[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3525-S3526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Menendez):
  S. 2476. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for 
a behavioral and mental health outreach and education strategy to 
reduce stigma associated with mental health among the Hispanic and 
Latino population, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Mental Health 
for Latinos Act. This important bill would boost our continued efforts 
to reduce stigma and promote mental wellness, while meeting the diverse 
needs of Latino communities across the country.
  In response to the mental health crisis in the Latino community, this 
legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services to 
develop a strategy to provide information on evidence-based practices, 
interventions, and treatments that are culturally and linguistically 
appropriate and increases awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses 
common among such populations, considering differences within 
subgroups, such as gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, 
race, or ethnicity.
  The evidence is clear: We are experiencing a mental health crisis in 
the Latino community. Disparities within our healthcare system are 
preventing members of Latino communities from receiving lifesaving 
mental health services.
  These barriers to care are causing too many to suffer in silence, and 
this must change. Presently, only 36.1 percent of Latino adults aged 18 
or older with a mental illness received services in 2021, compared to 
the U.S. average of 47.2 percent. Between 2010 and 2020, the suicide 
rate among male Latino adults ages 20 to 64 increased by 35.7 percent, 
and the female rate increased by 40.6 percent. Even those who are able 
to access services rarely receive the effective, culturally competent 
care they need.
  This bill would further our continued efforts to reduce stigma and 
promote mental wellness, while meeting the diverse needs of Latino 
populations across the country. As our Nation confronts an unfolding 
mental health crisis, this critical legislation reinforces the timeless 
message that there is zero shame in asking for help and that seeking 
support is a sign of strength.
  I would like to thank Congresswoman Napolitano for leading this 
legislation in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to 
working with my colleagues to enact the Mental Health for Latinos Act 
as soon as possible.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. Warner):
  S. 2477. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
provide pharmacy payment of certain services; to the Committee on 
Finance.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2477

       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 ``Equitable Community Access 
     to Pharmacist Services Act''.

     SEC. 2. COVERAGE OF PHARMACIST SERVICES UNDER MEDICARE PART 
                   B.

       (a) Coverage.--Section 1861(s) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (II), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (JJ), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon at the end; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(KK) pharmacist services and such services and supplies 
     furnished as an incident to the pharmacist's service as would 
     otherwise be covered under part B if furnished by a physician 
     or as an incident to a physician's service that--
       ``(i) are furnished by a pharmacist--
       ``(I) as licensed under State law; or
       ``(II) pursuant to a Federal emergency authority described 
     under section 319F-3 or section 361 of the Public Health 
     Service Act, or other similar Federal law;
       ``(ii) would otherwise be covered under part B if furnished 
     by a physician; and
       ``(iii) are services--
       ``(I) for encounters for the evaluation and management of 
     patients for testing or treatment for COVID-19, influenza, 
     respiratory syncytial virus, or streptococcal pharyngitis; or
       ``(II) that address a public health need related to a 
     public health emergency under section 319F-3 or section 361 
     of the Public Health Service Act, or other similar Federal 
     law.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (10), in each of subparagraphs (A) and 
     (B), by inserting ``, including when furnished by a 
     pharmacist'' before the semicolon in each such subparagraph.
       (b) Payment.--Section 1833(a)(1) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and (HH)'' and inserting ``(HH)''; and
       (2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the 
     following: ``and (II) with respect to pharmacist services 
     described in section 1861(s)(2)(KK), the amounts paid shall 
     be equal to 80 percent of the lesser of (i) the actual charge 
     for the services or (ii) 85 percent (or 100 percent, in the 
     case of such services furnished pursuant to a Federal 
     emergency authority described in clause (i)(II) of such 
     section) of the amount determined under the payment basis 
     under section 1848 for such services.''.
       (c) Prohibition on Balance Billing for Pharmacist 
     Services.--Section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C)) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(ix) A pharmacist.''.
       (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
     construed to restrict the ability of pharmacies and 
     pharmacists to enroll and obtain reimbursement under existing 
     pathways under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) as of the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, including payment as mass immunizers.
       (e) Implementation Authority.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     shall implement the provisions of, and the amendments made 
     by, this section by interim final rule, program instruction, 
     or otherwise not later than the date that is 60 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Heinrich):
  S. 2479. A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish 
an alternative manure management program, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Converting Our 
Waste Sustainably, COWS, Act of 2023. This legislation will help dairy 
and livestock producers reduce methane emissions, improve air and water 
quality, and implement more sustainable alternative manure management 
practices.
  As the top dairy State in the country and the second in cheese 
production, California is the largest producer of milk, butter, and 
cheeses like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and queso fresco. Dairy 
operations contribute billions of dollars to California's economy but 
are also responsible for 60 percent of California's methane emissions.
  Recognizing the urgency of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions like 
methane, California and the dairy industry are on track to reduce dairy 
methane emissions by 40 percent by 2030 largely due to the successes of 
California's own Alternative Manure Management Program.
  The COWS Act would establish an Alternative Manure Management Program 
to help dairy and livestock producers transition toward pasture-based 
management, alternative treatment and storage practices, solid 
separation systems, and scrape technologies.
  This voluntary program, modeled after California's extremely 
successful Alternative Manure Management Program, will provide more 
resources for the dairy and livestock industry to modernize 
technologies for manure management that help boost profitability, 
improve water quality, and reduce methane and nitrogen oxide emissions 
by fostering climate-smart farming.

[[Page S3526]]

  The bill also makes composting eligible for funding under the 
Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation 
Stewardship Program.
  Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural operations is 
critical to addressing the climate crisis. Because of the high 
construction and operation costs associated with anerobic digesters, 
nondigester manure management practices can provide a more cost-
effective alternative for family dairy and livestock operators seeking 
to improve profitability while improving air and water quality for 
their communities.
  I would like to thank my colleagues, Senators Brown and Heinrich, for 
their leadership in reducing agricultural methane emissions and 
Representative Costa for championing this bill in the House.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass the COWS Act as 
quickly as possible.

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