article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Health Services Act of 2006''. SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSORTIUM. (a) Establishment.--There is established a Consortium to be known as the ``Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Health Services'' (referred to in this Act as the ``Consortium''). (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Consortium is to evaluate the potential of new technologies to help the United States prepare for the unprecedented demographic changes that will occur during the next 10 years in the Nation's healthcare system. (c) Membership.-- (1) Composition.--The Consortium shall be composed of 17 members, of whom-- (A) 1 member shall be appointed by the President and designated by the President as Chairperson of the Consortium; (B) 4 members shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate; (C) 4 members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; (D) 4 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and (E) 4 members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. (2) Qualifications.-- (A) In general.--Appointments to the Consortium shall be made from individuals who are senior-level executives from the Federal Government or the private- sector who have demonstrated experience as-- (i) providers of senior, geriatric, and other assistive services, including housing, nursing care, home-and-community based services, and assisted living and caregiver organizations; (ii) technology developers or producers of products for aged individuals; (iii) Federal, State, or academic researchers that focus on aging issues; (iv) physicians and other health care providers; (v) insurers and other payer organizations; and (vi) representatives of the pharmaceutical industry. (B) Inclusion of seniors and individuals with disabilities.--At least 2 appointees shall be-- (i) age 65 or older; or (ii) an individual with a disability. (3) Date of appointments.--The appointment of a member of the Consortium shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Term; Vacancies.-- (1) Term.--A member shall be appointed for the life of the Consortium. (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Consortium-- (A) shall not affect the powers of the Consortium; and (B) shall be filled, not later than 30 days after the Consortium is given notice of the vacancy, in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (e) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Consortium have been appointed, the Consortium shall hold the initial meeting of the Consortium. (f) Meetings.--The Consortium shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. (g) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Consortium shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. SEC. 3. DUTIES. (a) Study.-- (1) In general.--The Consortium shall conduct a study of all matters relating to the potential use of new technology to assist older adults and their caregivers throughout the aging process. (2) Matters to be studied.--The matters to be studied by the Consortium shall include-- (A) methods for identifying technology that can be adapted to meet the needs of seniors, individuals with disabilities, and the caregivers of such seniors and individuals across all aging services settings; (B) methods for fostering scientific innovation with respect to aging services technology within the business and academic communities; (C) identifying barriers to innovation in aging services technology and devising strategies for removing such barriers; (D) developments in aging services technology in other countries that may be applied in the United States; (E) methods for ensuring that businesses in the United States have a leadership role in the rapidly expanding global market of aging services technology; and (F) identifying barriers to the adoption of aging services technology by health care providers and consumers and devising strategies to removing such barriers. (b) Recommendations.--The Consortium shall develop recommendations with respect to the following: (1) Identification of developments in current aging services technologies that may result in increased efficiency and cost savings to the healthcare system. (2) Opportunities for ongoing research and development by the public and private sectors to accelerate the development and adoption of aging services technology in order to-- (A) promote the independence of seniors and individuals with disabilities; (B) facilitate early disease detection; (C) delay the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional decline resulting from disease and the aging process; (D) support wellness activities and preventive behaviors; (E) promote greater support to community- and facility-based caregivers; (F) develop systems that improve the quality and efficiency of facility-based care, such as pharmacy distribution programs and secure electronic clinical records; (G) enhance the utilization of technology by caregivers to reduce the burden of paperwork ; (H) minimize caregiver burnout; and (I) reduce medication errors and improve overall compliance. (3) Identification of methods to ensure that necessary technology infrastructure is in place to deliver aging services to rural and urban areas. (4) Whether to establish-- (A) a permanent Federal interagency task force that will facilitate the development and distribution of aging services technology; and (B) a National Resource Center that would stimulate research, oversee demonstration projects, and provide training and technical assistance to Federal, State, and private sector organizations and entities that provide aging services. (5) Assignment of responsibilities for aging services with respect to jurisdiction, funding, and reporting relationships. (c) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Consortium shall submit to the President and the appropriate committees of Congress a report that contains the recommendations of the Consortium with respect to the following: (1) Development of national policy.--The development of a national policy to address issues with respect to technology and assistive health services for seniors, including the appropriate roles and responsibilities for the Federal Government, State and local governments, and the private sector. (2) Legislative and program changes.--The specific legislative and regulatory changes with respect to Federal laws and programs that would support and encourage the private sector to develop and make widely available consumer-empowered technology solutions. (3) Establishment of national resource center.--The establishment of a National Resource Center on Aging Services Technologies to offer training and assistance to the Federal Government, State and local governments, and the private sector in the application of technology in pilots and trials with respect to assistive health services for seniors. SEC. 4. POWERS. (a) Hearings.--The Consortium may hold such hearings, meet and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Consortium considers advisable to carry out this Act. (b) Information From Federal Agencies.-- (1) In general.--The Consortium may secure directly from a Federal agency such information as the Consortium considers necessary to carry out this Act. (2) Provision of information.--Except as otherwise provided by law, on request of the Chairperson of the Consortium, the head of the agency shall provide the information to the Consortium. (c) Postal Services.--The Consortium may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other agencies of the Federal Government. (d) Contract Authority.--The Consortium may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons for services, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5). (e) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the Consortium may, if authorized by the Consortium, take any action which the Consortium is authorized to take by this section. (f) Gifts.--The Consortium may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. (g) Printing.--For purposes of costs relating to printing and binding, including the costs of personnel detailed from the Government Printing Office, the Consortium shall be deemed to be a committee of Congress. SEC. 5. CONSORTIUM PERSONNEL MATTERS. (a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Consortium shall receive no additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Consortium. (b) Travel Expenses.--A member of the Consortium shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of the member in the performance of the duties of the Consortium. (c) Staff.-- (1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Consortium may, without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as are necessary to enable the Consortium to perform the duties of the Consortium. (2) Compensation.-- (A) Executive director.--The executive director shall be paid the rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code. (B) Other staff.--The staff shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, government appointments in the competitive service, and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates. (d) Detail of Federal Government Employees.-- (1) In general.--An employee of the Federal Government may be detailed to the Consortium without reimbursement. (2) Civil service status.--The detail of the employee shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The Chairperson of the Consortium may procure temporary and intermittent services in accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for the General Schedule. (f) Physical Facilities.--The Administrator of the General Services Administration shall locate suitable office space for the operation of the Consortium. The facilities shall serve as the headquarters of the Consortium and shall include all necessary equipment and incidentals required for the proper functioning of the Consortium. SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $1,500,000, for the period of fiscal years 2007 through 2010, to remain available until expended. SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF CONSORTIUM. The Consortium shall terminate 180 days after the date on which the Consortium submits the report required under section 3(c).
summary: Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Health Services Act of 2006 - Establishes the Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Health Services. Requires the Consortium to conduct a study of all matters relating to the potential use of new technology to assist older adults and their caregivers, including: (1) methods for identifying technology that may be adapted to meet their needs; (2) methods for fostering scientific innovation in aging services technology within the business and academic communities; (3) barriers to innovation in and the adoption of technology and strategies for removing such barriers; (4) developments in such technology in other countries; and (5) methods for ensuring that U.S. businesses have a leadership role in the global market of such technology. Requires the Consortium to develop recommendations concerning: (1) developments in current technologies that may result in increased efficiency and cost savings to the healthcare system; (2) opportunities for research and development to accelerate the development and adoption of aging services technology; (3) methods to ensure that technology infrastructure is in place to deliver services; and (4) establishment of a federal interagency task force to facilitate the development and distribution of such technology and a National Resource Center to stimulate research, oversee demonstration projects, and provide training and assistance to entities that provide such services. Requires the Consortium to report recommendations regarding development of a national policy to address issues concerning technology and assistive health services for seniors, changes to federal laws and programs that would support and encourage the private sector to develop and make widely available consumer-empowered technology solutions, and establishment of a National Resource Center on Aging Services Technologies.