Representatives Erik Paulsen from Minnesota and Jim Matheson from Utah introduced legislation on Capitol Hill titled “The Critical Care Assessment and Improvement Act of 2013” to evaluate the nation’s critical care resources and infrastructure. The legislation is designed to identify gaps in the current critical care delivery model and bolster capabilities to meet future demand.
Five million Americans are admitted into ICUs each year, and despite the significant role critical care medicine plays and its impact on healthcare costs, there is an absence of federal policy that addresses critical care issues especially in the areas of infrastructure and workforce, research, and quality of care.
The legislation would:
- Authorize an IOM study to assess the state of the critical care delivery system including current capacity, capabilities, and economic impact
- Require HRSA to update a 2006 study on the critical care workforce
- Establish a Critical Care Coordinating Council within NIH to coordinate the collection and analysis of information on critical care research, identify gaps in research, and strengthen partnerships with public and private entities to expand cross-cutting research
- Authorize a demonstration program within Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to improve the quality of care provided to critically ill patients
The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and to the Ways and Means Committee.