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Prevalence of Mental Illness in the United States: Data Sources and Information
This report briefly describes the methodology and results of three large surveys that provide national prevalence estimates of diagnosable mental illness: the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A), and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). This report presents prevalence estimates of any mental illness and serious mental illness based on each survey and ends with a brief discussion of how these prevalence estimates might inform policy discussions.
Abortion at or Over 20 Weeks' Gestation: Frequently Asked Questions
This report provides answers to frequently asked questions concerning abortions that are performed in the second trimester of a woman's pregnancy because Congress and many state legislatures are considering legislation that would limit or ban abortions in midpregnancy. This report does not discuss constitutional or legal questions nor does it discusses differing state regulations regarding such abortions.
Division A of H.R. 3922: The CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act
This report summarizes provisions in Division A of the CHAMPIONING HEALTHY KIDS Act that would extend funding for certain public health programs and provide offsets for these funding extensions. CRS Report R44989, Comparison of the Bills to Extend State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Funding, summarizes provisions in Division B.
Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA): 2017 Reauthorization as PDUFA VI
This report discusses the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) and its reauthorization by Congress as PDUFA I.
The Mental Health Workforce: A Primer
This report begins with a working definition of the mental health workforce and a brief discussion of alternative definitions. It then describes three dimensions of the mental health workforce that may influence quality of care, access to care, and costs of care: licensure requirements and scope of practice for each provider type in the mental health workforce, estimated numbers of each provider type in the mental health workforce, and average annual wages for each provider type in the mental health workforce. The report then briefly discusses how these dimensions of the mental health workforce might inform certain policy discussions.
The Individual Mandate for Health Insurance Coverage: In Brief
This report provides an overview of the individual mandate for health insurance, its associated penalty, and the exemptions from the mandate.
The National Health Service Corps
This report provides an overview of the National Health Service Corps and its role and funding mechanisms.
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123): CHIP, Public Health, Home Visiting, and Medicaid Provisions in Division E
This report provides information about the provisions from Division E of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA 2018) related to CHIP, certain public health programs, the MIECHV program, and the Medicaid program.
H.R. 1628: The American Health Care Act (AHCA)
This report contains three tables that, together, provide an overview of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) provisions, as amended by the five manager's amendments and the amendment referenced in H.Res. 254. Table 1 includes provisions that apply to the private health insurance market, Table 2 includes provisions that affect the Medicaid program, and Table 3 includes provisions related to public health and taxes. Each table contains a column identifying whether the AHCA provision is related to an ACA provision (e.g., whether the AHCA provision repeals an ACA-related provision). In addition to the three tables, the report includes more detailed summaries of each AHCA provision and two graphics showing the effective dates of AHCA provisions. Figure 1 covers AHCA provisions related to the private health insurance market, public health, and taxes. Figure 2 covers AHCA provisions related to the Medicaid program. A table identifying key CRS policy staff appears at the end of the report.
Discussions of the Health Care System in America: A Selected Bibliography
This report provides a bibliography of resources related to the health care system in the United States
Comparison of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA)
This report discusses the comparison between the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and the "discussion draft" titled, "The Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017" (BCRA).
Comparison of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA)
This report discusses the comparison between the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and the "discussion draft" titled, "The Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017" (BCRA) intended to repeal or modify provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Medicare: Insolvency Projections
This report focuses on the two separate trust funds that fund Medicare, the Hospital Insurance (HI) trust fund and Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) trust fund. Almost from its inception, the HI trust fund has faced a projected shortfall and eventual insolvency. Because of the way it is financed, the SMI trust fund cannot become insolvent; however, the Medicare Trustees continue to express concerns about the rapid growth in SMI costs.
The Proposed Health Maintenance Organization Assistance Act of 1971
This report provides a summary and description of each section of the proposed Health Maintenance Organization Assistance Act of 1971.
Hypertensive Disease and Control Programs in the United States
This report discusses the prevalence of hypertensive disease (high blood pressure) in the United States and federal programs aimed at controlling and reducing hypertensive disease.
Autistic Children: Background Information and Legislative Interest
This report discusses children with autism and provides a brief description of autism and its treatments as well as Congressional interest in providing assistance for children with autism.
Foreign Health Care Systems: A Bibliography of Selected References
This report provides a bibliography of resources related to health care systems around the world organized by location.
How Medicare Pays Hospitals
This report discusses the process of paying hospitals through Medicare.
Key Facts on Alcohol and Alcoholism
This report provides statistics and facts about the drinking of alcohol and alcoholism.
Hospital Reimbursement
This report discusses the process of hospital reimbursement by health insurers and regulations governing the process.
How Medicare Pays for Doctor's Services
This report discusses the method used to pay doctor's through Medicare.
Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 (P. L. 93-222)
This report discusses the provisions of the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973 (P. L. 93-222) which provided funding to assist in the start-up of health maintenance organizations (HMO).
P.L. 93-282, The Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974: Legislative History and Section-By-Section Analysis
This report provides a history and analysis of the provisions of The Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974 (P.L. 93-282).
Health Legislation Confronting the 92nd Congress
This report provides an overview of health related legislation and proposals which are likely to be debated in the 92nd Congress.
Health Benefits for Members of Congress and Designated Congressional Staff: In Brief
This report discusses the health benefits for federal employees through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
Legislative Actions to Repeal, Defund, or Delay the Affordable Care Act
This report a brief overview of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and discusses the legislative process known as budget reconciliation in an effort to repeal parts of the ACA.
Increasing Choice, Access, and Quality in Health Care for Americans Act (Division C of P.L. 114-255)
This report summarizes the Increasing Choice, Access, and Quality in Health Care for Americans Act, enacted December 13, 2016, as Division C of the 21st Century Cures Act (P.L. 114-255). It includes an overview and a breakdown of provisions by section.
Finding Medicare Enrollment Statistics
This report presents basic categories and definitions for terms related to Medicare enrollment data, a quick reference table that summarizes key data available in selected resources, and a more detailed overview of core resources.
Use of the Annual Appropriations Process to Block Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (FY2011-FY2017)
This report summarizes the ACA-related language added to annual appropriations legislation by congressional appropriators since the ACA was signed into law. The information is presented in Table 1. While a detailed examination of the ACA itself is beyond the scope of this report, a brief overview of the ACA's core provisions and its impact on federal spending is provided as context for the material in the table.
Congress Faces Calls to Address Expiring Funds for Primary Care
This report discusses programs focused on expanding access to primary care services for populations that are typically underserved.
The ACA Prevention and Public Health Fund: In Brief
This report provides background information on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and discusses the authority and funding distributions.
Medicaid Financial Eligibility for Long-Term Services and Supports
This report provides an overview of the financial requirements used for determining eligibility for Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS). It first provides background information on the Medicaid program, including general eligibility requirements. Then it describes federal statutes as well as selected regulations and guidance regarding these financial eligibility requirements, including rules related to spousal impoverishment, asset transfers, treatment of certain assets, post-eligibility treatment of income, and estate recovery.
Discretionary Spending Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
This report examines the Affordable Care Act's (ACA's) effects on discretionary spending. It first discusses all the ACA authorizations (and reauthorizations) of appropriations for grant and other programs; this information, along with actual funding amounts, is summarized in a series of tables. The report then reviews the ACA administrative costs borne by CMS and the IRS.
Legislative Actions in the 112th, 113th, and 114th Congresses to Repeal, Defund, or Delay the Affordable Care Act
This report a brief overview of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and discusses the legislative process known as budget reconciliation in an effort to repeal parts of the ACA.
The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC): In Brief
This report describes the eligibility criteria for the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) and the types of health insurance to which the tax credit may be applied. The tax credit's purpose is to make the purchase of health insurance more affordable for eligible individuals. The report also briefly describes the administration of the HCTC program and receipt of the credit by eligible taxpayers; it concludes with a summary of the HCTC's statutory history.
Medicare: Part B Premiums
This report provides an overview of Medicare Part B premiums, including information on Part B eligibility and enrollment, late-enrollment penalties, collection of premiums, determination of annual premium amounts, premiums for high-income enrollees, premium assistance for low-income enrollees, protections for Social Security recipients from rising Part B premiums, and historical Medicare Part B premium trends. This report also provides a summary of various premium-related issues that may be of interest to Congress.
Use of the Annual Appropriations Process to Block Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (FY2011-FY2017)
This report summarizes the ACA-related language added to annual appropriations legislation by congressional appropriators since the ACA was signed into law. The information is presented in Table 1. While a detailed examination of the ACA itself is beyond the scope of this report, a brief overview of the ACA's core provisions and its impact on federal spending is provided as context for the material in the table.
Overview of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
This report examines the the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, which creates a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and establishes a new Medicare Advantage program to replace the current Medicare+Choice program.
Public Health Service Agencies: Overview and Funding (FY2015-FY2017)
This report gives a brief overview of the eight agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which are designated components of the U.S. Public Health Services (PHS), and summarizes its funding for FY2015 through FY2017.
Zika Response Funding: Request and Congressional Action
This report presents the Administration's request for supplemental appropriations for the Zika response. It includes sections outlining Congressional actions, the emergency supplemental appropriations request for Zika response efforts -- by both U.S. health and human services agencies and international assistance programs -- and information about unobligated Ebola response funds.
Puerto Rico and Health Care Finance: Frequently Asked Questions
This report provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Puerto Rico's health care system.
Medicare Financial Status: In Brief
This report provides an overview on Medicare, discussing its various components and sources of funding. It also examines projections for spending within the program.
The Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Employer Shared Responsibility Determination and the Potential Employer Penalty
This report describes potential employer penalties as well as regulations to implement the ACA employer provisions. The regulations address insurance coverage requirements, methodologies for determining whether a worker is considered full time, provisions relating to seasonal workers and corporate franchises, and other reporting requirements.
Private Health Insurance Market Reforms in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
This report provides background information about the private health insurance market, including market segments and regulation. It then describes each ACA market reform, grouped under the following categories: obtaining coverage, keeping coverage, cost of purchasing coverage, covered services, cost-sharing limits, consumer assistance and other health care protections, and plan requirements related to health care providers.
Medicare Primer
This report provides a general overview of the Medicare program including descriptions of the program's history, eligibility criteria, covered services, provider payment systems, and program administration and financing.
Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Program: Frequently Asked Questions
This report addresses frequently asked questions regarding the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program, which was established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and aims to foster the creation of CO-OPs--nonprofit, member-run health insurance issuers that sell health plans in states in which they are licensed.
Health Care Spending: Context and Policy
This report seeks to put health spending in context. Health care costs and spending are persistent concerns for the Congress. On one hand, policymakers worry about access to care and the burden of health costs on household and employer budgets. On the other hand, rising costs put growing pressure on the federal budget from Medicare, Medicaid, and tax expenditures for private health insurance.
Excise Tax on High-Cost Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage: In Brief
This report provides an overview of the excise tax. The report includes cost estimates for the excise tax and explores the excise tax's relationship with the tax advantages for employer-sponsored health coverage. The information in this report is based on statute and two notices issued by the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Medicare: Enrollment in Medicare Drug Plans
This report discusses the enrollment process for private prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans. At a minimum, these plans offer "standard coverage" or alternative coverage with actuarially equivalent benefits. Beneficiaries are required to enroll in one of these private plans in order to obtain coverage.
Medicare Prescription Drug Proposals: Estimates of Aged Beneficiaries Who Fall Below Income Criteria, by State
This report discusses bills related to Medicare benefits, which include additional assistance for low-income beneficiaries. The assistance would have been in the form of reduced, subsidized or eliminated premiums, deductibles and other cost-sharing. Proposals in the 108th Congress will probably also include some of these features for low-income beneficiaries.
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