1.This Act may be cited as
the Public Health and Health Insurance
Emergency Response Act of 2005
.
<enum>I</enum><header>Clarification of
a Public Health Emergency</header>
<section id="id46C62B7A61824C25B1E6AA3C6212313A"><enum>101.</enum><header>Modification
to the definition of public health emergency</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 247d) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idF06A1250687948D1B3F83C1F075B66D6"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), by inserting before the
last sentence, the following: <quote>Any determination under this section shall
specify the geographic area with respect to which such determination
applies.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id09AD041754154804B749503CCDAE880B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
subsection (d) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3A402B1BB97F4BC68D1CFE251717EA48" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID1eb243bbb2a04f2da60b2717a4740a3b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Statutory
waiver</header>
<paragraph id="IDe3152ba342584c749b748deeb9b8b0e5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if the
Secretary declares a public health emergency pursuant to subsection (a), the
Secretary may waive the following statutory requirements:</text>
<subparagraph id="ID41afd45d1eb242baae2f64e7bad1ef1c"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Reporting or
administrative requirements</header><text>In any case in which the Secretary
determines that, wholly or partially as a result of a public health emergency
that has been determined pursuant to subsection (a), individuals or public or
private entities are unable to comply with deadlines for the submission to the
Secretary of data, reports, or other materials, or for the completion of other
administrative tasks required under any law administered by the Secretary, the
Secretary may grant such extensions of such deadlines as the circumstances may
reasonably require, and may waive, wholly or partially, any sanctions otherwise
applicable to such failure to comply.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID992c738778c14aac954098e5b3ced0da"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Vaccinations</header><text>With
respect to section 317 of this Act and section 1928 of the Social Security Act,
the Secretary may waive requirements related to the eligibility of adults and
children for participation in the program for those in an area with respect to
which the Secretary has declared a public health emergency during the period of
such declaration.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID33c3583b779745feb6dbcfe7c210d4d5"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Extension of
availability of funds</header><text>If, as a result of a public health
emergency declared pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary determines that
the Secretary is unable to obligate funds for a particular fiscal year, such
funds shall remain available for an additional 180 days.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDcca797efd14d42379f079025022a8831"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Matching
requirements</header><text>In any case in which the Secretary determines that
an entity in an area with respect to which the Secretary has declared a public
health emergency pursuant to subsection (a) is unable to provide funds required
as a condition of Federal matching under any provision of the Public Health
Service Act, the Secretary may grant a waiver of such funding requirement for
the fiscal years covered by such emergency declaration. To the extent that
additional amounts have been appropriated for programs that have received a
waiver under this subparagraph as a result of Hurricane Katrina, the Secretary
may make such additional amounts available to entities on a pro rata
basis.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0a02e98585e443a39946d040318cbeff"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Mobilizing
resources to provide access</header><text>If the Secretary declares a public
health emergency pursuant to subsection (a) with respect to an area, the
Secretary may deem such area as a health professional shortage area (as defined
under section 332(a)), a medically underserved population (as defined under
section 330(b)(3)), or a medically underserved area or community during the
period of such declaration.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDc644368312de4cd989657fb30b6744fd"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Licensing and
liability provisions</header><text>If the Secretary declares a public health
emergency pursuant to subsection (a) with respect to an area, the Secretary may
waive the application of licensing requirements applicable to physicians and
other health care professionals who are volunteering to provide medical
services (within their scope of practice) within such area as part of a
coordinated emergency response if such physicians or health care professionals
have equivalent licensing in good standing in another State and are not
affirmatively excluded from practice in that State or in any State a part of
which is included in the designated public health emergency area. A physician
or other health care professional described in section 2811(d)(1) shall be
covered by the provisions of section 2811(d)(2), including with respect to
liability.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID5a2a3e86c23a46138258ab29b2c43643"><enum>(f)</enum><header>FDA waiver
authority</header><text>If the Secretary declares a public health emergency
pursuant to subsection (a) with respect to an area, the Secretary may—</text>
<paragraph id="id6D5EC6842CCB4ADE8DACE88095AE51CB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>waive the
requirements in the second sentence of section 304(h)(1)(B) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2FC82BF9C515424FA75A102B89A67BCB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>waive the
requirement of section 304(h)(2) of such Act that limits the administrative
detention of foods to not more than 30 days; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA856094C388949F7816AD61921458FB3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>waive the
requirement of section 304(h)(4)(A) of such Act relating to the timing of an
opportunity for an informal hearing upon the appeal of a detention
order.</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">Under
paragraph (1), the Secretary may not waive the requirements of sections 1.392
or 1.393 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulations
thereto.</continuation-text></subsection><subsection id="IDe191f4a6ceb14a5d8d23c0ec1eded9f6"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 2 days after granting any waiver under subsection (d), (e), or (f),
the Secretary shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress of such
action. The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a notice of such
waiver in a timely manner. Such notification shall include, if
applicable—</text>
<paragraph id="ID3193429a47434d07b6044df19d86c2f9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the specific
provisions of law to be waived or modified;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID00f326555e29400ca375dd286fb00659"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the rationale for
such waiver or modification;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idBFE93BC4BB2F4DCF919EB41BBEF92763"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the geographic
area in which the waiver or modification will apply; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDc78fff9080bb46ef8737c38ab22caea6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the period of
time, not to exceed the period of the emergency, for which the waiver or
modification will be in effect.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID95cac7b57028422d92c1dcd8a93e6074"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Authority for
retroactive application</header><text>A waiver or modification described in
subsections (d), (e), and (f), at the discretion of the Secretary, may be made
retroactive to the beginning of the emergency period or any subsequent date in
such period as specified by the
Secretary.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="idA86E605E911E466998349D728D308F5B"><enum>102.</enum><header>Sense of
Congress concerning the Hurricane Katrina-related public health
emergency</header>
<subsection id="ID457ddbc56497414c8783bc06fd64d5eb"><enum></enum><text>It is the sense
of Congress that—</text>
<paragraph id="ID3386dc329c5a4b22a49a324dbe2ade9f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>with respect to
the public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) resulting from Hurricane Katrina, the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, in coordination with other Federal entities
(including the Federal Emergency Management Association, the Department of
Defense, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency,
and the National Disaster Medical System), State and local governments, and
public and private sector entities, where appropriate, should ensure the
following:</text>
<subparagraph id="id9BF1FFF5DF0B4D90A1584EC5A9286B46"><enum>(A)</enum><text>grants and
funding should be provided to address ongoing emergency responses and
recovery;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFDB0277016D94CFC83247AD9B13BB55F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the provision of
health services including medical specialty services, health-related social
services including protection and advocacy services, other appropriate human
services, and appropriate auxiliary services to respond to the needs of the
survivors of the public health emergency;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF525C90019214FEABF424CBAADA9BF6A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>clinicians
deployed as part of the emergency response efforts who are licensed and
certified within their respective State and in good standing within their State
should be afforded appropriate liability protections;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id40257E9BEF1543EAB3789FE5822FC213"><enum>(D)</enum><text>clinicians
deployed as part of the emergency response who are licensed or otherwise
certified in their respective State and in good standing within their State
should not need to fulfill additional licensure or certification requirements
in areas declared to be part of a public health emergency;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEADE3D843B1B486A9351BC9C82171987"><enum>(E)</enum><text>individuals
within the public health emergency areas should be able to access quality
mental health and substance abuse services including services to reduce and
identify individuals at risk of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder and
provide appropriate interventions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID50febc5c357148bbaf28dedc23e4ee74"><enum>(F)</enum><text>environmental
teams should be deployed to provide assessments and environmental controls for
areas within the public health emergency;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id496B3A8093234DE68B472EF2129F299C"><enum>(G)</enum><text>social services,
including protection and advocacy services and access to domestic violence
shelters, should be extended to those within the public health emergency
areas;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB77A9E6DAA474E43ADBD28DF2366A994"><enum>(H)</enum><text>communication
resources should be available to those displaced by the hurricane including
access to 2–1–1 call centers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA9E4E9EFFD74456CB0E968E8CDF1D008"><enum>(I)</enum><text>support services
including supports, equipment, supplies, medications, and other types of
assistance (such as those provided through the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000) should be available to vulnerable
populations including the elderly and individuals with disabilities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0c3005d6706441a6b4deae4d099c7d19"><enum>(J)</enum><text>real time
electronic surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of epidemic, re-emerging, and
emerging diseases, including a functioning diagnostic laboratory, should be
provided for those dislocated as a result of Hurricane Katrina and
first-responders;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID39bfd8c73c8941d2a0728f40437a4123"><enum>(K)</enum><text>funding should be
provided to help healthcare facilities, medical research facilities, community
health centers, and other essential public health and health care
infrastructure components to assist them in the ongoing response efforts, to
clean up their facilities, or to rebuild;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1dac07fa185b416f8206937ec5338dc4"><enum>(L)</enum><text>coordination and
minimizing the duplication of Federal, State, and local response and recovery
efforts;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF7477C71557E4522AB704E95DCD00F20"><enum>(M)</enum><text>funding should be
provided to ensure that the Strategic National Stockpile is able to provide and
appropriately deploy the necessary drugs, vaccines, and other biological
products, medical devices, and other supplies needed to address acute
exacerbations of chronic illness as well as acute injuries and illness
resulting from Hurricane Katrina;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6E3FFB3940AD4624A08569019FD57602"><enum>(N)</enum><text>funding should be
provided to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National
Institutes of Health to pay for needed communications, including public service
announcements on radio and television, to provide for additional personnel, and
to provide needed health and safety training and resources to affected workers
and employers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0A84E6DEE39046919649B929F2D0ABA6"><enum>(O)</enum><text>none of the funds
provided by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in response to Hurricane
Katrina should made available to entities that have been indicted for
abandoning patients during the disaster period; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id933BA6F722A1481988B0C576CB15AE9D"><enum>(P)</enum><text>the Department of
Health and Human Services should conduct an effective ongoing program to
monitor the health of survivors of Hurricane Katrina and of workers and
volunteers involved in rescue, response, and rebuilding efforts due to
Hurricane Katrina, and that such a program should include screening for health
conditions (including mental health conditions) and appropriate referrals;
and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD994010C740249AB95CF63099B98D206"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the current
public health emergency declared by Secretary Leavitt relating to Hurricane
Katrina under such section 319 should be extended beyond 90 days.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Healthcare
response</header>
<section id="id308159421C02439C9D0320F8C70E3160"><enum>201.</enum><header>Assistance to
States in a public health emergency</header>
<subsection id="id0B32ADBC8E7B48BBB867C27C6AEDCD62"><enum></enum><text>Section
311(c)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243(c)(2)) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idA63C1CAC776F47EDAEDF3929E02C2C35"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>(2) The</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id742FF8BBB87046398B4D1DE7DAD881C0" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id13EF8CA2DB1A49FE8D3FEE164C5388BD"><enum>(2)(A)</enum><text>Except as
provided in subparagraph (B), the</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA0C180AD699B4A899EC0006DD49BC40B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id687A3BD64C9A4B99BA30D5A6F45A1978" style="OLC">
<subsection id="idD5135F32432A4E9E8188066DF88D71C7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>If the Secretary
declares a public health emergency under section 319, the 6 month period
described in the first sentence of subparagraph (A) may be extended for a
period of not to exceed 18 months with respect to assistance to geographic
areas that are the subject of such
declaration.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id181029433B3A49E59B864FF51C4573E4"><enum>202.</enum><header>Strengthening
the healthcare safety net</header>
<subsection id="ID405bd3818b9f4402b53cc1a18772efe3"><enum></enum><text>Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may
temporarily provide (for the period for which a determination of public health
emergency is in effect under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247d)) with respect to Hurricane Katrina that any health center or
facility providing primary and preventive care that—</text>
<paragraph id="IDb6bab3c5c9a84eb2a6584f1288031950"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is located in an
area to which such determination applies, and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDb124d21fc5c54ab187fa183171545de7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>treats
individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina;</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">shall
receive reimbursement for such treatment from Federal health programs at the
same rate at which a Federally qualified health center (as defined in section
1905(l)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1596d(l)(2)(B))) would
receive such reimbursement and shall be eligible to receive funds under section
330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 245b) with respect to services
furnished to individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina if additional funds are
made available under such section for Hurricane Katrina response
efforts.</continuation-text></subsection></section><section id="id83E673DEA1D74D30A78ED3125FCDECBA"><enum>203.</enum><header>Mental health
needs</header>
<subsection id="id688D7FB52FCF40789E3F1CF77DC13682"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Ensuring
funding for mental health in times of national crisis</header><text>Section
501(m) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290aa(m)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id981210AFC7DD4AF3AE9F772EDDFD4998" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="id936023CD006B4098A6B726421C467777"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Existing
funding</header><text>For purposes of carrying out this subsection, amounts
appropriated under this title for emergency response, as provided for in this
section, for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 shall remain available until expended
or until a public health emergency as declared by the Secretary no longer
exists.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="id8A528B0B147440C08E329CDB6AD3CA34"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Strengthening
access to mental health services in an emergency</header><text>Section 520F of
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb–37) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id13A17465F9084075A102E2BDB28B45DE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
subsection (b) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id52A54789263F4D62A2E041C19258653C" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id1624ED7BBC3448F4B26A5D609EE19712"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Health
center</header><text>In this section, the term <quote>health center</quote> has
the meaning given such term in section 330, and includes community health
centers and community mental health
centers.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id5348D21B75DF4868A60C73A7F2C4F944"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(c), by adding at the end the following: <quote>With respect to a declaration
of a public health emergency under section 319, the Secretary shall, in
awarding such grants, ensure that priority is given to States and localities
that are most affected by such emergency.</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2F4E7B74A4F64BA69A5912EC7D09D846"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection
(e)(2)—</text>
<subparagraph id="id155F220BB25C4B2C956CCB58F61FB83E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (i), by
striking <quote>individuals</quote> and all that follows through the semicolon
and inserting <quote>individuals, including children, who may be in need of
emergency mental health services, including individuals at risk of developing a
mental illness, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id53F50A0ECF8F494991B3D84BEEFB55BB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (iii),
by inserting <quote>or at risk of developing</quote> after <quote>individual
with</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id569279EDDA014BBB8ED5E6068AA12EF2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection
(g), by striking <quote>2003</quote> and inserting <quote>2006</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id7026B3D72C8A43D28701C73A98479610"><enum>204.</enum><header>Assistance for
individuals with disabilities</header>
<subsection id="id4BCF6E5464AC446EAD387CD46EA01401"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assessment and
response</header>
<paragraph id="idB23A2B8CC9B0414D8A8956ADE740271D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subparagraph id="idABD62C93CCCF478693007E130034656C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Emergency
shelter</header><text>The term <term>emergency shelter</term> means an
emergency shelter for persons described in subparagraph (C)(ii).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3E4F42347F964D1C875080FAD9BBB3FB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Individual with
a disability</header><text>The term <term>individual with a disability</term>
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE116F0065CF14FCA8BA2B921FA8FEE7A"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Individual
affected by Hurricane Katrina</header><text>The term <term>individual with a
disability affected by Hurricane Katrina</term> means a person who is—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC983B0EB463D4FA2A8633B19EE9F863E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an individual
with a disability, or a family member of an individual with a disability;
and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1CDEB64EED50488CBBDC9AC33479ABB7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a person who
resided on August 22, 2005, in an area in which the President has declared that
a major disaster exists, in accordance with section 401 of the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), related
to Hurricane Katrina.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8C0EC872E7934C21B173262999809867"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Assistance</header><text>An
entity that receives financial assistance under title I of the Developmental
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15001 et
seq.) may use a portion of such financial assistance to—</text>
<subparagraph id="id2DBFFC6FA4AE4DC5B86E13F041821D8B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>determine the
location and status of individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina, who are
transferred from emergency shelters to long-term care facilities (including
nursing homes and group homes), intermediate care facilities for individuals
with mental retardation, hospitals, correctional institutions, and other
similar locations; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEACDB58299184D44BABED19FC95E6B9D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assess and
respond to the needs of individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina to ensure
that the individuals receive necessary services, supports, and other types of
assistance.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5D2433417DAD406DBA75D52E378FB914"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Oversight and
disaster assistance</header><text>Subtitle C of title I of the Developmental
Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15041 et
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 144 the following:</text>
<quoted-block act-name="" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA0001CEA25524E8A9242608007C1EF19" style="OLC">
<section id="id542B6B7379104D08A0C30A171743FFB2"><enum>144A.</enum><header>Oversight and
disaster assistance</header>
<subsection id="id542BB37530114D18A493A0D4683FECC0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="id1D2542F1E07B45479903D69084024AD2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Emergency
shelter</header><text>The term <quote>emergency shelter</quote> means an
emergency shelter for persons described in paragraph (3)(B).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE4AA01C63F794B479E8CBF1CCFD0A9EC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Individual with
a disability</header><text>The term <quote>individual with a disability</quote>
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id2B9D120B689B47CF9D637B1DBE6B0494"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Individual
affected by a major disaster</header><text>The term <term>individual affected
by a major disaster</term> means a person who is—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC7AA3F456BD74FC58408E180F8FD31F2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an individual
with a disability; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8E5277455CE841F1BC64C93FC964E21C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a person who
resided in an area in which the Secretary has declared a public health
emergency under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, 7 days before the
declaration.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idDA936A4602664BE587209D2160CEF1B1"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Public health
emergency</header><text>The term <quote>public health emergency</quote> means a
public health emergency as designated under section 319 of the Public Health
Service Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA754E85CA39A4634BFF14BE3803B5D67"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Oversight</header>
<paragraph id="idDB5643E3C0D244A1A4A70092AF74F29D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Grants</header>
<subparagraph id="id1807AB976DD34CD9B85F1E38E336A25D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In a case in which the Secretary of Health and Human
Services has declared that a public health emergency exists for a geographic
area, and as a result individuals affected by a major disaster are placed in an
emergency shelter in a State, the Secretary may make a grant to the system for
that State.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7E7E522D477B4A86BDA1681A76DCD240"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Use of
funds</header><text>A system that receives a grant under subparagraph (A) shall
use the funds made available through the grant to—</text>
<clause id="id8DF1C49B71B347C99AA4A044EAE43C59"><enum>(i)</enum><text>establish a
registry to identify and maintain information about such individuals who are in
such emergency shelter;</text>
</clause><clause id="id31B2143CDD554C089FEAC537D77A5E02"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>track the
transfers of such individuals from such emergency shelter to community and
non-community settings; and</text>
</clause><clause id="idE5D55AE2CDE04346A50C4A98FD44D705"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>provide
oversight at such emergency shelter to assure that such individuals are
receiving necessary services, supports, and other types of assistance.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idB1C5F99CFA9944158BC61765299DE997"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>In
carrying out activities under paragraph (1), the system shall coordinate the
activities with the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response in
the Department of Homeland Security, and with any nonprofit agency (such as the
American Red Cross) providing assistance through an emergency shelter described
in paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9C1598B06E9D450F88274020F657C619"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Access</header><text>As
soon as practicable after the Secretary of Health and Human Services has
declared a public health emergency for an area, and as a result individuals
affected by the emergency are placed in an emergency shelter in a State, the
Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities shall notify
each emergency shelter in the State receiving such individuals that staff of
the system for the State shall have authority to enter the shelter, and shall
have access to the individuals affected by the emergency residing in that
shelter, to provide information related to services, supports, and other types
of assistance for, and to protect the human, service, and legal rights of,
individuals affected by the emergency residing in that shelter.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC08F3ACCCA5F4656AAE90EB2D0483BA3"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out subsection (b) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2006 and such sums as may
be necessary for fiscal year
2007.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="idDD48759FE7B44E20A909ABD13428F3B4"><enum>205.</enum><header>Liability and
licensure awareness promotion for health volunteers</header>
<subsection id="ID56ddf35fbe8c44ad9a816ba47a24a4a6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall utilize
the Internet and other appropriate means to disseminate to the public
information on health professional liability coverage and licensure
requirements for intermittent disaster response personnel (as described in
section 2811(d)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh–11(d)(1)))
in areas in which a public health emergency have been declared under section
319 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id2BFB3E547D154378B0C85986ABC027BF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Type of
information</header><text>The information to be provided under subsection (a)
shall, in the case of a State where health professional licensure requirements
have been waived, include—</text>
<paragraph id="id0EB1772B95004D04A4C494C26FBB3965"><enum>(1)</enum><text>whether and how
intermittent disaster response personnel may be able to receive certain
liability protections as described in section 2811(d)(2) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh–(d)(2)), or under applicable provisions of State
law;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id676508C60AB04689A9B5C8BEE4CDDCBD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the possible
limitations of such coverage and protections; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC9D0407BA4CB44D8835B355A462D83FC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>other information
needed to enable health professionals to make an informed decision about
providing volunteer health services.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Research and
reports</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id429BF5639AFA497D880E89988F1B43DB"><enum>301.</enum><header>Monitoring the
healthcare, mental health, and public health response</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="ID5e9529fc347641aebc6f36aa5225b085"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting
through a public service non-profit research and analysis firm, shall provide
for an immediate and independent review (through the immediate collection of
data and conduct of analyses) of the lessons learned from the Federal, State
and local public health, mental health, and medical care planning,
preparedness, and response to Hurricane Katrina.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id83B693015F3B44BD88159FA205B4A9D5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The
purpose of the study under subsection (a) is to collect available relevant
data, through site visits, reviews of medical and epidemiological records,
interviews with individuals residing in an area in which a public health
emergency has been declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act
as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and interviews with Federal, State, and local
public health, mental health services, and medical officials. Such interviews
shall be conducted in a manner that, to the extent practicable, does not
interfere with the delivery of patient care and services.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idD0C70A971CD7418294680E56881AA8D5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not
later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Emergency and Commerce
of the House of Representatives, a report concerning the lessons learned (as
described in subsection (a)).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id66FEE838C9464EBC992F51E02925BB60"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idA01B3A4137294F26905D8361F66CA482"><enum>302.</enum><header>Report on
regulatory requirements and funding formulas</header>
<subsection id="id97FFF9C4B49949879951DC43156A1FE9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 120
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall submit to Congress a report on the specific regulatory
requirements and funding formulas under the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 201 et seq.) that would assist the Secretary in responding to a public
health emergency (as declared under section 319 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
247d)).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="idC096B0FE5D044DDBAD53A1299C76312F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
section.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id52EEF228496243679882E60397275E38"><enum>303.</enum><header>Department of
Health and Human Services inspector general audit and report</header>
<subsection id="id4276FBA8B06F42EEA72A9A8CBEA2C82D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Inspector General
of the Department of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as
the <quote>Inspector General</quote>) shall conduct an audit and investigation
of each program carried out by the Department of Health and Human Services that
includes response and recovery activities related to Hurricane Katrina.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id55681C04BC254E14A170866CF47E0CB9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Weekly
report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently
than once a week, the Inspector General shall provide a report to the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives listing the audits and
investigations initiated pursuant to subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id3D7AB234BEB44CE58F39EAD1B46C6B5D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Status
report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 6
months after the date of enactment of this section, and biannually thereafter
until the audits and investigations described in subsection (a) are complete,
the Inspector General shall report to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of
the House of Representatives on the full status of the activities of the
Inspector General under this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id409B88A698004DCD9594B635CF77EC49"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Cooperative
ventures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this
section, the Inspector General is encouraged to enter into cooperative ventures
with Inspectors General of other Federal agencies.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header>Health insurance
coverage</header>
<section id="idD567E5C351C8425BAB5762A20C53A432"><enum>401.</enum><header>Temporary
emergency health coverage assistance for business and individuals</header>
<subsection id="ID8d3736f26c1242dba915992a1aef9d97"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to
in this section as the <quote>Secretary</quote>), in consultation with the
insurance commissioners of those States contained in whole or in part in the
Hurricane Katrina disaster area, shall establish a program to provide emergency
health coverage continuation relief through the provision of direct payments of
health insurance premiums or continuation assistance on behalf of eligible
businesses and their employees and purchasers of individual health insurance
coverage.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID91134e4618be48e2b4b2b46f3937a3f6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text>
<paragraph id="ID670c2e430a0e4a4285f0f75e8ea55539"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible
individuals</header><text>The term <quote>eligible individual</quote> means an
individual (and the family dependents of such individual as may be covered
under the health insurance coverage in which such individual is
enrolled)—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID50a53d6d18c441a6b578f6a1f990f788"><enum>(A)</enum><text>who is a citizen,
national, or qualified alien as defined in section 431(b) of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.
1641(b));</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID254be2a145294d1fb82712c8476e3454"><enum>(B)</enum><text>whose permanent
residence as of August 29, 2005 was located in a Hurricane Katrina disaster
area;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID46e8c2b28ecb412591c2510cf8c17fd3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>who was covered
under individual (non-group) health insurance coverage, including a policy
operated pursuant to a qualified high risk pool (as defined in section 2744 of
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–44)), on August 29, 2005;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID31af31997f8e45c3b4cf656c4abc205c"><enum>(D)</enum><text>whose ability to
continue such coverage was severely impaired as a result of hurricane-related
disruption in a Hurricane Katrina disaster area.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID397f22cf35f847338493b103baabc94d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible
businesses</header><text>The term <quote>eligible business</quote> means a
corporation, sole proprietorship, or partnership that employs not more than 50
employees and that—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID954b273c05304bc7b6a9c343e1987f16"><enum>(A)</enum><text>operated as of
August 29, 2005 in a Hurricane Katrina disaster area;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDdd3b11b067e744c39025144b92b358c3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>offered coverage
under a group health plan (as defined in section 733(a)(1) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1191b(a)(1))) on August 29,
2005 to employees in a Hurricane Katrina disaster area; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID53e28977c69a408aa5e0a156bdf7dee1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>had its ability
to continue coverage under such plan severely impaired as a result of
disruption of the sponsor’s business activity in the Hurricane Katrina disaster
area.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDfcf3c30d6e9d495fa6009cd66aa705c4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Continuation
assistance</header><text>The term <term>continuation assistance</term> means,
in the case of an eligible business that offers health insurance coverage under
a self-insured arrangement, assistance in paying administrative services fees,
claims costs, stop-loss premiums, and any amounts required to be paid by
employees to participate in the arrangement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idE2678E3D8092422399E1AD3E735D35BE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Hurricane
Katrina disaster area</header><text>The term <term>Hurricane Katrina disaster
area</term> means a parish in the State of Louisiana, a county in the State of
Mississippi, or a county in the State of Alabama, for which a major disaster
has been declared in accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) as a result of
Hurricane Katrina and which the President has determined, before September 11,
2005, warrants both individual and public assistance from the Federal
Government under such Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDe8dbb56150f349bab1fcbebec39192e9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Health coverage
continuation relief</header><text></text>
<paragraph id="ID9b2479ca580d482e8958d6cce19a6803"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall design and implement the program
under subsection (a) in a manner that enables eligible individuals and eligible
businesses to be eligible for direct premium reimbursement or continuation
assistance to be paid by the Secretary on behalf of such individual or business
directly to the health insurance issuer or administrative services provider
involved. In the case of an eligible business, premium reimbursement shall
include the premium shares of both the employer and employees, as
applicable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDba8c1e952a5644ff9a5a7b9a2aac0e2a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Subject
to paragraph (3), in no case shall the value of the assistance provided under
the program under this section, with respect to an individual or business,
exceed 100 percent of the applicable premium for coverage or continuation
assistance for the period of coverage involved, including, with respect to
employer coverage, the employer and employees' share of premiums, if
applicable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7f91b0a5d41147d9ad1deaec5619ba54"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Enrollment</header>
<subparagraph id="idC6058CA1088A4077B4506DBDDE470E98"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall establish an expedited process for
the enrollment of eligible individuals and eligible businesses in the program
under this section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCE23A73C23264D2BB62E12FA1AF56248"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Duty of
Secretary upon receipt of notice</header><text>The Secretary, upon receipt of a
notice under subsection (f)(2), shall enroll the eligible individual or
eligible business involved in the program under this section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7845298FA147473AB627DEC8173C7144"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Duty of
issuer</header><text>A group health plan, or health insurance insurer with
respect to such a plan, shall make a reasonable effort to notify an eligible
individual or eligible business—</text>
<clause id="id05B0E77B7A5843979CF2BA05AF726101"><enum>(i)</enum><text>of
the automatic enrollment of such individual or business in the program under
subparagraph (B);</text>
</clause><clause id="idA18707D34CF5438CB5E6D20D83A151D5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>that, if it is
later determined that the means of support of such individual, or the ability
of such business to continue health insurance coverage, was not severely
disrupted (as determined subject to a randomized retrospective audit process),
such individual or business may be required at a later date to repay the
program for the amount of premiums or continuation assistance paid on its
behalf; and</text>
</clause><clause id="id2D9C9BF064D148ABA92BD9208EA33028"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>that such
individual or business may elect to decline enrollment, or cancel enrollment,
in the program by notifying the health insurance issuer or administrative
service provider involved.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID855233f75bea42ed87cd02b22d6be3ba"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Retrospective
audit authority</header><text></text>
<paragraph id="ID6e8744395c6e416c970eb51a92b85894"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall provide for the application of a
randomized retrospective auditing process to the program under this section by
a date that is not earlier than November 1, 2005.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID987bfbcf7d3040a996798e6f05007967"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Repayment of
funds</header><text>If the Secretary determines, pursuant to the audit process
under paragraph (1), that an individual or business that was enrolled in the
program under this section did not meet the disruption or other eligibility
requirements provided for in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b), the
Secretary shall seek the repayment of funds paid on behalf of such individual
or business. Such repayments shall be made with no interest or late penalty to
accrue prior to the commencement of a repayment period which shall begin not
earlier than the date that is 3 months after the date on which a determination
and notice of non-eligibility is provided.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID9f1554f39d0743ff9646d11e11695086"><enum>(3)</enum><header>No double
payments</header><text>The Secretary shall take appropriate actions to ensure
that health insurance issuers do not retain double payments in instances where
businesses or individuals pay premiums for any period for which payments have
already been made under the program under this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDa7e18c4265d145f1acbbd7945f4f0d3c"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Emergency
period</header><text>Payments under the program under this section shall be
made only for premiums due during the period beginning on August 29, 2005 and
expiring 3 months after such date. Prior to the expiration of such period, the
Secretary may make recommendations to Congress regarding any reasonably
determined need to extend such emergency period.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id6F5CD7653D5C4A828CA85128C3D58DBE"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Non-cancellation
of health insurance coverage</header>
<paragraph id="ID77e03e7fef30425899e383eb46e7d883"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>During the 3-month emergency period described in
subsection (e), health insurance issuers that accept payments under the program
under this section shall be prohibited from canceling or terminating health
insurance coverage or, in the case of administrative services providers,
refusing to process claims under a self-insured arrangement. Such health
insurance issuers and administrative service providers shall be prohibited
during such period from increasing any amounts due pursuant to such coverage or
arrangements that were not previously scheduled pursuant to a contract prior to
August 29, 2005.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe3706059cfcb4815a1c2f75a47ed302c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Notification</header><text>To
be eligible to receive payments under ths program under this section, a health
insurance issuer or administrative services provider shall notify the
Secretary—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id48DEDE2F7F18401F92E07F7CAEDA9719"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not earlier than
31 days following the nonpayment of a scheduled premium payment from an
individual or business policyholder in a Hurricane Katrina disaster area, of
the fact of such nonpayment (or nonreimbursement of claims under a self-insured
arrangement); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0AB192076B344298AC3C77D71CBBF827"><enum>(B)</enum><text>following a
communication to the health insurance insurer or administrative service
provider by an individual or business reasonably indicating eligibility for
assistance under such program, of the fact of such communication.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID31d2d3e081a44a878fd76e0dabd233bc"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Expedited
rulemaking</header><text>The Secretary shall utilize expedited rulemaking
procedures to carry out this section.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID26298bdee5bf4a61b1a3483750e5f497"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this section $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="idBF3E527820B441D1BD8FB11DE112A5A3"><enum>402.</enum><header>Authority to
postpone certain deadlines related to individual health coverage by reason of
presidentially declared disaster or terroristic or military action</header>
<subsection id="idC6BB0AD18EEB4FAE93084D1A3D610DCF"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300gg et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF9AFA816D5424726AC53DF3DAB082EAD" style="OLC">
<section id="idF5C152A85DAF440F944342CA72A0028B"><enum>2793.</enum><header>Authority to
postpone certain deadlines by reason of presidentially declared disaster or
terroristic or military action</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In the case of a plan offered through the
individual market, or any health insurance issuer, participant, beneficiary, or
other person with respect to such plan, affected by a Presidentially declared
disaster (as defined in section 1033(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986) or a terroristic or military action (as defined in section 692(c)(2) of
such Code), the Secretary may, notwithstanding any other provision of law,
prescribe, by notice or otherwise, a period of up to 1 year which may be
disregarded in determining the date by which any action is required or
permitted to be completed under this title. No plan shall be treated as failing
to be operated in accordance with the terms of the plan solely as a result of
disregarding any period by reason of the preceding
sentence.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id57C58DE3CB69455994F0E0449A4DB932"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Application of
amendment</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
implement the amendment made by subsection (a) in the same manner in which the
Secretary of Labor implements section 518 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1148) with respect to group health
plans.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header>Emergency
designation</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC677D8E543314F52995132C3A26819F0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>501.</enum><header>Emergency
designation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Any amount
provided under this Act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to
section 402 of H. Con. Res. 95 (109th Congress).</text>
</section>