[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1716 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1716

  To provide for a study of long-term care needs in the 21st century.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 1999

Mr. Bilirakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide for a study of long-term care needs in the 21st century.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. STUDY OF LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
provide, in accordance with this section, for a study in order to 
determine--
            (1) future demand for long-term health care services 
        (including institutional and home and community-based services) 
        in the United States in order to meet the needs in the 21st 
        century; and
            (2) long-term options to finance the provision of such 
        services.
    (b) Details.--The study shall include the following:
            (1) An identification of the relevant demographic 
        characteristics affecting demand for long-term health care 
        services, at least through the year 2030.
            (2) The possibility of coverage of community-based and 
        other long-term health care services under different federal 
        programs, including through the medicare and medicaid programs, 
        grants to States, housing services, and changes in tax policy.
            (3) How to improve the quality of long-term health care 
        services.
            (4) The integration of long-term health care services for 
        individuals between different classes of health care providers 
        (such as hospitals, nursing facilities, and home care agencies) 
        and different Federal programs (such as the medicare and 
        medicaid programs).
            (5) The possibility of expanding private sector 
        initiatives, including long-term care insurance, to meet the 
        need to finance such services.
            (6) An examination of the effect of enactment of the Health 
        Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 on the 
        provision and financing of long-term health care services, 
        including on portability and affordability of private long-term 
        care insurance, the impact of insurance options on low-income 
        older Americans, and the options for eligibility to improve 
        access to such insurance.
            (7) The financial impact of the provision of long-term 
        health care services on caregivers and other family members.
    (c) Report and Recommendations.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide for a 
        report on the study under this section.
            (2) Recommendations.--The report shall include 
        recommendations regarding each of the following:
                    (A) The most effective and efficient manner that 
                the Federal government may use its resources to educate 
                the public on planning for needs for long-term health 
                care services.
                    (B) The public, private, and joint public-private 
                strategies for meeting identified needs for long-term 
                health care services.
                    (C) The appropriate continuing role of States in 
                the financing of long-term health care services.
            (3) Inclusion of cost estimates.--The report shall include 
        cost estimates of the various options for which recommendations 
        are made.
    (d) Conduct of Study.--
            (1) Use of institute of medicine.--The Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services shall seek to enter into an appropriate 
        arrangement with the Institute of Medicine of the National 
        Academy of Sciences to conduct the study under this section. If 
        such an arrangement cannot be made, the Secretary may provide 
        for the conduct of the study by any other qualified non-
        governmental entity.
            (2) Consultation.--The study should be conducted in 
        consultation with experts from a wide-range of groups from the 
        public and private sectors.
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