93rd Congress > Senate > Vote 1077
Description: TO PASS S.2994, PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH PLANNING PROGRAMS AND A NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY.
Bill summary: National Health Planning and Development Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish health areas throughout the United States, to which health planning agencies shall be designated. Enumerates the requirements to be met by such health areas and defines "health planning agency" for purposes of this Act. States that a health planning agency for a health area shall be incorporated in the State in which it is allocated and shall not be a subsidiary of or otherwise
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controlled by any other private corporation or other private legal entity.
Provides that each health planning agency shall have a governing body composed of not less than ten members and of not more than thirty members. Enumerates the authorized powers and duties of such governing bodies. Specifies the requirements for membership on a governing body.
States that the purposes of health planning agencies are to: (1) improve the health of residents of a health area, (2) increase the accessibility, acceptability, continuity, and quality of the health services provided them, and (3) restrain increases in the cost of providing them health services. Outlines the functions which the agencies shall perform in: (1) providing health planning, development, and in making recommendations regarding regulation for its area; (2) implementing its long-range goal plans and short-term priorities plan; (3) coordinating its activities with the professional standards review organizations; (4) reviewing and recommending proposals and establishing priorities; and (5) assisting planning agencies.
Enumerates the procedures to be followed for reviews of proposed health system charges.
Provides for assistance to entities desiring to be designated as health planning agencies. States that for the purpose of making such assistance grants, there are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1974; $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1975; $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1976; and $30,000,000 for 1977.
Requires the Secretary to designate a health planning agency for each health area established pursuant to this Act. States that such designation shall be made under an agreement entered into between the Secretary and the entity to be designated as a health planning agency. Details the requirements to be met by such agreements.
Directs the Secretary, within one year after the date of enactment of this Act to issue guidelines concerning national health policy. States that the Secretary shall include in the guidelines: (1) requirements respecting the appropriate supply, distribution, and organization of health resources and services; and (2) a statement of national health goals developed after consideration of specified objectives set forth in this Act. Enumerates such objectives.
Requires the Secretary to provide health planning agencies and State Health Commission with: (1) model health plans and planning processess; (2) technical materials and standards for use in health planning; and (3) such other technical assistance as they may require to perform their functions. Details the information to be included by the Secretary as technical materials and standards. Provides that the Secretary shall make in each fiscal year a grant to each health planning agency with which there is in effect at the beginning of the fiscal year a designation agreement under this Act. States that the amount of a grant to a health planning agency for any fiscal year may not be less than $150,000. Authorizes to be appropriated, for the purpose of making payments pursuant to such grants, $60,000,000 for fiscal year 1975; $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1976; and $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1977.
Empowers the Secretary to make development grants for area health services development funds. Authorizes appropriations for such purposes through fiscal year 1977.
Directs the Secretary to review and approve the annual budget of each health planning agency with which there is in effect a designation agreement, and to review at least every three years the structure, operation, and activities of each health planning agency with which there is in effect a designation agreement.
Provides for the designation of State Health Commission, initially on a a conditional basis with a view to determining the capacity of such view to such agency to perform the functions prescribed for such Commissions.
Sets forth the requirements necessary prior to approval of a State administrative program for the performance within the State by its State Health Commission of the regulatory functions prescribed by this Act, including: (1) to provide for adequate consultation with the Commission's advisory council; (2) to set forth the qualifications for personnel having responsibilities in the administration of such program; and (3) to provide for such methods of administration as are necessary for the proper and efficient administration of such functions and the administrative program.
Requires that each State Health Commission for which a designation agreement is in effect with specified exceptions, perform enumerated regulatory functions, including: (1) review annually the long-range goal plan and short-term priorities plan of each health planning agency; (2) review annually the budget of each such health planning agency; (3) review applications; (4) serve as the designated planning agency of the State for the purposes of the Social Security Act; and (5) license health care facilities and health care delivery personnel in the State.
Empowers the Secretary to make grants to States to assist in meeting the costs of developing State Health Commissions. Provides that any grant shall be made for development costs incurred in the one year period beginning on the first day of the first month for which such grant is made and may be for an amount which does not exceed 90 percent of such costs. Authorizes appropriations for such grants.
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Bill titles: An Act to amend the Public Health Service Act to assure the development of a national health policy and of effective State and area health planning and resources development programs, and for other purposes.; A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to assure the development of a national health policy and of effective State health regulatory programs and area health planning programs.
Original source documents: Digest of the Congressional Record vol. 120-164, p. S20072;
Links for more info on the vote: congress.gov
