[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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