H.R. 337 "Managed Care Consumer Protection Act of 1997"

Section 9918 of the bill addressed required minimum childbirth benefits and would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider telemedicine and other innovative means to provide follow-up care to newborns and their mothers in promulgating regulations under the bill. Introduced: January 7, 1997. Sponsor: Rep. Stark (D-CA).

H.R. 966 "Improved Access for Telehealth Act of 1997"

• This bill is the House companion measure to S. 385. The bill mandates that the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) reimburse any Medicare eligible provider for Telehealth services provided to rural and underserved areas by July 1, 1998. The bill also asks the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit an initial report to Congress on the status efforts to ease licensure barriers by January 1, 1998 and an annual report to Congress to follow-up on the Secretary's initial report. Also, the bill provides for seed money to encourage health care provides to join with other segments of the community to jointly use telecommunications resources. Introduced March 6, 1997. Sponsor: Rep. Combest (R-TX).

H.R. 1054 "Internet Tax Freedom Act"

• A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a national policy against State and local interference with interstate commerce on the Internet or interactive computer services, and to exercise congressional jurisdiction over interstate commerce by establishing a moratorium on the imposition of exactions that would interfere with the free flow of commerce via the Internet, and for other purposes. Introduced March 13, 1997. Sponsor: Rep. Cox (R-CA).

H.R. 1101 "Medicare Telemedicine and Medical Informatics Demonstration Act of 1997"

• The bill would provide for a project to demonstrate the application of telemedicine and medical informatics to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness in the delivery of health care services under the Medicare Program and other health programs. Introduced on March 18, 1997 by Rep. Amo Houghton (R-NY).

H.R. 1189 "Rural Health Improvement Act of 1997"

• Section 601 of the bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a methodology for making payments under part B of Medicare for Telemedicine Services. Sponsor: Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA).

H.R. 1415 "Patient Access to Responsible Care Act of 1997"

H.R. 1670 "Airline Passenger Safety Act of 1997"

• A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to require air carriers to establish procedures for responding to in flight medical emergencies, and for other purposes. Introduced May 20, 1997. Sponsor: Kennelly (D-CT).

H.R. 1715 "National Institute of Biomedical Imaging Establishment Act"

• National Institute of Biomedical Imaging Establishment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish: (1) the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging in the National Institutes of Health; and (2) the National Biomedical Imaging Program. Authorizes appropriations.

H.R. 2015 "Balanced Budget Act of 1997"

• A bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to subsections (b)(1) and (c) of section 105 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 1998. As it relates to telemedicine, the bill would allow for Medicare reimbursement of telehealth services no later than July 1, 1998. Additionally, the bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress which, among other things, would determine the cost-effectiveness of providing telehealth services.

H.R. 2015 "Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Final Version)"

• A telemedicine Medicare reimbursement provision was included in the final version of H.R. 2015. Section 4206 provides that not later that January 1, 1999, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make Medicare payments for professional consultations via telecommunications systems with a physician or practitioner for patients in rural areas which have been designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSA). There are currently 2,776 HPSAs in all 50 states. The payments are to be shared between the referring physician or practitioner and the consulting physician or practitioner.

H.R. 2112 "Telephone Slamming Prevention and Internet Connection Act"

H.R. 2905 "Comprehensive Managed Health Care Reform Act of 1997"

H.R. 3001 "Clinical Research Enhancement Act of 1997"

• Clinical Research Enhancement Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to: (1) support and expand the NIH's involvement in clinical research; (2) support and expand the resources available for the clinical research community; and (3) establish peer review mechanisms.

H.R. 3009 "Health Care Consumer Protection Act of 1997"

• Health Care Consumer Protection Act of 1997 - Title I: Patient Choice; Access; Quality of Care - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to require a health insurer: (1) to permit enrollees to select a personal health professional and to change that selection; (2) that requires use of network providers to also offer optional coverage for out-of-network providers; (3) for enrollees with special needs or chronic conditions to ensure that care coordination and cost control processes do not create an undue burden; and (4) to provide for continuity of care.

S. 385 "The Comprehensive Telehealth Act of 1997"

• The bill mandates that the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) reimburse any Medicare eligible provider for Telehealth services provided to rural and underserved areas by July 1, 1998. The bill also asks the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit an initial report to Congress on the status efforts to ease licensure barriers by January 1, 1998 and an annual report to Congress to follow-up on the Secretary's initial report. Also, the bill provides for seed money to encourage health care provides to join with other segments of the community to jointly use telecommunications resources. Introduced March 3, 1997. A press release announcing the introduction of the bill is available. Sponsor: Sen. Conrad (D-ND)

S. 386 "Medicare Modernization and Patient Protection Act of 1997"

• Title VII of the bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 by adding requirements for Internet access for health care providers for rural areas. The bill also establishes a Congressional Commission on Telemedicine. Introduced: March 3, 1997. Sponsor: Sen. Wyden (D-OR).

S. 644 "Patient Access to Responsible Care Act of 1997 (Introduced in the Senate)"

• Patient Access to Responsible Care Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require a health insurance issuer to: (1) assure that covered items and services are available and accessible to each enrollee; (2) assure the availability and accessibility of emergency services and urgent care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; (3) not require prior authorization for emergency services; and (4) cover emergency and urgent (and related ancillary) services. Introduced: April 24, 1997. Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Hearings held: May 20, 97: Sponsor: Sen. D'Amato (R-NY)

S. 848 "Rural Telemedicine Demonstration Act of 1997"

• Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) expand the Medicare telemedicine demonstration project program to include the Alaska Telemedicine Project and the Montana Healthcare Telecommunications Alliance; and (2) report annually to the Congress on the project's effectiveness, along with any appropriate legislative recommendations. Introduced: June 5, 1997: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski (R-AK).

S. 990 "National Institute of Biomedical Imaging Establishment Act (Introduced in the Senate)"

• National Institute of Biomedical Imaging Establishment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish: (1) the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging in the National Institutes of Health; and (2) the National Biomedical Imaging Program. Authorizes appropriations. Sponsor: Sen. Faircloth (R-NC)

S. 1402 "The Alaskan Community Health Aide Program Extension Act of 1997"

• A bill to amend the Social Security Act to establish a community health aide program for Alaskan communities that do not qualify for the Community Health Aide Program for Alaska operated through the Indian Health Service. Introduced: November 7, 1997. Sponsor: Sen Murkowski (R-AK).

S. 1421 "Clinical Research Enhancement Act of 1997 (As Introduced in the Senate)"

• Clinical Research Enhancement Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to: (1) support and expand the NIH's involvement in clinical research; (2) support and expand the resources available for the clinical research community; and (3) establish peer review mechanisms. Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy (D-MA)

S.Res. 86 "A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to telephone access charges for use of the Internet and the growth of advanced interactive communications networks like the Internet."

• Calls for the U.S. telecommunications policy to support the continued unfettered growth of the Internet by encouraging: (1) greater dialogue between the Local Exchange Carriers and the Internet community in an effort to reach a mutually beneficial resolution to the issues relating to connecting to the Internet; and (2) the removal of impediments to the introduction of competition, and in particular, in the provision of new technologies and services to connecting to the Internet and other advanced networks. Sponsor: Sen. Abraham (R-MI).