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 shall establish a nationwide demonstration project consisting of—

(1) awarding grants to, and entering into contracts with, medical-legal partnerships to assist patients and their families to navigate health-related programs and activities; and

(2) evaluating the effectiveness of such partnerships.

(b) Use of funds.—Amounts received as a grant or contract under this section shall be used to assist patients and their families to navigate health care-related programs and activities and thereby achieve one or more of the following goals:

(1) Enhancing access to health care services.

(2) Improving health outcomes for low-income individuals.

(3) Reducing health disparities.

(4) Enhancing wellness and prevention of chronic conditions.

(c) Prohibition.—No funds under this section may be used—

(1) for any medical malpractice or other civil action or proceeding; or

(2) to assist individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.

(d) Report.—Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of the demonstration project under this section. Such report shall include the following:

(1) A description of the extent to which medical-legal partnerships funded through this section achieved the goals described in subsection (b).

(2) Recommendations on the possibility of extending or expanding the demonstration project.

(e) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) The term “health disparities” has the meaning given to the term in section 3171 of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2301.

(2) The term “medical-legal partnership” means an entity—

(A) that is a collaboration between—

(i) a community health center, public hospital, children’s hospital, or other provider of health care services to a significant number of low-income beneficiaries; and

(ii) one or more attorneys; and

(B) whose primary mission is to assist patients and their families navigate health care-related programs and activities.

(3) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(f) Authorization of appropriations.—To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015.