Lawmakers Introduce a Flurry of Health Care Measures Prior to April 2007 Break
Senate and House lawmakers rolled out dozens of health care bills in the week and a half before adjourning for Easter recess in an effort to address concerns of patients and providers in their home states and districts. The Senate returns to Washington on April 10; the House is expected back on April 17.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced S. 1056, the National Cancer Act of 2007, which seeks to provide a framework for a continued federal effort relating to prevention, early detection of, and treatments for cancer in the 21st century. S. 1056 attempts to bolster the cancer care workforce, provide grants for development of new drug therapies, and promote continued research on the potential of CT scan screenings to detect lung cancer in current and former smokers. The first national Cancer Act was signed into law by President Nixon in 1972.
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, introduced S. 1050, the Promoting Wellness for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2007. This legislation calls for standards for medical diagnostic equipment ranging from examination tables and weight scales, to mammography, x-ray, and other radiology equipment, while seeking improved education and training to provide medical services to individuals with disabilities. The standards would ensure that such equipment is accessible to, and usable by, individuals with disabilities to the maximum extent possible.
The Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging Act was reintroduced in the Senate by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Michael Enzi, R-Wyo. The legislation would establish standards to ensure the safety and accuracy of medical imaging studies and radiation therapy treatments pertaining to the personnel who perform, plan, evaluate, or verify patient dose for medical imaging studies and radiation therapy procedures. Under this measure, non-physician personnel must demonstrate competency through successful completion of a certification process, licensure, completion of an examination, pertinent coursework or degree program, verified pertinent experience, or through other ways determined appropriate by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Meanwhile, Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., introduced H.R. 1601, the Telehealth Medically Underserved Advancement Act of 2007. This legislation seeks to facilitate the provision of telehealth services by establishing demonstration projects to develop community-based programs that promote patient independence. These projects would leverage telehealth services and equipment to enable the use of the most cost-effective, least restrictive care settings. The bill would also direct the HHS secretary to convene a conference of state licensing boards, local telehealth projects, health care practitioners, and patient advocates to promote interstate licensure for telehealth projects.
The Easter break allows members of Congress the chance to tout their accomplishments and promote their legislation while conducting town hall forums, constituent meetings and facility tours back home. Access to care, preventative approaches, and measures promoting increased cancer screening have been high on the new Congress's list of ideas, although most initiatives will not be taken up by the committees of jurisdiction until Congress reauthorizes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
Meanwhile, the ACR expects the Senate companion legislation to H.R. 1293, the Access to Medicare Imaging Act of 2007, providing a two-year moratorium on the cuts to the technical component of medical imaging services contained in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, to be introduced the week of April 10.
For more information regarding ACR's advocacy efforts, please contact Senior Director of Government Relations Josh Cooper at jcooper@acr.org, or Assistant Director of Congressional Relations Orrin Marcella at omarcella@acr.org.