HR 353
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.
END
