§1397h Program for early detection of certain medical conditions related to environmental health hazards

Summary

The Secretary must set up a grant program to pay hospitals, community health centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Indian Health Service facilities, National Cancer Institute cancer centers, state or local agencies, nonprofits, or other groups the Secretary approves to do two things: screen people at risk for health problems from environmental pollution, and give out public information about the screening, how to detect, prevent, and treat those conditions, and when Medicare may help pay. An "at‑risk" person is someone who lived a total of 6 months in an area covered by a public health emergency during a time that ended at least 10 years before they apply and before cleanup actions for Operating Unit 4 and Operating Unit 7, or who meets other Secretary rules, and who applies for screening through a grant recipient. Covered health conditions include certain asbestos-related lung problems found by x-ray or CT, mesothelioma and some cancers proven by biopsy or lab tests, and any other medical condition the Secretary links to hazardous exposures at a Superfund site (a place on the federal National Priorities List). The program does not change any health plan’s coverage duties. Congress set aside $23,000,000 for fiscal years 2010–2014 and $20,000,000 for each later five‑year period; the money stays available until spent. Most other grant rules in the law do not apply, but one payment rule does apply and will not stop grantees from doing screenings.