[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8121-H8122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR SENIORS ACT OF 2018
Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6561) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services
to finalize certain proposed provisions relating to the Programs of
All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) under the Medicare and
Medicaid programs, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6561
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[[Page H8122]]
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Comprehensive Care for
Seniors Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
TO ISSUE A FINAL REGULATION BASED ON THE
PROPOSED REGULATION RELATING TO THE PROGRAMS OF
ALL-INCLUSIVE CARE FOR THE ELDERLY (PACE) UNDER
THE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS.
Not later than December 31, 2018, the Secretary of Health
and Human Services shall issue a final regulation based on
the provisions of the proposed regulation titled ``Medicare
and Medicaid Programs; Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the
Elderly (PACE)'' (81 Fed. Reg. 54666).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Indiana (Mrs. Walorski) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Indiana.
General Leave
Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 6561, currently under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6561, the Comprehensive
Care for Seniors Act of 2018. This bipartisan legislation would require
the Secretary of HHS to finalize updated regulations for the Programs
of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, commonly known as PACE, while
still giving the Secretary the flexibility to make updates and changes
to the proposed regulation.
The PACE program is a proven model for delivering high-quality,
comprehensive, community-based healthcare for seniors. It helps seniors
whose health conditions would otherwise land them in a nursing home to
remain in their homes for as long as possible by allowing them to see
health professionals and social service providers at local PACE
centers.
There are currently 123 PACE organizations in 31 States that serve
over 45,000 Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, enabling them to live
safely in the community through the fully integrated services and
support provided. This allows beneficiaries to live longer, experience
better health, and have fewer hospital visits. Seniors facing health
challenges should have the option to receive high-quality healthcare
while continuing to live at home, and programs like St. Joseph PACE in
Mishawaka, in my district, allow them to do just that.
In 2016, CMS released a proposed rule to update the original
guidelines from 2006. A bipartisan group of Members of Congress sent
letters in November of 2017 and June of 2018 urging CMS to prioritize
updating the existing regulatory framework, which is more than a decade
old. The agency has, unfortunately, not taken any action.
This much-needed update would allow PACE programs to customize their
interdisciplinary team around the needs of each enrollee, provide more
services in the community, and give greater flexibility to partner with
community providers.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Indiana has described very well the
purpose of this legislation. There are, I think, at least five sponsors
of this legislation, Democrats and Republicans, and it is another
example of bipartisanship on a rather technical issue, technical in
this sense.
There was always a need for regulation, and CMS proposed, now, 2
years ago, a regulation updating the requirements governing PACE.
Unfortunately, under this present administration, CMS has not finalized
these rules. What this bill essentially requires is that CMS finalize
these regulations by December 31, 2018. Hopefully, that can occur
before 2031.
We sometimes do too much on December 31 of a year. I have been here
in session a few times on December 31, I think.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and recommend its passage, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, Representatives Jenkins,
Blumenauer, Chu, Kind, Bilirakis, Dingell, and Chris Smith, for their
hard work getting this bill to this point and their previous work on
this issue.
The PACE program is long overdue for an update. This bipartisan,
commonsense legislation will ensure improvements are made quickly so
more seniors can live in their communities longer.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleague to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6561, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to direct
the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a final regulation
based on the proposed regulation relating to the Programs of All-
Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) under the Medicare and Medicaid
programs.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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