109 HR 5657 IH: To promote preventive health care for U.S. House of Representatives 2006-06-21 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5657 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 21, 2006 Mr. Knollenberg introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To promote preventive health care for Americans.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Preventive Medicine for a Healthier America Act of 2006.

2.

Findings

The Congress finds as follows: (1)Improving the health of the population and reducing medical costs requires implementation of preventive methods. (2)Organizations throughout the United States have expressed the need for an increase of public health professionals. (3)There are only approximately 6,000 physicians board certified in preventive medicine. (4)Many health care costs are spent on chronic conditions that could be avoided by implementing preventive methods. (5)The number of preventive medicine residency programs and individuals pursuing preventive medicine has significantly decreased in recent years. (6)Preventive medicine physicians are uniquely trained to serve patients and communities. (7)A strong public health system requires a strong preventive medicine workforce.

3.

Loan payment assistance for preventive medicine physicians

(a)

Payments

On behalf of any eligible preventive medicine physician, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may pay up to $20,000 of the medical education loans incurred by the physician. (b)

Application

To request a payment under this section, an eligible preventive medicine physician shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (c)

Definitions

In this section: (1)The term eligible preventive medicine physician means a practicing physician who receives board certification in preventive medicine during the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2011. (2)The term medical education loan means the outstanding principal of and interest on a loan incurred for the cost of attendance (including tuition, other reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living costs) at a school of medicine. (3)The term school of medicine has the meaning given to that term in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p). (4)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (d)

Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

4.

Wellness program credit

(a)

In general

Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business related credits) is amended by inserting after section 45M the following new section:

45N.

Wellness program credit

(a)

General rule

For purposes of section 38, the wellness program credit determined under this section for any taxable year is an amount equal to $200 per qualified employee employed by the eligible employer during the taxable year. (b)

Dollar limitation

The amount of the credit determined under this section for any taxable year shall not exceed 25 percent of the eligible employer’s regular tax liability (as defined in section 26(b)). (c)

Definitions

For purposes of this section— (1)

Eligible employer

With respect to a taxable year, the term eligible employer means an employer who— (A)develops and implements a qualified wellness program, and (B)keeps accurate records of the preventive health screenings and other programs in which the eligible employer’s employees have participated during the taxable year. (2)

Qualified wellness program

With respect to an eligible employer, the term qualified wellness program means a program— (A)that is developed and implemented by the eligible employer, in consultation with a physician (as defined in section 213(d)) who is board certified in preventive medicine, (B)that provides at least 2 preventive health screenings for the benefit of the eligible employer’s employees, (C)that provides counseling, seminars, self-help materials, and other resources related to at least 3 of the following: (i)smoking, (ii)obesity, (iii)stress management, (iv)physical fitness, (v)nutrition, (vi)substance abuse, (vii)depression, (viii)mental health, (ix)heart disease, and (x)maternal and infant health, and (D)whose qualified participants include not less than 50 percent of the eligible employer’s full-time employees. (3)

Qualified employee

With respect to an eligible employer, the term qualified employee means an individual who is— (A)a full-time employee of the eligible employer, and (B)a qualified participant in the eligible employer’s qualified wellness program. (4)

Qualified participant

With respect to a taxable year, the term qualified participant means an individual who participates in at least 2 of the preventive health screenings or other programs offered through a qualified wellness program during the taxable year, as determined by the eligible employer who has developed and implemented such qualified wellness program. (d)

Termination

This section shall not apply in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2011.

. (b)

Conforming amendments

(1)Section 38(b) of such Code is amended by striking and at the end of paragraph (29), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (30) and inserting , and, and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (31)the wellness program credit determined under section 45N(a). . (2)The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 45M the following new item: Sec. 45N. Wellness program credit. . (c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006.

5.

National education campaign

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, shall carry out a national education campaign to encourage the use of preventive health screenings by individuals, employers, physicians, hospitals, State and local health departments, community health centers, industrial sites, occupational health centers, academic centers, private practices, the military, and Federal departments and agencies. (b)

Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.