WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 7217, the Improving Medicaid Programs and Opportunities for Eligible Beneficiaries (IMPROVE) Act. In addition, the House also passed several healthcare bills and one bill to address key challenges facing America’s nuclear energy industry.
Heading to the president’s desk:
S. 2465, the Sickle Cell Disease and Other Heritable Blood Disorders Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2018, authored by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), passed the House by voice vote. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature.
* S. 2465 reauthorizes the sickle cell disease prevention and treatment demonstration program.
S. 3029, the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2018, authored by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), passed the House by voice vote. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature.
* S. 3029 continues research and education programs aimed at preventing preterm births to reduce infant deaths and improve infant health.
Heading to the Senate:
H.R. 1318, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017, authored by Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), passed the House by voice vote.
* H.R. 1318 authorizes programs to promote safe motherhood and support states in establishing or improving maternal mortality review committees so we can better understand the causes of maternal deaths.
H.R. 6140, the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act, authored by Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) and Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA), passed the House by voice vote.
* H.R. 6140 directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program to support the development of the capacity to produce advance nuclear fuels necessary for the advanced nuclear reactor technologies The legislation provides for a public-private partnership to help develop a market for the fuel and provides for other technical information to advance regulatory requirements infrastructure for the fuel.
H.R. 6615, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018, authored by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), passed the House by voice vote.
* H.R. 6615 reauthorizes the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) Traumatic Brain Injury initiatives, consistent with FY19 appropriations, and establishes a national concussion surveillance system.
H.R. 7217, the IMPROVE Act, authored by Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), passed the House by a vote of 400 yeas to 11 nays.
This package incorporates substantial portions of several Energy and Commerce Committee bills, including:
* H.R. 3325, the Advancing Care for Exceptional (ACE) Kids Act, authored by Rep. Barton and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), improves the delivery of care for children with complex medical conditions who receive care under Medicaid, by providing enhanced federal matching for a limited period of time for care coordination services. The bill builds upon the “health home" model that has been successful for helping state Medicaid programs improve care for populations under current law.
* H.R. 5306, the Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources (EMPOWER) and Care Act, authored by #SubHealth Vice Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI). The provision included in H.R. 7217 extends the Money Follows the Person Demonstration (MFP) program in Medicaid for an additional three months. The MFP program provides resources to state Medicaid programs to help transition individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities from institutions back into local communities.
* H.R. 7149, the Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act, authored by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI). The provision included in H.R. 7217 amends title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove an institutional bias by extending for three months the protection for recipients of home and community-based services against spousal impoverishment.
“Today, the House took bipartisan action to pass an important package of bills to improve and bolster the Medicaid and Medicare programs for millions of Americans," said Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR). “With this package, we are passing the ACE Kids Act - ensuring that children with complex health needs receive the first-rate care they deserve. Rep. Barton has long been a champion on this issue, and I commend him for his years of dedication to improving the care for these children and their families."
Walden continued, “Additionally, from reauthorizing important programs to improving maternal health outcomes, these other bills passing the House today will make meaningful strides to boost our public health efforts. Lastly, the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Act removes market barriers for nuclear energy and makes the United States globally competitive in the race to design and deploy advanced reactor technology."
