View from the Hill.Editor's Note: The following bills pertaining to issues affecting the long term care industry were making their way through Congress as of Sept. 11, 2003. Adult Day Care Bill: S. 333 Title: The Elder Justice Act Summary: Amends the Social Security Act by adding the section "Elder Justice," under which definitions are given for abuse, elder, definitions are given, exploitation, vulnerable adult, neglect and law enforcement as they apply to elderly persons. The bill also defines bodily injury and criminal sexual abuse as they pertain to senior citizens, and establishes an Elder Justice Coordinating Council to examine the problem of abuse of the elderly. Sponsor: Sens. John Breaux, D-la., Max Baucus, D-Mont., Christopher S. Bond, R-Mo., Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., 10 others. Status: Under consideration by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Independent Living Units Title: Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act Summary: Makes patient safety data Privileged and confidential, excluding it From subpoena subpoena (səpē`nə) [Lat.,=under penalty], in law, an order to a witness to appear before a court. A subpoena ad testificandum [Lat. , discovery, disclosure Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) A U.S. government rule that states that public information shall be delivered within 10 days of request. ), evidentiary use or any credentialing or licensing situation. Sponsors: Sens. James M. Jeffords, I-Vt., John B Breaux, D-La., Bill Frist, R-Tenn., Gregg Judd, R-N R-N Raion (Russian, district; used in postal addresses) .H. Status: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions For amendments. Skilled Nursing Facilities skilled nursing facility n. Abbr. SNF An establishment that houses chronically ill, usually elderly patients, and provides long-term nursing care, rehabilitation, and other services. Bill: H.R. 660 Title: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 Summary: Allows small businesses to by into group health insurance plans anywhere in the country, enabling them to pay much less than they now pay for small policies directly from insurers. Enables small long term care facilities to provide health insurance plans that are comparable to those offered by bigger facilities. Companion bill to S. 545. Sponsors: Reps. Anibal Acevedo-Vila, D-Puerto Rico; Robert B. Aderholt, R-Ala.; W. Todd Akin, R-Mo.; Cass Ballenger, R-N.C.; J. Gresham Barrett James Gresham Barrett (born February 14, 1961) is an American politician from the Republican Party and a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, representing the 3rd Congressional district (map) in the northwestern part of the state. Biography J. , R-S R-S Reed-Solomon R-S Reset-Set R-S Relative Severity .C.; G. Roscoe Barlett, R-Md.; Bob Beauprez, R-Colo.; 112 others. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for further consideration. Bill: S. 545 Title: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 Summary: Allows small businesses to buy into group health insurance plans anywhere in the country, enabling them to pay much less than they now pay for small policies directly from insurers. Enables small long term care facilities to provide health insurance plans that are comparable to those offered by bigger facilities. Companion bill to H.R. 660. Sponsors: Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.; Kit Bond, R-Mo.; Jim Talent, R-Mo.; John McCain, R-Ariz.; Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C.; Kay Bailey Hutchison Kathyrn Ann Bailey Hutchison, usually known as Kay Bailey Hutchison (born July 22 1943), is the senior United States Senator from Texas. She is a member of the Republican Party. , R-Texas; Norm Coleman, R-Minn. Status: Reffered to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Medicare and Medicaid Medicare and Medicaid U.S. government programs in effect since 1966. Medicare covers most people 65 or older and those with long-term disabilities. Part A, a hospital insurance plan, also pays for home health visits and hospice care. Bill: S. 556 Title: Indian Health Care Improvement Act Reauthorization of 2003 Summary: Amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to revise requirements for health care programs and services for Indians, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations. Allows Indian tribes and tribal organizations, and Alaska Native health organizations that contract or compact for the operation of a hospital HIS clinic or Alzheimer's facility, to directly bill and receive reimbursement for health care services provided for which payment is made under Medicare and Medicaid of the Social Security Act or from any other third-party payor. Directs the Secretary, acting through the HIS and Indian tribes and tribal organizations, to consolidate certain existing programs into a new program of comprehensive behavioral and mental health, prevention, treatment, and aftercare af·ter·care n. Follow-up care provided after a medical procedure or treatment program. aftercare the care and treatment of a convalescent patient, especially one that has undergone surgery. for Indian tribes. Sponsors: Sens. Ben Nighthorse Campbell Ben Nighthorse Campbell (born April 13, 1933) is an American politician. He was a U.S. Senator from Colorado from 1993 until 2005 and was for some time the only Native American serving in the U.S. Congress. Campbell was a U.S. , R-Colo.; Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii; John McCain, R-Ariz. Status: Hearings continue in Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; further Consideration underway. Bill: H.R. 796 Title: Comprehensive Long Term Care Act of 2003 Summary: Clarifies the definitions of Who is eligible for coverage of expanded Nursing facility and in-home services for Dependent individuals under the Medicare program. Sponsor: Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. Status: Referred to the House Subcommittee on Health for further consideration. Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia Bill: H.R. 2241 Title: Positive Aging Act of 2003 Summary: Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Secretary of Health and Human Services - the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Health and Human Services; "the first Secretary of Health and Human Services was Patricia Roberts Harris who was appointed by Carter" , acting through the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services For the California public school, see . The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is a unit of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) witin the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. US government-supported group. , to make grants for evidence-based demonstration projects to integrate mental health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract for older patients into primary care settings. Requires inclusion of collaborative care, screening services, referrals, and protocols for prevalent mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, dementia and substance abuse. Sponsors: Reps. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.; Anibal Acevedo-Vila, D-P.R.; Martin Frost, D-Texas; Steny Hoyer, D-Md.; Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas; Dale Kildee, D-Mich., Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; eight others. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for further consideration. |
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