Glaucoma Screening Act of 2011 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand coverage of screening for glaucoma to include individuals who are both older than 49 years of age and Hispanic.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a program to award a grant to an eligible entity to provide glaucoma screenings to individuals determined to be at high risk. Requires such an entity to: (1) utilize mobile screening units to test for glaucoma and other eye diseases; (2) target screening activities to populations primarily consisting of high-risk individuals; (3) form partnerships with federally-qualified health centers to increase awareness of the need for glaucoma screenings and to provide screenings for high-risk individuals; and (4) provide grants to approved medical residency training programs to permit participating students to conduct such screenings.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 353 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 353
To establish a grant program to provide screenings for glaucoma to
individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 19, 2011
Mr. Serrano introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on
Ways and Means, 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 establish a grant program to provide screenings for glaucoma to
individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma, 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 ``Glaucoma Screening Act of 2011''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) It is estimated that only half of the more than
3,000,000 individuals in the United States that have glaucoma
are aware that they have glaucoma.
(2) Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among
African-Americans and Hispanics.
(3) Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African-
Americans than in Caucasians.
(4) Glaucoma accounts for over 7,000,000 visits to
physicians each year.
(5) In terms of Social Security benefits paid, lost income
tax revenues, and health care expenditures, the cost of
glaucoma to the United States government is estimated to be
over $1.5 billion annually.
(6) Poor vision costs Medicare more than $2 billion per
year in non-eye-related illnesses and health care needs.
(7) Medicare currently provides coverage for glaucoma
screenings for beneficiaries in the following high risk groups:
(A) Individuals with diabetes.
(B) Individuals with a family history of glaucoma.
(C) African-Americans 50 years of age and older.
(D) Hispanics 65 years of age and older.
(8) Although Medicare has covered glaucoma screenings since
1998 for beneficiaries with diabetes, less than 45 percent of
those beneficiaries have had an eye exam.
SEC. 3. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF GLAUCOMA SCREENINGS FOR CERTAIN HISPANICS.
(a) Expanding Medicare Coverage of Glaucoma Screenings to Hispanics
50 Years of Age and Older.--Section 1861(s)(2)(U) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(U)) is amended by striking
``determined to be'' and all that follows through ``diabetes'' and
inserting the following: ``with a family history of glaucoma,
individuals with diabetes, and individuals determined to be at high
risk for glaucoma including, among other individuals determined to be
at high risk for glaucoma, individuals who are both older than 49 years
of age and Hispanic''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies
with respect to services furnished on or after January 1, 2012.
SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SCREENINGS FOR GLAUCOMA TO HIGH RISK
INDIVIDUALS.
(a) Grant Program.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
award a grant to an eligible entity (as described in subsection (b)) to
provide screenings for glaucoma for individuals determined to be at
high risk for glaucoma.
(b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an entity shall--
(1) submit an application at such time, in such form, and
with such information and assurances as the Secretary may
require;
(2) be located within the United States, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, or a territory or possession of the United
States; and
(3) be dedicated solely to screening individuals for
glaucoma and other eye diseases.
(c) Use of Funds.--An entity receiving a grant under this section
shall use the grant in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) The entity shall utilize mobile screening units to test
for glaucoma and other eye diseases.
(2) The entity shall target screening activities to
populations primarily consisting of individuals determined to
be at high risk for glaucoma.
(3) The entity shall form partnerships with Federally-
qualified health centers to increase awareness of the need for
screenings for glaucoma and to provide screenings for glaucoma
for individuals determined to be at high risk for glaucoma,
individuals with a family history of glaucoma, and individuals
with diabetes.
(4) The entity shall provide grants to approved medical
residency training programs to permit students participating in
the programs to conduct screenings for glaucoma for individuals
determined to be at high risk for glaucoma.
(5) The entity shall conduct all grant-funded activities
within the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a
territory or possession of the United States.
(d) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the following
definitions apply:
(1) Approved medical residency training program.--The term
``approved medical residency training program'' has the meaning
given that term in section 1886(h)(5)(A) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(5)(A)).
(2) Federally-qualified health center.--The term
``Federally-qualified health center'' has the meaning given
that term in section 1861(aa)(4) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C.1395x(aa)(4)).
(3) Individuals determined to be at high risk for
glaucoma.--The term ``individuals determined to be at high risk
for glaucoma'' means those individuals determined by the
Secretary to be at high risk for glaucoma pursuant to the
Secretary's administration of section 1861(s)(2)(U) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(U)), as amended by
section 3(a), but without regard to the age of the individual.
(4) Screening for glaucoma.--The term ``screening for
glaucoma'' has the meaning given that term in section 1861(uu)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(uu)).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $10,000,000 for grants under this section for each of the
first 5 fiscal years beginning after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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