Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Act - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to guarantee up to 90% of the amount of a loan, up to specified loan amounts, to a small business health professional to be used for the acquisition and installation of health information technology for the professional's medical practice. Defines the term "health information technology" to mean computer hardware, software, and related technology that supports the meaningful electronic health record use requirements of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and is purchased by an eligible professional to aid in the provision of health care, including electronic medical records, but excludes information technology whose sole use is financial management, maintenance of inventory of basic supplies, or appointment scheduling. Sets loan limits at $350,000 for an individual professional and $2 million for a group of affiliated professionals. Authorizes the Administrator to impose a guarantee fee on such borrowers, but prohibits any service, processing, or other fees. Allows such loans for a period of not less than one year or more than three years.
Authorizes appropriations.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3014 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3014
To amend the Small Business Act to provide loan guarantees for the
acquisition of health information technology by eligible professionals
in solo and small group practices, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 24, 2009
Mrs. Dahlkemper (for herself, Mr. Altmire, Mr. Schrader, Ms. Velazquez,
Mr. Shuler, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Ellsworth, and Mr. Nye) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act to provide loan guarantees for the
acquisition of health information technology by eligible professionals
in solo and small group practices, and for other purposes.
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 `` Small Business Health Information
Technology Financing Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS ACT.
The Small Business Act is amended by redesignating section 44 as
section 45 and by inserting the following new section after section 43:
``SEC. 44. LOAN GUARANTEES FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
``(a) Definitions.--As used in this section:
``(1) The term `health information technology' means
computer hardware, software, and related technology that
supports the meaningful EHR use requirements set forth in
section 1848(o)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395w-4(o)(2)(A)) and is purchased by an eligible professional
to aid in the provision of health care in a health care
setting, including, but not limited to, electronic medical
records, and that provides for--
``(A) 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;
``(B) enhancement of communication between patients
and health care providers;
``(C) 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;
``(D) improvement of evidence-based decision
support; or
``(E) enhancement of consumer and patient
empowerment.
Such term shall not include information technology whose sole
use is financial management, maintenance of inventory of basic
supplies, or appointment scheduling.
``(2) The term `eligible professional' means any of the
following:
``(A) A physician (as defined in section 1861(r) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(r))
``(B) A practitioner described in section
1842(b)(18)(C) of that Act.
``(C) A physical or occupational therapist or a
qualified speech-language pathologist.
``(D) A qualified audiologist (as defined in
section 1861(ll)(3)(B)) of that Act.
``(3) The term `qualified eligible professional' means an
eligible professional whose office can be classified as a small
business concern by the Administrator Small Business
Administration for purposes of this Act under size standards
established under section 3 of this Act.
``(b) Loan Guarantees for Qualified Eligible Professionals.--
``(1) 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 the Small
Business Act shall apply to loan guarantees made under this
section.
``(2) Limitations on guarantee amounts.--The maximum amount
of loan principal guaranteed under this subsection may not
exceed--
``(A) $350,000 with respect to any single qualified
eligible professional, and
``(B) $2,000,000 with respect to a singled group of
affiliated qualified eligible professionals.
``(c) Fees.--(1) 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.
``(2) 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.
``(d) 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.
``(e) Effective Date.--No loan may be guaranteed under this section
until the meaningful EHR use requirements have been determined by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
``(f) Sunset.--No loan may be guaranteed under this section after 5
years after meaningful EHR use requirements have been determined by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated for the cost (as defined in section 502(5) of the Federal
Credit Reform Act of 1990) of guaranteeing $10,000,000,000 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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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Finance and Tax.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Provisions of Measure Incorporated into H.R. 3854.
Ms. Velazquez moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H13084-13086)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3014.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H13084-13085)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H13084-13085)
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Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.