108th Congress

Living Well With Fatal Chronic Illness Act of 2003

H.R. 2883

Background

On July 24, 2003, Representative James L. Oberstar (D-MN) introduced H.R. 2883, the Living Well With Fatal Chronic Illness Act of 2003, which would have provided a refundable long-term care tax credit and supported programs within the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and of Veterans Affairs (VA) for patients with chronic illnesses. As Representative Oberstar explained upon introduction of the bill, H.R. 2883 “will meet the challenges faced by a growing number of people who must live with serious chronic illness for some time before death. This comprehensive legislation addresses three key initiatives—one affects caregivers and two relate to improving end-of-life care.”

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

H.R. 2883 would have required the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of NIH with respect to research on fatal chronic illness by working with the directors of every Institute within NIH that has at least one fatal chronic illness in its purview.

Collaboration: The Director would have been required to collaborate with VA, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and any other agency the Director deemed appropriate.

Responsibility of Institutes: The measure would have required each Institute with a fatal chronic illness in its purview to establish a plan for improving understanding of the mechanisms of disability and suffering in fatal chronic illness and the relief and management of that disability and suffering through the end of life.

Centers of Excellence: The Director would have been required to grant awards for the establishment of Centers of Excellence to conduct research, demonstration, and education programs regarding fatal chronic illness, including programs regarding palliative care. The Director would also have been required to designate for involvement at least two Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (supported by the National Institute on Aging); two program projects supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and two comprehensive cancer centers supported by the National Cancer Institute.

Status and Outlook

H.R. 2883 was introduced by Representative Oberstar on July 24, 2003, and was referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means, on Energy and Commerce, and on Veterans’ Affairs. No further action occurred on this legislation during the 108th Congress.