORM.—The implementation of the provisions of the Affordable Health Care for America Act that relate to Medicaid or CHIP by the Secretary, the Health Choices Commissioner, and the States, including the effect of such implementation on the access to needed health care items and services by low-income individuals and families.”.

(5) CLARIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—Section 1900(c)(2)(B) of such Act is amended by striking “consumers” and inserting “individuals”.

(6) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

(A) CURRENT AUTHORIZATION.—Section 1900(f)(2) of such Act is amended—

(i) in the heading, by inserting “of appropriations prior to 2010” after “Authorization”; and

(ii) by striking “There are” and inserting “Prior to January 1, 2010, there are”

(B) FUTURE AUTHORIZATION.—Section 1900(f) of such Act is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: after the period the following:

“(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2010.—Beginning on January 1, 2010, there is authorized to be appropriated $11,800,000 to carry out the provisions of this section. Such funds shall remain available until expended.”.