Other Investments

Medicare

Improvements to the Medicare program:


  • Provide a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who reach the Part D coverage gap in 2010 (Effective
    January 1, 2010);
  • Phase down gradually the beneficiary coinsurance rate in the Medicare Part D coverage gap from
    100% to 25% by 2020:
  • For brand-name drugs, pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to provide a 50% discount on
    prescriptions filled in the Medicare Part D coverage gap beginning in 2011, in addition to federal
    subsidies of 25% of the brand-name drug cost by 2020 (phased in beginning in 2013)
  • For generic drugs, federal subsidies will be provided of 75% of the generic drug cost by 2020 for
    prescriptions filled in the Medicare Part D coverage gap (phased in beginning in 2011);
  • Between 2014 and 2019, a reduction will be applied in the out-of-pocket amount that qualifies an enrollee for catastrophic coverage;
  • Make Part D cost-sharing for full-benefit dual eligible beneficiaries receiving home and community based
    care services equal to the cost-sharing for those who receive institutional care (Effective no earlier than January 1, 2012);
  • Expand Medicare coverage to individuals who have been exposed to environmental health hazards
    from living in an area subject to an emergency declaration made as of June 17, 2009 and have
    developed certain health conditions as a result (Effective upon enactment);
  • Provide a 10% bonus payment to primary care physicians and to general surgeons practicing in health
    professional shortage areas, from 2011 through 2015; and
  • Provide payments totaling $400 million in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to qualifying hospitals in counties
    with the lowest quartile Medicare spending; and
  • Prohibit Medicare Advantage plans from imposing higher cost-sharing requirements for some
    Medicare covered benefits than is required under the traditional fee-for-service program. (Effective
    January 1, 2011)

 

Workforce

Improvements in workforce training and development:

 

  • Establish a multi-stakeholder Workforce Advisory Committee to develop a national workforce strategy.
    (Appointments made by September 30, 2010)
  • Increase the number of Graduate Medical Education (GME) training positions by redistributing
    currently unused slots, with priorities given to primary care and general surgery and to states with the
    lowest resident physician-to-population ratios (effective July 1, 2011); increase flexibility in laws and
    regulations that govern GME funding to promote training in outpatient settings (effective July 1, 2010);
    and ensure the availability of residency programs in rural and underserved areas. Establish Teaching
    Health Centers, defined as community-based, ambulatory patient care centers, including federally
    qualified health centers and other federally-funded health centers that are eligible for payments for
    the expenses associated with operating primary care residency programs. (Funds appropriated for five
    years beginning fiscal year 2011)
  • Increase workforce supply and support training of health professionals through scholarships and
    loans; support primary care training and capacity building; provide state grants to providers in
    medically underserved areas; train and recruit providers to serve in rural areas; establish a public
    health workforce loan repayment program; provide medical residents with training in preventive
    medicine and public health; promote training of a diverse workforce; and promote cultural
    competence training of health care professionals. (Effective dates vary) Support the development
    of interdisciplinary mental and behavioral health training programs (effective fiscal year 2010) and
    establish a training program for oral health professionals. (Funds appropriated for six years beginning
    in fiscal year 2010)
  • Address the projected shortage of nurses and retention of nurses by increasing the capacity for
    education, supporting training programs, providing loan repayment and retention grants, and
    creating a career ladder to nursing. (Initial appropriation in fiscal year 2010) Provide grants for up
    to three years to employ and provide training to family nurse practitioners who provide primary care
    in federally qualified health centers and nurse-managed health clinics. (Funds appropriated for five
    years beginning in fiscal year 2011)
  • Support the development of training programs that focus on primary care models such as medical
    homes, team management of chronic disease, and those that integrate physical and mental health
    services. (Funds appropriated for five years beginning in fiscal year 2010)

 

Community Health Centers and School-Based Health Centers

Access to care will be improved by increasing funding by $11 billion for community health centers and by $1.5 billion for National Health Service Corps over five years (effective fiscal year 2011); establishing new programs to support school-based health centers (effective fiscal year 2010) and nurse-managed health clinics (effective fiscal year 2010).

 

Trauma Care

A new trauma center program will be established to strengthen emergency department and trauma center capacity. Research will be funded for emergency medicine, including pediatric emergency medical research, and develop demonstration programs to design, implement, and evaluate innovative models for emergency care systems. (Funds appropriated beginning in fiscal year 2011)

 

Public Health and Disaster Preparedness

A commissioned Regular Corps and a Ready Reserve Corps will be established for service in time of a national emergency. (Funds appropriated for five years beginning in fiscal year 2010)

 

Requirements for Non-Profit Hospitals

Additional requirements will be imposed on non-profit hospitals to conduct a community needs assessment every three years and adopt an implementation strategy to meet the identified needs, adopt and widely publicize a financial assistance policy that indicates whether free or discounted care is available and
how to apply for the assistance, limit charges to patients who qualify for financial assistance to the
amount generally billed to insured patients, and make reasonable attempts to determine eligibility for
financial assistance before undertaking extraordinary collection actions. A tax will be imposed of $50,000 per
year for failure to meet these requirements. (Effective for taxable years following enactment)

 

American Indians

Reauthorize and amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. (Effective upon enactment)

 

 

 



Need Help?
Chat with a specialist with our:
OR
Call us at: 1.800.693.3420