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Full Text of this Amendment
SA 2977. Mr. BEGICH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2786 proposed by Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. Harkin) to the bill H.R. 3590, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal employees, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle C of title IV, insert the following:
SEC. 4208. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE OF ALASKA.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
(1) Access to health care in the State of Alaska is challenging due to geographical constraints, health care workforce and treatment facility shortages, and lack of certain medical specialties available in the State.
(2) Delivery of health care to beneficiaries of Federal health care programs is especially challenging in the State of Alaska as a result of capacity constraints at Federal treatment facilities and insufficient civilian provider networks to support Federal systems.
(3) The State of Alaska has the largest, per capita population of veterans, many of whom rely on the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(4) The State of Alaska has a large population of active-duty military personnel, military retirees, and dependents of military personnel and retirees who rely on the military health care system. This population will increase as a result of Armed Forces structure initiatives during the next several years.
(5) A significant portion of Alaska's population is comprised of Medicare beneficiaries.
(6) Almost 1/4 of Alaska's population is comprised of Medicaid beneficiaries.
(7) Federal agencies have undertaken efforts to improve and increase access to health care in the State of Alaska for Federal health care system beneficiaries, but there are finite medical resources in the State for which such beneficiaries must compete.
(8) To ensure improved and increased access to health care for beneficiaries of Federal health care systems in the State of Alaska, comprehensive policies and interagency collaboration are required.
(b) Interagency Access to Health Care in Alaska Task Force.--
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.--There is established a task force to be known as the ``Interagency Access to Health Care in Alaska Task Force'' (referred to in this section as the ``Task Force'').
(2) ACTIVITIES.--The Task Force shall--
(A) assess access to health care for beneficiaries of Federal health care systems in Alaska, which shall include consideration of, with regard to the State of Alaska--
(i) current Federal health care delivery methods at Federal treatment facilities and through civilian provider networks;
(ii) shortfalls in delivering health care to beneficiaries of Federal health care systems at Federal treatment facilities and through civilian provider networks; and
(iii) the impact of reimbursement rates and claims processing on civilian provider participation; and
(B) develop a strategy for the Federal Government to improve delivery of health care to Federal beneficiaries in the State of Alaska, which shall include--
(i) interagency collaboration opportunities for addressing shortfalls in delivering health care to beneficiaries of Federal health care systems;
(ii) increasing Federal Government primary care and specialty care capability practices in the State of Alaska at Federal treatment facilities and in the civilian provider community.
(c) Membership.--
(1) APPOINTMENT.--
(A) FEDERAL MEMBERS.--The Task Force shall be comprised of Federal members who shall be appointed as follows:
(i) One member shall be a representative of the Department of Health and Human Services and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(ii) One member shall be a representative of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(iii) One member shall be a representative of the Indian Health Service and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(iv) One member shall be a representative of the TRICARE Management Activity and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.
(v) One member shall be a representative of the Army Medical Department and shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Army.
(vi) One member shall be a representative of the Air Force and shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Air Force from among officers at the Air Force performing medical service functions.
(vii) One member shall be a representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(viii) One member shall be a representative of the Veterans Health Administration and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(ix) One member shall be a representative of the United States Coast Guard and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(B) NON-FEDERAL MEMBERS.--Individuals appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the Task Force from outside the agencies may include officers or employees of other departments and agencies of the Federal Government and individuals from the private medical community in Alaska and, at the election of the Governor of the State of Alaska, shall include at least one employee representative of the State of Alaska.
(2) TIMEFRAME FOR APPOINTMENT.--All appointments of individuals to the Task Force, as described in paragraph (2), shall be made not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.--There shall be 2 co-chairpersons of the Task Force, appointed at the time of appointment of members under paragraph (1). One co-chairperson shall be designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services from among the representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services who are appointed to the Task Force under clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (2), and one co-chairperson shall be designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services from among
the members appointed under clauses (iv) through (ix) of such paragraph.
(4) VACANCIES.--A vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(5) COMPENSATION.--
(A) IN GENERAL.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), members of the Task Force may not receive pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of such member's service on the Task Force.
(B) TRAVEL EXPENSES.--The members of the Task Force shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Task Force.
(d) Meetings.--The Task Force shall meet at the call of the chairperson.
(e) Report.--
(1) IN GENERAL.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report detailing the activities of the Task Force and containing the findings, strategies, recommendations, policies, and initiatives developed pursuant to the duties of the Task Force under subsection (b)(2).
(2) CONSIDERATION OF OTHER EFFORTS.--In preparing the report described in paragraph (1), the Task Force shall consider completed and ongoing efforts by Federal agencies to improve access to health care in the State of Alaska.
(f) Termination.--The Task Force shall be terminated on the date of submission of the report described in subsection (e).
(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Dec 7, 2009.)
At the end of subtitle C of title IV, insert the following:
SEC. 4208. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE OF ALASKA.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
(1) Access to health care in the State of Alaska is challenging due to geographical constraints, health care workforce and treatment facility shortages, and lack of certain medical specialties available in the State.
(2) Delivery of health care to beneficiaries of Federal health care programs is especially challenging in the State of Alaska as a result of capacity constraints at Federal treatment facilities and insufficient civilian provider networks to support Federal systems.
(3) The State of Alaska has the largest, per capita population of veterans, many of whom rely on the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(4) The State of Alaska has a large population of active-duty military personnel, military retirees, and dependents of military personnel and retirees who rely on the military health care system. This population will increase as a result of Armed Forces structure initiatives during the next several years.
(5) A significant portion of Alaska's population is comprised of Medicare beneficiaries.
(6) Almost 1/4 of Alaska's population is comprised of Medicaid beneficiaries.
(7) Federal agencies have undertaken efforts to improve and increase access to health care in the State of Alaska for Federal health care system beneficiaries, but there are finite medical resources in the State for which such beneficiaries must compete.
(8) To ensure improved and increased access to health care for beneficiaries of Federal health care systems in the State of Alaska, comprehensive policies and interagency collaboration are required.
(b) Interagency Access to Health Care in Alaska Task Force.--
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.--There is established a task force to be known as the ``Interagency Access to Health Care in Alaska Task Force'' (referred to in this section as the ``Task Force'').
(2) ACTIVITIES.--The Task Force shall--
(A) assess access to health care for beneficiaries of Federal health care systems in Alaska, which shall include consideration of, with regard to the State of Alaska--
(i) current Federal health care delivery methods at Federal treatment facilities and through civilian provider networks;
(ii) shortfalls in delivering health care to beneficiaries of Federal health care systems at Federal treatment facilities and through civilian provider networks; and
(iii) the impact of reimbursement rates and claims processing on civilian provider participation; and
(B) develop a strategy for the Federal Government to improve delivery of health care to Federal beneficiaries in the State of Alaska, which shall include--
(i) interagency collaboration opportunities for addressing shortfalls in delivering health care to beneficiaries of Federal health care systems;
(ii) increasing Federal Government primary care and specialty care capability practices in the State of Alaska at Federal treatment facilities and in the civilian provider community.
(c) Membership.--
(1) APPOINTMENT.--
(A) FEDERAL MEMBERS.--The Task Force shall be comprised of Federal members who shall be appointed as follows:
(i) One member shall be a representative of the Department of Health and Human Services and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(ii) One member shall be a representative of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(iii) One member shall be a representative of the Indian Health Service and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(iv) One member shall be a representative of the TRICARE Management Activity and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.
(v) One member shall be a representative of the Army Medical Department and shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Army.
(vi) One member shall be a representative of the Air Force and shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Air Force from among officers at the Air Force performing medical service functions.
(vii) One member shall be a representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(viii) One member shall be a representative of the Veterans Health Administration and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(ix) One member shall be a representative of the United States Coast Guard and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(B) NON-FEDERAL MEMBERS.--Individuals appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the Task Force from outside the agencies may include officers or employees of other departments and agencies of the Federal Government and individuals from the private medical community in Alaska and, at the election of the Governor of the State of Alaska, shall include at least one employee representative of the State of Alaska.
(2) TIMEFRAME FOR APPOINTMENT.--All appointments of individuals to the Task Force, as described in paragraph (2), shall be made not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.--There shall be 2 co-chairpersons of the Task Force, appointed at the time of appointment of members under paragraph (1). One co-chairperson shall be designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services from among the representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services who are appointed to the Task Force under clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (2), and one co-chairperson shall be designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services from among
the members appointed under clauses (iv) through (ix) of such paragraph.
(4) VACANCIES.--A vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(5) COMPENSATION.--
(A) IN GENERAL.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), members of the Task Force may not receive pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of such member's service on the Task Force.
(B) TRAVEL EXPENSES.--The members of the Task Force shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Task Force.
(d) Meetings.--The Task Force shall meet at the call of the chairperson.
(e) Report.--
(1) IN GENERAL.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report detailing the activities of the Task Force and containing the findings, strategies, recommendations, policies, and initiatives developed pursuant to the duties of the Task Force under subsection (b)(2).
(2) CONSIDERATION OF OTHER EFFORTS.--In preparing the report described in paragraph (1), the Task Force shall consider completed and ongoing efforts by Federal agencies to improve access to health care in the State of Alaska.
(f) Termination.--The Task Force shall be terminated on the date of submission of the report described in subsection (e).
(As printed in the Congressional Record for the Senate on Dec 7, 2009.)
