I
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2363
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 13, 2013
Mr. Honda introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To foster further innovation and entrepreneurship in the health information technology sector.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Health Care Innovation and Marketplace
Technologies Act of 2013
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Health information technology placed in service by medical care provider
In general
Part VI of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following:
Health IT placed in service by medical care provider
In general
In the case of a medical care provider, there shall be allowed as a deduction an amount equal to the amount paid or incurred by the medical care provider for qualified health information technology placed in service by the provider during the taxable year.
Limitation
The amount allowed as a deduction to a medical care provider by subsection (a) for a taxable year shall not exceed $250,000.
Definitions
For purposes of this section—
Medical care provider
The term medical care provider means—
a provider of services (as defined in section 1861(u) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(u)),
a provider of medical or health services (as defined in section 1861(s) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(s) ), and
any other person who furnishes, bills, or is paid for health care in the normal course of business.
Qualified health information technology
The term qualified health information technology means the application of information processing involving both computer hardware and software that deals with the storage, retrieval, sharing, and use of health care information, data, and knowledge for communication and decisionmaking. Such term does not include certified EHR technology.
Special rules
Pass-thru entities
In the case of a partnership or S corporation, this section shall be applied at the entity level and at the partner or similar level.
Coordination with other deductions
Any amount taken into account under subsection (a) shall not be allowed as a deduction under any other section of this chapter.
Termination
This section shall not apply to amounts paid or incurred after December 31, 2018.
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Clerical amendment
The table of sections for part VI of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
Sec. 200. Health IT placed in service by medical care provider.
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Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013.
Small business health information technology financing program
The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by redesignating sections 45, 46, and 47 as sections 46, 47, and 48, respectively, and by inserting the following new section after section 44:
Loan guarantees for health information technology
Definitions
As used in this section:
The term health information technology means computer hardware, software, services, and related technology that is purchased by an eligible professional to aid in the provision of health care in a health care setting and that provides for—
enhancement of continuity of care for patients through electronic storage, transmission, and exchange of relevant personal health data and information, such that this information is accessible at the times and places where clinical decisions will be or are likely to be made;
enhancement of communication between patients and health care providers;
improvement of quality measurement by eligible professionals enabling them to collect, store, measure, and report on the processes and outcomes of individual and population performance and quality of care;
improvement of evidence-based decision support;
enhancement of consumer and patient empowerment; or
services that assist with workflow redesign, training, system configuration, human change management and other similar services focused on getting the best value from existing technology that has already been purchased.
The term eligible professional means any of the following:
A physician (as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(r))).
A practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) of that Act.
A physical or occupational therapist or a qualified speech-language pathologist.
A qualified audiologist (as defined in section 1861(ll)(3)(B)) of that Act.
A State-licensed pharmacist.
A State-licensed, a State-certified, or a nationally accredited home health care provider.
The term qualified eligible professional means an eligible professional whose office can be classified as a small business concern by the Administrator for purposes of this Act under size standards established under section 3 of this Act.
Loan guarantees for qualified eligible professionals
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Administrator may guarantee up to 90 percent of the amount of a loan made to a qualified eligible professional to be used for the acquisition of health information technology for use in such eligible professional’s medical practice and for the costs associated with the installation of such technology. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the terms and conditions that apply to loans made under section 7(a) of this Act shall apply to loan guarantees made under this section.
Limitations on guarantee amounts
The maximum amount of loan principal guaranteed under this subsection may not exceed—
$250,000 with respect to any single qualified eligible professional; and
$500,000 with respect to a single group of affiliated qualified eligible professionals.
Fees
The Administrator may impose a guarantee fee on the borrower for the purpose of reducing the cost (as defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990) of the guarantee to zero in an amount not to exceed 2 percent of the total guaranteed portion of any loan guaranteed under this section. The Administrator may also impose annual servicing fees on lenders not to exceed 0.5 percent of the outstanding balance of the guarantees on lenders’ books.
No service fees, processing fees, origination fees, application fees, points, brokerage fees, bonus points, or other fees may be charged to a loan applicant or recipient by a lender in the case of a loan guaranteed under this section.
Deferral period
Loans guaranteed under this section shall carry a deferral period of not less than 1 year and not more than 3 years. The Administrator shall have the authority to subsidize interest during the deferral period.
Effective date
No loan may be guaranteed under this section after the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this section.
Sunset
No loan may be guaranteed under this section after the date that is 10 years after the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this section.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for the cost (as defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990) of guaranteeing $25,000,000 in loans under this section. The Administrator shall determine such program cost separately and distinctly from other programs operated by the Administrator.
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Challenge grant program; Disruptive technologies prize program
In general
Subtitle B of title XXX of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300jj–31 et. seq.) is amended—
by redesignating sections 3017 and 3018 as sections 3019 and 3020, respectively; and
by inserting after section 3016 the following new sections:
Challenge grant program
In general
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary, acting through the National Coordinator, shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to carry out the activities described in subsection (d).
Eligible entity defined
In this section, the term eligible entity means any individual or entity, except for an entity that—
has 500 or more employees; and
has an annual revenue of $7,000,000 or more.
Application
An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the National Coordinator at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the National Coordinator may require, including a description of the product, process, or structure described in subsection (d) for which the entity intends to use the grant.
Uses of funds
An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use such funds to develop an effective product, process, or structure that enhances the use, particularly by patients, of health information technology, by—
integrating more than one aspect of health information;
performing a medical consultation using technology;
providing health information to physicians or patients;
allowing better coordination during the delivery and follow-up after the delivery of health care; or
addressing any of the three areas that the Commission established under section 3018(e)(1) has identified pursuant to its duties under section 3018(e)(2)(A).
Prohibited use of funds
An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may not use such grant to develop a product, process, or structure that meets only the requirements that are necessary to be a certified EHR technology.
Grant amount
A grant awarded under this section may not be greater than $75,000.
Report
Not later than one year after the date of receipt of a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the National Coordinator and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services a report that describes—
the progress that the entity has made on the product, process, or structure funded by the grant; and
how patients, health care providers, and other individuals and entities involved in the delivery of healthcare, including the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services, could use the product, process, or structure funded by the grant to enhance the delivery of and reduce the cost of health care.
Authorization of Appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017.
Disruptive technologies prize program
Prize program authorized
For purposes of rewarding innovation in health information technology, the Secretary, acting through the National Coordinator, shall carry out a program to award one prize competitively in each of the three areas identified by the Commission under subsection (e)(2)(A) using the benchmarks developed under subsection (e)(2)(B) to select the prize recipient in each category.
Administration of Program
In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the following shall apply:
Advertising
The National Coordinator shall widely advertise the prize competition to encourage broad participation.
Requirements and Registration
The National Coordinator shall publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing—
the rules for being eligible to participate in the competition;
the process for participants to register for the competition;
the areas of health information technology that the Commission develops under subsection (e)(2)(A) for each prize; and
the benchmarks that the Commission develops under subsection (e)(2)(B) based on which a winner will be selected in each such area.
Eligibility
To be eligible to win a prize under this section, an individual or entity—
shall register to participate in the competition in accordance with any rules promulgated by the National Coordinator under subsection (b)(2);
in the case of an entity, shall be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States, and in the case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and
may not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment; and
shall submit an application that includes an explanation of the anticipated market viability of the technology that such individual or entity would develop with funds received under the prize program.
Prize amount
In general
Subject to paragraph (2), a prize awarded under this section shall be in the amount of $10,000,000.
Alternative rule
In the case that the amount made available for prize awards under this section is less than $33,000,000, the National Coordinator may reserve not more than 10 percent for the administrative costs of carrying out this section, and shall divide the remaining amount equally for the three prizes awarded under this section.
Commission
In general
There is established a commission to carry out the activities described in paragraph (2) (referred to in this section as the Commission).
Duties
Areas of health information technology
For the purposes of the prize program under subsection (a), the Commission shall identify three areas within the field of health information technology that are not adequately addressed by certified EHR technologies and the use of such technologies. Each area identified shall be an area that will promote the development of technologies that would be widely useful, would help decrease the cost of health care, and would improve the quality of health care, particularly for patients.
Benchmarks
The Commission shall develop the benchmarks that the National Coordinator shall use to determine the prize recipient in each area identified under subparagraph (A). The Commission shall identify such benchmarks with the goals of—
attracting participants from outside the health information technology field that will take new approaches to addressing the areas identified by the Commission under subparagraph (A);
solving such challenges; and
promoting the development of technologies that will be widely adopted, particularly by patients.
Restriction of prize award
The Commission shall determine how to restrict the prize recipients’ use of the funds awarded as a prize under this section, with respect to the development of health information technology, in order to ensure that the prize recipients use such funds to further develop the technologies for which such prize was awarded.
Members
Number and appointment
The Commission shall be composed of 10 members appointed by the National Coordinator not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Composition
Each member of the Commission shall be appointed to represent one of the following four categories:
The varied disciplines within the health information technology field.
The varied disciplines within the medical field that are not described in clause (i).
Individuals who—
represent a patient-led, patient-centered organization with a patient constituency;
have experience with health information technology and privacy; and
are trained, knowledgeable, and prepared to participate in the decisionmaking process regarding health information technology.
Officers or employees of the Federal Government.
Representation of membership categories
At least two members of the Commission shall represent each of the categories described in subparagraph (B).
Travel expenses
Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
First meeting
The Commission shall hold its first meeting not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Report to the National Coordinator
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the National Coordinator a report containing the areas, benchmarks, and restrictions on the uses of prize awards that the Commission identifies for the prize program under paragraph (2).
Termination
The Commission shall terminate upon submitting its report to the National Coordinator under paragraph (4).
Authorization of Appropriations
In addition to sums authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle under section 3020, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $33,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.
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Conforming Amendments
Section 3011 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300jj–31 ) is amended—
in subsection (a),
by striking section 3018
and inserting
section
3020
; and
in subsection (c),
by striking section 3018
and inserting
section
3020
.
Section 3020 of such Act (as so
redesignated) is amended by inserting except for section 3018,
after For purposes of carrying out this subtitle,
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Establishment of the Office of Wireless Health Technology
Chapter X of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 391 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
Office of Wireless Health Technology
Establishment
There is established within the Office of the Commissioner an office to be known as the Office of Wireless Health Technology (referred to in this section as the Office), which shall be headed by a director.
Appointment of first Director
The first Director of the Office shall be appointed by the Commissioner not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section.
Duties
The Director of the Office shall—
through public meetings and other forms of communication with individuals and entities that design, produce, disseminate, or have a prevailing interest in wireless health technology, receive and analyze recommendations with respect to ways that existing regulations regarding wireless health technology might be made more reasonable and predictable, including ways that such regulations could be clarified and simplified;
coordinate with Federal agencies, offices, institutes, and centers involved in the regulation of wireless health technology, including the Federal Communications Commission, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the National Institutes of Health, regarding activities of such agencies, offices, institutes, and centers that can be improved so as to make such regulation more robust, predictable, and easily understood and navigated by individuals and entities that design, produce, disseminate, or have a prevailing interest in wireless health technology;
provide information to individuals and entities that design, produce, disseminate, or have a prevailing interest in wireless health technology on how to design, produce, or disseminate wireless health technology in accordance with existing law; and
publish and make available on the public Internet Web site of the Food and Drug Administration in a searchable format an annual report that—
explains how the Food and Drug Administration implemented regulations regarding wireless health technology during the prior year;
analyzes the effectiveness of—
such regulations; and
other wireless health-related efforts by the Food and Drug Administration; and
provides specific recommendations on how the Food and Drug Administration should improve its practices with regard to wireless health technology (in a manner that ensures consistency within the Food and Drug Administration regarding the application of its regulatory approach without compromising patient safety or privacy) in order to—
remove barriers to innovations in such technology; and
align such practices with the practices of other Federal agencies.
Consultation with working groups and commissions
In carrying out the duties specified in subsection (c), the Director of the Office may consult with any working groups or commissions, including any working group or commission convened for a purpose related to the regulation of wireless health technology.
Definition of wireless health technology
For purposes of this section, the term wireless health technology has such meaning as specified by the Commissioner pursuant to regulation, but in no case shall include technology this is not regulated under the provisions of this Act (other than this section).
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
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Mobile health software application technology responsibilities of the Health Information Technology Research Center
Section 3012 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300jj–32 ) is amended—
in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
Encouragement of design, production, and dissemination of mobile health software application technology
In general
In addition to the purposes under paragraph (3), the Center shall—
establish an educational Web site repository and a response mechanism (such as a national telephone number) to provide timely responses to questions in order to make information available and provide direct support to individuals and entities that design, produce, disseminate, or have a prevailing interest in mobile health software application technology regarding the actions such individuals and entities must take in order to ensure that such technology is designed, produced, and disseminated in accordance with Federal law; and
publish and make available on the public Internet Web site of the Department in a searchable format an annual report that—
highlights and explains the laws and regulations that commonly impede efforts by individuals and entities to design, produce, or disseminate mobile health software application technology; and
discusses the work the Center has completed in the past year with regard to mobile health software application technology, including accomplishments by the Center and challenges that may require more work or outside support in order for the Center to accomplish the objectives outlined in this subparagraph.
Definition of mobile health software application technology
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term mobile health software application technology means a software program that—
offers health-related services and runs on a mobile device; or
enables health-related services through other portals associated with the use of a mobile device.
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
; and
in subsection
(c)(8), by deleting paragraph (3)
and inserting
paragraphs (3) and (4)
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Workforce Retraining Grants
In General
The National Coordinator for Health Information Technology may award to eligible entities grants to be used for training health care workers in health information technology (in this section referred to as HIT).
Period of Grant
The period of a grant under this section shall be 24 months.
Eligible Entities
In this section, eligible entities means entities that provide clinical health care services to individuals within the United States.
Job Transition
As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section, a grantee shall ensure that each employee whose HIT training is funded by that grant assumes expanded duties with the grantee, either in the form of a new employment position or revised duties within such employee’s existing employment position, that requires the use of HIT, not more than 1 year after the employee completes the training.
Reporting
Each grantee shall submit a report not later than 24 months after receipt of a grant to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology including the following:
The number of employees who received training pursuant to the grant.
The HIT skills covered during such training or trainings.
Documentation that each trained employee commenced or will commence work in a new position that satisfies the condition set forth in subsection (d).
Authorization of Appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
