Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2022
Jan 5, 2023
Statute: 136 Stat. 6179
Became law: Jan 5, 2023
Jan 5, 2023
Statute: 136 Stat. 6179
Became law: Jan 5, 2023
Summary
Makes a public list of top rehabilitation centers so people can find high-quality care for serious injuries like brain and spinal cord injuries.
What problem does this solve?
Patients with serious injuries had trouble finding the best rehabilitation hospitals that also do important research. This law requires the government to create and share a public list of these top-tier 'rehabilitation innovation centers'.
What does this law do?
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Rehabilitation innovation centers defined
Defines 'Rehabilitation Innovation Centers'
Establishes a new term, 'rehabilitation innovation centers,' for facilities that meet specific criteria related to research, patient complexity, and teaching status.
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Public recognition of rehabilitation innovation centers
Requires a public list of centers
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create and publicly post a list of all designated rehabilitation innovation centers on a government website.
Sets criteria for qualification
Specifies that to qualify, a facility must have federal research designations for brain or spinal cord injury, a high patient complexity score, and a minimum teaching status.
Requires a report to Congress
Mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress within three years with recommendations on how to preserve access to these centers.
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Nonapplication of Paperwork Reduction Act
Exempts data collection from paperwork rules
States that the data collection required to identify and list these centers is not subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, simplifying the process.
Who does this affect?
- Patients needing specialized rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation hospitals
- Medicare administrators
What is the real world impact?
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Highlights top-tier rehabilitation hospitals
Creates an official list of 'rehabilitation innovation centers' to help patients identify facilities that provide advanced care and conduct important research for complex injuries.
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Favors large, research-focused institutions
The specific requirements for being listed as an innovation center, such as federal research designations and teaching status, favor large, established institutions, making it difficult for smaller or newer facilities to qualify.
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Could create a two-tiered system
By officially recognizing certain facilities, the law might direct more resources and patients to them, possibly disadvantaging other quality rehabilitation hospitals that don't meet the specific research-focused criteria.
When does this start?
This law sets several deadlines for the government to take action.
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Section:
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Public recognition of rehabilitation innovation centers
Public list of innovation centers
The government must publish the first list of rehabilitation innovation centers no later than 18 months after the law's enactment.
Report to Congress
The Secretary of Health and Human Services must submit a report to Congress with recommendations within three years of the law's enactment.
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Text:
Section:
Header:
Public recognition of rehabilitation innovation centers
List updates
After the initial publication, the list of centers must be updated at least every two years.