[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 186 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 186

  To establish a grant program to provide screenings for glaucoma to 
 individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 2009

 Mr. Serrano 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 establish a grant program to provide screenings for glaucoma to 
 individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Glaucoma Screening Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) It is estimated that only half of the more than 
        3,000,000 individuals in the United States that have glaucoma 
        are aware that they have glaucoma.
            (2) Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among 
        African-Americans and Hispanics.
            (3) Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African-
        Americans than in Caucasians.
            (4) Glaucoma accounts for over 7,000,000 visits to 
        physicians each year.
            (5) In terms of Social Security benefits paid, lost income 
        tax revenues, and health care expenditures, the cost of 
        glaucoma to the United States government is estimated to be 
        over $1.5 billion annually.
            (6) Poor vision costs Medicare more than $2 billion per 
        year in non-eye-related illnesses and health care needs.
            (7) Medicare currently provides coverage for glaucoma 
        screenings for beneficiaries in the following high risk groups:
                    (A) Individuals with diabetes.
                    (B) Individuals with a family history of glaucoma.
                    (C) African-Americans 50 years of age and older.
                    (D) Hispanics 65 years of age and older.
            (8) Although Medicare has covered glaucoma screenings since 
        1998 for beneficiaries with diabetes, less than 45 percent of 
        those beneficiaries have had an eye exam.

SEC. 3. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF GLAUCOMA SCREENINGS FOR CERTAIN HISPANICS.

    (a) Expanding Medicare Coverage of Glaucoma Screenings to Hispanics 
50 Years of Age and Older.--Section 1861(s)(2)(U) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(U)) is amended by striking 
``determined to be'' and all that follows through ``diabetes'' and 
inserting the following: ``with a family history of glaucoma, 
individuals with diabetes, and individuals determined to be at high 
risk for glaucoma including, among other individuals determined to be 
at high risk for glaucoma, individuals who are both older than 49 years 
of age and Hispanic''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies 
with respect to services furnished on or after January 1, 2010.

SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SCREENINGS FOR GLAUCOMA TO HIGH RISK 
              INDIVIDUALS.

    (a) Grant Program.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
award a grant to an eligible entity (as described in subsection (b)) to 
provide screenings for glaucoma for individuals determined to be at 
high risk for glaucoma.
    (b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section, an entity shall--
            (1) submit an application at such time, in such form, and 
        with such information and assurances as the Secretary may 
        require;
            (2) be located within the United States, the Commonwealth 
        of Puerto Rico, or a territory or possession of the United 
        States; and
            (3) be dedicated solely to screening individuals for 
        glaucoma and other eye diseases.
    (c) Use of Funds.--An entity receiving a grant under this section 
shall use the grant in accordance with the following requirements:
            (1) The entity shall utilize mobile screening units to test 
        for glaucoma and other eye diseases.
            (2) The entity shall target screening activities to 
        populations primarily consisting of individuals determined to 
        be at high risk for glaucoma.
            (3) The entity shall form partnerships with Federally-
        qualified health centers to increase awareness of the need for 
        screenings for glaucoma and to provide screenings for glaucoma 
        for individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma, 
        individuals with a family history of glaucoma, and individuals 
        with diabetes.
            (4) The entity shall provide grants to approved medical 
        residency training programs to permit students participating in 
        the programs to conduct screenings for glaucoma for individuals 
        determined to be at high risk for glaucoma.
            (5) The entity shall conduct all grant-funded activities 
        within the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a 
        territory or possession of the United States.
    (d) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the following 
definitions apply:
            (1) Approved medical residency training program.--The term 
        ``approved medical residency training program'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 1886(h)(5)(A) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(5)(A)).
            (2) Federally-qualified health center.--The term 
        ``Federally-qualified health center'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 1861(aa)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C.1395x(aa)(4)).
            (3) Individuals determined to be at high risk for 
        glaucoma.--The term ``individuals determined to be at high risk 
        for glaucoma'' means those individuals determined by the 
        Secretary to be at high risk for glaucoma pursuant to the 
        Secretary's administration of section 1861(s)(2)(U) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(U)), as amended by 
        section 3(a), but without regard to the age of the individual.
            (4) Screening for glaucoma.--The term ``screening for 
        glaucoma'' has the meaning given that term in section 1861(uu) 
        of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(uu)).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $10,000,000 for grants under this section for each of the 
first 5 fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
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