Congressional Research Service Reports - 33 Matching Results

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Medicare: Part B Premiums

Description: This report examines the history of the Medicare Part B Premium. The report considers issues including the changing factors that go into determining the premium. The report also discusses the comparative cost adjustment program, the Part B deductible, and the Part A premium.
Date: December 29, 2008
Creator: Hahn, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Medicaid Regulatory Issues

Description: This report provides a summary of seven proposed and final rules affecting the Medicaid program that were issued by the Bush Administration during 2007 and 2008. Six of the seven rules are currently under a congressional moratorium on further administrative action until April 1, 2009. A description of possible administrative and legislative actions to modify these rules, which could be taken by the next administration or the 111th Congress, is also provided.
Date: November 26, 2008
Creator: Herz, Elicia J. & Burrows, Vanessa K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Tax Exclusion for Employer-Provided Health Insurance: Policy Issues Regarding the Repeal Debate

Description: Employer-provided health insurance is excluded from the determination of employees' federal income taxes, resulting in significant tax savings for many workers. The federal income tax exclusion -- the focus of this report -- is criticized for several reasons. These arguments about the exclusion merit careful consideration as Congress is starting to debate broad health care reform for the first time in 15 years. This report discusses this issue at length, including advantages and disadvantages t… more
Date: November 21, 2008
Creator: Lyke, Bob
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Health and Safety Concerns Over U.S. Imports of Chinese Products: An Overview

Description: China is a major source of U.S. imports of consumer products (such as toys) and an increasingly important supplier of various food products. Reports of unsafe seafood, pet food, toys, tires, and other products imported from China over the past year or so have raised concern in the United States over the health, safety, and quality of imported Chinese products. This report provides an overview of this issue and implications for U.S.-China trade relations.
Date: November 13, 2008
Creator: Morrison, Wayne M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The False Claims Act, the Allison Engine Decision, and Possible Effects on Health Care Fraud Enforcement

Description: The False Claims Act (FCA), an important tool for combating fraud against the U.S. government, generally provides that a person who knowingly submits, or causes to be submitted, a false or fraudulent claim for payment to the U.S. government may be subject to civil penalties and damages. This report provides an overview of the FCA and the Allison Engine decision, analyzes how this decision could affect certain FCA health care claims, and discusses the proposed False Claims Correction Acts (S. 20… more
Date: November 6, 2008
Creator: Staman, Jennifer
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Military Medical Care: Questions and Answers

Description: This report answers several frequently-asked questions about military health care, particularly related to TRICARE and its various aspects.
Date: October 31, 2008
Creator: Jansen, Don J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Increases in Tricare Costs: Background and Options for Congress

Description: In its FY2007, FY2008, and FY2009 budget submissions, the Department of Defense (DOD) proposed increases in Tricare enrollment fees, deductibles, and pharmacy co-payments for retired beneficiaries not yet eligible for Medicare. In passing the FY2009 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress included measures establishing demonstration projects intended to find ways to contain costs through increased use of preventive care services by TRICARE beneficiaries. The scope of these measures are lim… more
Date: October 23, 2008
Creator: Jansen, Don J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Bisphenol A (BPA) in Plastics and Possible Human Health Effects

Description: Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to produce certain types of plastic. Containers made of these plastics may expose people to small amounts of BPA in food and water. Some animal experiments have found that fetal and infant development may be harmed by small amounts of BPA, but scientists disagree about the value of the animal studies for predicting harmful effects in people. This report discusses this issue and relevant legislation, as well as inquiries into studies currently underway to determine the … more
Date: September 8, 2008
Creator: Schierow, Linda-Jo & Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Health Insurance Coverage: Characteristics of the Insured and Uninsured Populations in 2007

Description: Based on data from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS), 45.7 million people in the United States had no health insurance in 2007 — a decrease of approximately 1.3 million people when compared with 2006. This report briefly examines the characteristics of this uninsured population.
Date: September 3, 2008
Creator: Peterson, Chris L. & Grady, April
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Health Insurance Coverage of Children, 2007

Description: Based on data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, 8.9 million children under age 19 were uninsured in 2007, a statistically significant decline compared to 9.4 million in 2006. This report provides an overview of the health insurance coverage of children in 2007.
Date: September 2, 2008
Creator: Peterson, Chris L. & Grady, April
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Health Insurance: Uninsured Children, by State, 2005-2007

Description: Based on data from the Census Bureau's current population survey, an estimated 8.9 million children under age 19 were uninsured in 2007, representing 11.3% of all children in the United States. This report contains information on uninsured children in the United States by state.
Date: August 29, 2008
Creator: Peterson, Chris L. & Grady, April
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Legal Issues Relating to State Health Care Regulation: ERISA Preemption and Fair Share Laws

Description: This report provides an overview of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) preemption, discusses legal challenges to fair share laws, and analyzes the fair share requirements included as part of the Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act.
Date: August 26, 2008
Creator: Shimabukuro, Jon O. & Staman, Jennifer
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Increases in Tricare Costs: Background and Options for Congress

Description: In its FY2007, FY2008, and FY2009 budget submissions, the Department of Defense (DOD) proposed increases in Tricare enrollment fees, deductibles, and pharmacy co-payments for retired beneficiaries not yet eligible for Medicare. In passing the FY2009 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress included measures establishing demonstration projects intended to find ways to contain costs through increased use of preventive care services by TRICARE beneficiaries. The scope of these measures are lim… more
Date: August 15, 2008
Creator: Jansen, Don J. & Best, Richard
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Enforcement of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules

Description: This report discusses enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) administrative simplification provisions by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), and provides an overview of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Enforcement Rule.
Date: August 11, 2008
Creator: Stevens, Gina Marie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Military Medical Care: Questions and Answers

Description: This report answers several frequently-asked questions about military health care, including: how the system is structured, a TRICARE summary, TRICARE eligibility and plan options, cost of military health care to beneficiaries, relationship of TRICARE to MEDICARE, how the Affordable Care Act affects TRICARE, long-term trends of defense health care costs, and a summary of the fund which funds TRICARE (the Medicare Eligible Retiree Health Care fund).
Date: August 4, 2008
Creator: Best, Richard A., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Title X (Public Health Service Act) Family Planning Program

Description: This report looks at several bills addressing the Family Planning Program (Title X of the Public Health Service Act) which have been introduced in the 112th Congress, including: funding for abortion-providing entities, elimination of the program, and prohibitions on government spending for the program.
Date: August 4, 2008
Creator: Napili, Angela
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Public Health and Medical Preparedness and Response: Issues in the 110th Congress

Description: The 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and concerns about an influenza ("flu") pandemic have sharpened congressional interest in the nation's systems to track and respond to public health threats. The 109th Congress passed laws that reauthorized public health and medical preparedness and response programs in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and reorganized parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the establishment of an Office of Health Affairs (OH… more
Date: August 1, 2008
Creator: Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Increases in Tricare Costs: Background and Options for Congress

Description: In its FY2007, FY2008, and FY2009 budget submissions, the Department of Defense (DOD) proposed increases in Tricare enrollment fees, deductibles, and pharmacy co-payments for retired beneficiaries not yet eligible for Medicare. In passing the FY2009 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress included measures establishing demonstration projects intended to find ways to contain costs through increased use of preventive care services by TRICARE beneficiaries. The scope of these measures are lim… more
Date: July 25, 2008
Creator: Jansen, Don J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) Under Medicaid

Description: This report provides an overview of transitional medical assistance (TMA). While Section 1925 of the Social Security Act outlines the provisions requiring states to provide TMA for up to 12 months, states have considerable flexibility in designing and implementing their TMA programs.
Date: July 24, 2008
Creator: Grady, April
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Bisphenol A (BPA) in Plastics and Possible Human Health Effects

Description: Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to produce certain types of plastic. Containers made of these plastics may expose people to small amounts of BPA in food and water. Some animal experiments have found that fetal and infant development may be harmed by small amounts of BPA, but scientists disagree about the value of the animal studies for predicting harmful effects in people. This report discusses this issue and relevant legislation, as well as inquiries into studies currently underway to determine the … more
Date: July 23, 2008
Creator: Schierow, Linda-Jo & Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Global Health: Appropriations to USAID Programs from FY2001 through FY2008

Description: This report details the funds Congress appropriated from FY2001 through FY2008 to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for global health programs. The report includes which key programs said appropriations supported and also discusses the role of other U.S. agencies and departments in this context, including the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Date: July 8, 2008
Creator: Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Bisphenol A (BPA) in Plastics and Possible Human Health Effects

Description: Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to produce certain types of plastic. Containers made of these plastics may expose people to small amounts of BPA in food and water. Some animal experiments have found that fetal and infant development may be harmed by small amounts of BPA, but scientists disagree about the value of the animal studies for predicting harmful effects in people. This report discusses this issue and relevant legislation, as well as inquiries into studies currently underway to determine the … more
Date: June 30, 2008
Creator: Schierow, Linda-Jo & Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Government Spending on Health Care Benefits and Programs: A Data Brief

Description: In a country where health spending accounts for more than 16% of gross domestic product (GDP), health care costs and spending are often described as a problem for consumers and their families; for employers that provide (or seek to provide) health benefits; and for government, which finances a mix of health care services, health research and training, and health safety programs. To describe government spending on health care benefits and programs, this report presents data from the Office of Ma… more
Date: June 16, 2008
Creator: Jenson, Jennifer
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Public Health and Medical Preparedness and Response: Issues in the 110th Congress

Description: The 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and concerns about an influenza ("flu") pandemic have sharpened congressional interest in the nation's systems to track and respond to public health threats. The 109th Congress passed laws that reauthorized public health and medical preparedness and response programs in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and reorganized parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the establishment of an Office of Health Affairs (OH… more
Date: June 16, 2008
Creator: Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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