S.Amdt. 2977

SA 2977. Mr. BEGICH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 2786 proposed by Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr.
Dodd, and Mr. Harkin) to the bill H.R. 3590, to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers credit in the
case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal
employees, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle C of title IV, insert the following:

SEC. 4208. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE OF ALASKA.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
(1) Access to health care in the State of Alaska is
challenging due to geographical constraints, health care
workforce and treatment facility shortages, and lack of
certain medical specialties available in the State.
(2) Delivery of health care to beneficiaries of Federal
health care programs is especially challenging in the State
of Alaska as a result of capacity constraints at Federal
treatment facilities and insufficient civilian provider
networks to support Federal systems.
(3) The State of Alaska has the largest, per capita
population of veterans, many of whom rely on the health care
system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(4) The State of Alaska has a large population of active-
duty military personnel, military retirees, and dependents of
military personnel and retirees who rely on the military
health care system. This population will increase as a result
of Armed Forces structure initiatives during the next several
years.
(5) A significant portion of Alaska's population is
comprised of Medicare beneficiaries.
(6) Almost \1/4\ of Alaska's population is comprised of
Medicaid beneficiaries.
(7) Federal agencies have undertaken efforts to improve and
increase access to health care in the State of Alaska for
Federal health care system beneficiaries, but there are
finite medical resources in the State for which such
beneficiaries must compete.
(8) To ensure improved and increased access to health care
for beneficiaries of Federal health care systems in the State
of Alaska, comprehensive policies and interagency
collaboration are required.
(b) Interagency Access to Health Care in Alaska Task
Force.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established a task force to be
known as the ``Interagency Access to Health Care in Alaska
Task Force'' (referred to in this section as the ``Task
Force'').
(2) Activities.--The Task Force shall--
(A) assess access to health care for beneficiaries of
Federal health care systems in Alaska, which shall include
consideration of, with regard to the State of Alaska--
(i) current Federal health care delivery methods at Federal
treatment facilities and through civilian provider networks;
(ii) shortfalls in delivering health care to beneficiaries
of Federal health care systems at Federal treatment
facilities and through civilian provider networks; and
(iii) the impact of reimbursement rates and claims
processing on civilian provider participation; and
(B) develop a strategy for the Federal Government to
improve delivery of health care to Federal beneficiaries in
the State of Alaska, which shall include--
(i) interagency collaboration opportunities for addressing
shortfalls in delivering health care to beneficiaries of
Federal health care systems;
(ii) increasing Federal Government primary care and
specialty care capability practices in the State of Alaska at
Federal treatment facilities and in the civilian provider
community.
(c) Membership.--
(1) Appointment.--
(A) Federal members.--The Task Force shall be comprised of
Federal members who shall be appointed as follows:
(i) One member shall be a representative of the Department
of Health and Human Services and shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(ii) One member shall be a representative of the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services and shall be appointed by
the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(iii) One member shall be a representative of the Indian
Health Service and shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services.
(iv) One member shall be a representative of the TRICARE
Management Activity and shall be appointed by the Secretary
of Defense.
(v) One member shall be a representative of the Army
Medical Department and shall be appointed by the Secretary of
the Army.
(vi) One member shall be a representative of the Air Force
and shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Air Force from
among officers at the Air Force performing medical service
functions.
(vii) One member shall be a representative of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(viii) One member shall be a representative of the Veterans
Health Administration and shall be appointed by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs.
(ix) One member shall be a representative of the United
States Coast Guard and shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Homeland Security.
(B) Non-federal members.--Individuals appointed by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to the Task Force from
outside the agencies may include officers or employees of
other departments and agencies of the Federal Government and
individuals from the private medical community in Alaska and,
at the election of the Governor of the State of Alaska, shall
include at least one employee representative of the State of
Alaska.
(2) Timeframe for appointment.--All appointments of
individuals to the Task Force, as described in paragraph (2),
shall be made not later than 45 days after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(3) Co-chairpersons.--There shall be 2 co-chairpersons of
the Task Force, appointed at the time of appointment of
members under paragraph (1). One co-chairperson shall be
designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services from
among the representatives of the Department of Health and
Human Services who are appointed to the Task Force under
clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (2), and one co-
chairperson shall be designated by the Secretary of Health
and Human Services from among the members appointed under
clauses (iv) through (ix) of such paragraph.
(4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(5) Compensation.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B),
members of the Task Force may not receive pay, allowances, or
benefits by reason of such member's service on the Task
Force.
(B) Travel expenses.--The members of the Task Force shall
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from their homes or regular places of
business in the performance of services for the Task Force.

[[Page S12634]]

(d) Meetings.--The Task Force shall meet at the call of the
chairperson.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit to
Congress a report detailing the activities of the Task Force
and containing the findings, strategies, recommendations,
policies, and initiatives developed pursuant to the duties of
the Task Force under subsection (b)(2).
(2) Consideration of other efforts.--In preparing the
report described in paragraph (1), the Task Force shall
consider completed and ongoing efforts by Federal agencies to
improve access to health care in the State of Alaska.
(f) Termination.--The Task Force shall be terminated on the
date of submission of the report described in subsection (e).
______