Blood Assurance Act of 1979
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Blood Assurance Act of 1979 - Prohibits any person from: (1) charging or collecting a fee; or (2) requiring the donation or transfer of blood, as a condition to the provision of blood to any individual. Stipulates that a blood supplier may recruit blood donors by offering donors incentives to provide blood, such as a discount on the charge to an individual for the provision of blood as a result of a blood donation or blood drive, but limits such discount to the greater of: (1) the average cost of recruiting a donor in the area; or (2) 20 percent of the cost of processing a unit of blood. Amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare) to repeal the provision which requires a reduction of the amount payable to a provider of services by a deduction equal to the cost of the first three pints of whole blood. Requires the regulations which determine the cost of services under such program to take into account the processing fees incurred by a provider of services in the replacement of blood furnished to an individual, but only to the extent the provider demonstrates that it has been able to secure such replacement only through the payment of such fees. Prohibits any person from denying to any health care facility or blood supplier the reciprocal exchange of available blood required as a result of patient needs, unless such exchange would deplete the available blood needed by such establishment. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, acting through a recognized private entity composed in part of national blood suppliers, to: (1) foster the exchange and availability of blood; and (2) determine the fair and reasonable exchange rates to be charged among blood suppliers for blood. Directs the Secretary to suspend or revoke the license of a person who is licensed under the Public Health Service Act to prepare blood and who violates provisions of this Act. Makes a provider of services who violates this Act ineligible to receive payments under Medicare. Directs the Secretary to carry out health education programs with respect to the nature of, and need for, blood and blood donors and to submit to Congress within two years of enactment a report on such activities.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on July 31, 1979. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on July 31, 1979: Referred to Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
RICHARD SCHWEIKER (R-PA) introduced it on July 31, 1979, and 2 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They are 2 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on July 31, 1979, 17208 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17208 days ago, on July 31, 1979.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers