Public Law 105–12 105th Congress An Act

111 STAT. 23PUBLIC LAW 105–12—APR. 30, 1997

Public Law 105–12

105th Congress

An Act

To clarify Federal law with respect to restricting the use of Federal funds in

support of assisted suicide.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) S

HORT

ITLE

.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Assisted

Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997’’.

(b) T

ABLE OF

ONTENTS

.—The table of contents of this Act

is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Findings and purpose.

Sec. 3. Restriction on use of Federal funds under health care programs.

Sec. 4. Restriction on use of Federal funds under certain grant programs under the

Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.

Sec. 5. Restriction on use of Federal funds by advocacy programs.

Sec. 6. Restriction on use of other Federal funds.

Sec. 7. Clarification with respect to advance directives.

Sec. 8. Application to District of Columbia.

Sec. 9. Conforming amendments.

Sec. 10. Relation to other laws.

Sec. 11. Effective date.

Sec. 12. Suicide prevention (including assisted suicide).

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) F

INDINGS

.—Congress finds the following:

(1) The Federal Government provides financial support for

the provision of and payment for health care services, as well

as for advocacy activities to protect the rights of individuals.

(2) Assisted suicide, euthanasia, and mercy killing have

been criminal offenses throughout the United States and, under

current law, it would be unlawful to provide services in support

of such illegal activities.

(3) Because of recent legal developments, it may become

lawful in areas of the United States to furnish services in

support of such activities.

(4) Congress is not providing Federal financial assistance

in support of assisted suicide, euthanasia, and mercy killing

and intends that Federal funds not be used to promote such

activities.

(b) P

URPOSE

.—It is the principal purpose of this Act to continue

current Federal policy by providing explicitly that Federal funds

may not be used to pay for items and services (including assistance)

the purpose of which is to cause (or assist in causing) the suicide,

euthanasia, or mercy killing of any individual.

SEC. 3. RESTRICTION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER HEALTH

CARE PROGRAMS.

(a) R

ESTRICTION ON

EDERAL

UNDING OF

EALTH

ARE

ERVICES

.—Subject to subsection (b), no funds appropriated by

Congress for the purpose of paying (directly or indirectly) for the

provision of health care services may be used—

(1) to provide any health care item or service furnished

for the purpose of causing, or for the purpose of assisting

in causing, the death of any individual, such as by assisted

suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing;

42 USC 14402.

42 USC 14401.

Assisted Suicide

Funding

Restriction Act of

1997.

42 USC 14401

note.

Apr. 30, 1997

[H.R. 1003]

111 STAT. 24 PUBLIC LAW 105–12—APR. 30, 1997

(2) to pay (directly, through payment of Federal financial

participation or other matching payment, or otherwise) for such

an item or service, including payment of expenses relating

to such an item or service; or

(3) to pay (in whole or in part) for health benefit coverage

that includes any coverage of such an item or service or of

any expenses relating to such an item or service.

(b) C

ONSTRUCTION AND

REATMENT OF

ERTAIN

ERVICES

.—

Nothing in subsection (a), or in any other provision of this Act

(or in any amendment made by this Act), shall be construed to

apply to or to affect any limitation relating to—

(1) the withholding or withdrawing of medical treatment

or medical care;

(2) the withholding or withdrawing of nutrition or

hydration;

(3) abortion; or

(4) the use of an item, good, benefit, or service furnished

for the purpose of alleviating pain or discomfort, even if such

use may increase the risk of death, so long as such item,

good, benefit, or service is not also furnished for the purpose

of causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing, death, for

any reason.

IMITATION ON

EDERAL

ACILITIES AND

MPLOYEES

.—

Subject to subsection (b), with respect to health care items and

services furnished—

(1) by or in a health care facility owned or operated by

the Federal government, or

(2) by any physician or other individual employed by the

Federal government to provide health care services within the

scope of the physician’s or individual’s employment,

no such item or service may be furnished for the purpose of causing,

or for the purpose of assisting in causing, the death of any individ-

ual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.

(d) L

IST OF

ROGRAMS TO

HICH

ESTRICTIONS

PPLY

.—

(1) F

EDERAL HEALTH CARE FUNDING PROGRAMS

.—Subsection

(a) applies to funds appropriated under or to carry out the

following:

(A) M

EDICARE PROGRAM

.—Title XVIII of the Social

Security Act.

(B) M

EDICAID PROGRAM

.—Title XIX of the Social

Security Act.

ITLE XX SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

.—Title

XX of the Social Security Act.

(D) M

ATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BLOCK GRANT

PROGRAM

.—Title V of the Social Security Act.

(E) P

UBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT

.—The Public Health

Service Act.

(F) I

NDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT

.—The

Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

(G) F

EDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM

.—

Chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code.

(H) M

ILITARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM (INCLUDING

TRICARE AND CHAMPUS PROGRAMS)

.—Chapter 55 of title 10,

United States Code.

(I) V

ETERANS MEDICAL CARE

.—Chapter 17 of title 38,

United States Code.

(J) H

EALTH SERVICES FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

.—

Section 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(e)).

(K) M

EDICAL SERVICES FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS

.—

Section 4005(a) of title 18, United States Code.

(2) F

EDERAL FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL

.—The provisions

of subsection (c) apply to facilities and personnel of the

following:

(A) M

ILITARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

.—The Department

of Defense operating under chapter 55 of title 10, United

States Code.

111 STAT. 25PUBLIC LAW 105–12—APR. 30, 1997

(B) V

ETERANS MEDICAL CARE

.—The Veterans Health

Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

UBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

.—The Public Health

Service.

(3) N

ONEXCLUSIVE LIST

.—Nothing in this subsection shall

be construed as limiting the application of subsection (a) to

the programs specified in paragraph (1) or the application of

subsection (c) to the facilities and personnel specified in para-

graph (2).

SEC. 4. RESTRICTION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER CERTAIN

GRANT PROGRAMS UNDER THE DEVELOPMENTAL

DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE AND BILL OF RIGHTS ACT.

Subject to section 3(b) (relating to construction and treatment

of certain services), no funds appropriated by Congress to carry

out part B, D, or E of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance

and Bill of Rights Act may be used to support or fund any program

or service which has a purpose of assisting in procuring any item,

benefit, or service furnished for the purpose of causing, or the

purpose of assisting in causing, the death of any individual, such

as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.

SEC. 5. RESTRICTION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS BY ADVOCACY

PROGRAMS.

(a) I

ENERAL

.—Subject to section 3(b) (relating to construc-

tion and treatment of certain services), no funds appropriated by

Congress may be used to assist in, to support, or to fund any

activity or service which has a purpose of assisting in, or to bring

suit or provide any other form of legal assistance for the purpose

of—

(1) securing or funding any item, benefit, program, or

service furnished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose

of assisting in causing, the suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing

of any individual;

(2) compelling any person, institution, governmental entity

to provide or fund any item, benefit, program, or service for

such purpose; or

(3) asserting or advocating a legal right to cause, or to

assist in causing, the suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing

of any individual.

(b) L

IST OF

ROGRAMS TO

HICH

ESTRICTIONS

PPLY

.—

(1) I

N GENERAL

.—Subsection (a) applies to funds appro-

priated under or to carry out the following:

(A) P

ROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEMS UNDER THE

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ASSISTANCE AND BILL OF

RIGHTS ACT

.—Part C of the Developmental Disabilities

Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.

(B) P

ROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEMS UNDER THE

PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY FOR MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUALS

ACT

.—The Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individ-

uals Act of 1986.

ROTECTION AND ADVOCACY SYSTEMS UNDER THE

REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973

.—Section 509 of the Rehabilita-

tion Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794e).

(D) O

MBUDSMAN PROGRAMS UNDER THE OLDER

AMERICANS ACT OF 1965

.—Ombudsman programs under the

Older Americans Act of 1965.

(E) L

EGAL ASSISTANCE

.—Legal assistance programs

under the Legal Services Corporation Act.

(2) N

ONEXCLUSIVE LIST

.—Nothing in this subsection shall

be construed as limiting the application of subsection (a) to

the programs specified in paragraph (1).

SEC. 6. RESTRICTION ON USE OF OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS.

(a) I

ENERAL

.—Subject to section 3(b) (relating to construc-

tion and treatment of certain services) and subsection (b) of this

section, no funds appropriated by the Congress shall be used to

provide, procure, furnish, or fund any item, good, benefit, activity,

42 USC 14405.

42 USC 14404.

42 USC 14403.

111 STAT. 26 PUBLIC LAW 105–12—APR. 30, 1997

or service, furnished or performed for the purpose of causing, or

assisting in causing, the suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing of

any individual.

(b) N

ONDUPLICATION

.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to funds

to which section 3, 4, or 5 applies, except that subsection (a),

rather than section 3, shall apply to funds appropriated to carry

out title 10, United States Code (other than chapter 55), title

18, United States Code (other than section 4005(a)), and chapter

37 of title 28, United States Code.

SEC. 7. CLARIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO ADVANCE DIRECTIVES.

Subject to section 3(b) (relating to construction and treatment

of certain services), sections 1866(f) and 1902(w) of the Social

Security Act shall not be construed—

(1) to require any provider or organization, or any employee

of such a provider or organization, to inform or counsel any

individual regarding any right to obtain an item or service

furnished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose of assisting

in causing, the death of the individual, such as by assisted

suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing; or

(2) to apply to or to affect any requirement with respect

to a portion of an advance directive that directs the purposeful

causing of, or the purposeful assisting in causing, the death

of any individual, such as by assisted suicide, euthanasia, or

mercy killing.

SEC. 8. APPLICATION TO DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘funds appropriated by

Congress’’ includes funds appropriated to the District of Columbia

pursuant to an authorization of appropriations under title V of

the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental

Reorganization Act and the term ‘‘Federal government’’ includes

the government of the District of Columbia.

SEC. 9. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

(a) M

EDICARE

ROGRAM

.—

(1) F

UNDING

.—Section 1862(a) of the Social Security Act

(42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)) is amended—

(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph (14);

(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph

(15) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

new paragraph:

‘‘(16) in the case in which funds may not be used for

such items and services under the Assisted Suicide Funding

Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(2) A

DVANCE DIRECTIVES

.—Section 1866(f) of such Act (42

U.S.C. 1395cc(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following

new paragraph:

‘‘(4) For construction relating to this subsection, see section

7 of the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 (relating

to clarification respecting assisted suicide, euthanasia, and mercy

killing).’’.

(b) M

EDICAID

ROGRAM

.—

(1) F

UNDING

.—Section 1903(i) of the Social Security Act

(42 U.S.C. 1396b(i)) is amended—

(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph (14);

(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph

(15) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

new paragraph:

‘‘(16) with respect to any amount expended for which funds

may not be used under the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction

Act of 1997.’’.

(2) A

DVANCE DIRECTIVES

.—Section 1902(w) of such Act (42

U.S.C. 1396a(w)) is amended by adding at the end the following

new paragraph:

42 USC 14407.

42 USC 14406.

111 STAT. 27PUBLIC LAW 105–12—APR. 30, 1997

‘‘(5) For construction relating to this subsection, see section

7 of the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 (relating

to clarification respecting assisted suicide, euthanasia, and mercy

killing).’’.

ITLE

XX B

LOCK

RANT

ROGRAM

.—Section 2005(a) of the

Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397d(a)) is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph (8);

(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (9)

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(10) in a manner inconsistent with the Assisted Suicide

Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(d) M

ATERNAL AND

HILD

EALTH

LOCK

RANT

ROGRAM

.—

Section 501(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701(a)) is

amended by adding at the end the following:

‘‘Funds appropriated under this section may only be used in a

manner consistent with the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction

Act of 1997.’’.

(e) P

UBLIC

EALTH

ERVICE

.—Title II of the Public Health

Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the

end thereof the following new section:

‘‘SEC. 246. RESTRICTION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE,

EUTHANASIA, AND MERCY KILLING.

‘‘Appropriations for carrying out the purposes of this Act shall

not be used in a manner inconsistent with the Assisted Suicide

Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(f) I

NDIAN

EALTH

ARE

MPROVEMENT

.—Title II of the

Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.)

is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

‘‘

LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS

‘‘S

. 225. Amounts appropriated to carry out this title may

not be used in a manner inconsistent with the Assisted Suicide

Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(g) F

EDERAL

MPLOYEES

EALTH

ENEFIT

ROGRAM

.—Section

8902 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at

the end the following:

‘‘(o) A contract may not be made or a plan approved which

includes coverage for any benefit, item, or service for which funds

may not be used under the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction

Act of 1997.’’.

(h) M

ILITARY

EALTH

ARE

ROGRAM

.—Section 1073 of title

10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

following: ‘‘This chapter shall be administered consistent with

the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(i) V

ETERANS

’ M

EDICAL

ARE

ROGRAM

.—

(1) I

N GENERAL

.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38,

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

following new section:

‘‘§ 1707. Restriction on use of funds for assisted suicide,

euthanasia, or mercy killing

‘‘Funds appropriated to carry out this chapter may not be

used for purposes that are inconsistent with the Assisted Suicide

Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(2) C

LERICAL AMENDMENT

.—The table of sections at the

beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the

item relating to section 1706 the following new item:

‘‘1707. Restriction on use of funds for assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.’’.

(j) H

EALTH

ARE

ROVIDED FOR

EACE

ORPS

OLUNTEERS

.—

Section 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2504(e)) is amended

by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Health care may not be provided

under this subsection in a manner inconsistent with the Assisted

Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

25 USC 1621x.

42 USC 238o.

111 STAT. 28 PUBLIC LAW 105–12—APR. 30, 1997

(k) M

EDICAL

ERVICES FOR

EDERAL

RISONERS

.—Section

4005(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting

‘‘and to the extent consistent with the Assisted Suicide Funding

Restriction Act of 1997’’ after ‘‘Upon request of the Attorney

General’’.

(l) D

EVELOPMENTAL

ISABILITIES AND

ILL OF

IGHTS

.—

(1) S

TATE PLANS REGARDING DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

COUNCILS

.—Section 122(c)(5)(A) of the Developmental Disabil-

ities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 6022(c)(5)(A))

is amended—

(A) in clause (vi), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon

at the end;

(B) in clause (vii), by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

‘‘(viii) such funds will be used consistent with

section 4 of the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction

Act of 1997.’’.

(2) L

EGAL ACTIONS BY PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY

SYSTEMS

.—Section 142(h) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 6042(h)) is

amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

‘‘(3) L

IMITATION

.—The systems may only use assistance

provided under this chapter consistent with section 5 of the

Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(3) U

NIVERSITY AFFILIATED PROGRAMS

.—Section 152(b)(5)

of such Act (42 U.S.C. 6062(b)(5)) is amended by adding at

the end the following: ‘‘Such grants shall not be used in a

manner inconsistent with section 4 of the Assisted Suicide

Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(4) G

RANTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

.—Section 162(c) of

such Act (42 U.S.C. 6082(c)) is amended—

(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (4);

(B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph

(5) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

‘‘(6) the applicant provides assurances that the grant will

not be used in a manner inconsistent with section 4 of the

Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(m) P

ROTECTION AND

DVOCACY FOR

ENTALLY

NDIVIDUALS

CT OF

1986.—Section 105(a) of the Protection and Advocacy for

Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986 (42 U.S.C. 10805(a)) is

amended—

(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;

(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting

‘‘; and’’; and

(3) by adding at the end thereof the following new para-

graph:

‘‘(10) not use allotments provided to a system in a manner

inconsistent with section 5 of the Assisted Suicide Funding

Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(n) P

ROTECTION AND

DVOCACY

YSTEMS

NDER THE

EHABILITATION

CT OF

1973.—Section 509(f) of the Rehabilitation

Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794e(f)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon

at the end;

(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following paragraph:

‘‘(8) not use allotments provided under this section in a

manner inconsistent with section 5 of the Assisted Suicide

Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(o) L

EGAL

ERVICES

ROGRAM

.—Section 1007(b) of the Legal

Services Corporation Act (42 U.S.C. 2996f(b)) is amended—

(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph (9);

(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (10)

and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and

(3) by adding after paragraph (10) the following:

111 STAT. 29PUBLIC LAW 105–12—APR. 30, 1997

‘‘(11) to provide legal assistance in a manner inconsistent

with the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997.’’.

(p) C

ONSTRUCTION ON

ONFORMING

MENDMENTS

.—The fact

that a law is not amended under this section shall not be construed

as indicating that the provisions of this Act do not apply to such

a law.

SEC. 10. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.

The provisions of this Act supersede other Federal laws (includ-

ing laws enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act)

except to the extent such laws specifically supersede the provisions

of this Act.

SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.

(a) I

ENERAL

.— The provisions of this Act (and the amend-

ments made by this Act) take effect upon its enactment and apply,

subject to subsection (b), to Federal payments made pursuant to

obligations incurred after the date of the enactment of this Act

for items and services provided on or after such date.

(b) A

PPLICATION TO

ONTRACTS

.—Such provisions shall apply

with respect to contracts entered into, renewed, or extended after

the date of the enactment of this Act and shall also apply to

a contract entered into before such date to the extent permitted

under such contract.

SEC. 12. SUICIDE PREVENTION (INCLUDING ASSISTED SUICIDE).

(a) P

URPOSE

.—The purpose of this section is to reduce the

rate of suicide (including assisted suicide) among persons with

disabilities or terminal or chronic illness by furthering knowledge

and practice of pain management, depression identification and

treatment, and issues related to palliative care and suicide preven-

tion.

(b) R

ESEARCH AND

EMONSTRATION

ROJECTS

.—Section 781 of

the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new

subsection:

‘‘(e) R

ESEARCH AND

EMONSTRATION

ROJECTS ON

UICIDE

REVENTION

NCLUDING

SSISTED

UICIDE

).—

‘‘(1) R

ESEARCH

.—The Secretary may make grants to and

enter into contracts with public and private entities for conduct-

ing research intended to reduce the rate of suicide (including

assisted suicide) among persons with disabilities or terminal

or chronic illness. The Secretary shall give preference to

research that aims—

‘‘(A) to assess the quality of care received by patients

with disabilities or terminal or chronic illness by measuring

and reporting specific outcomes;

‘‘(B) to compare coordinated health care (which may

include coordinated rehabilitation services, symptom con-

trol, psychological support, and community-based support

services) to traditional health care delivery systems; or

‘‘(C) to advance biomedical knowledge of pain

management.

‘‘(2) T

RAINING

.—The Secretary may make grants and enter

into contracts to assist public and private entities, schools,

academic health science centers, and hospitals in meeting the

costs of projects intended to reduce the rate of suicide (including

assisted suicide) among persons with disabilities or terminal

or chronic illness. The Secretary shall give preference to

qualified projects that will—

‘‘(A) train health care practitioners in pain manage-

ment, depression identification and treatment, and issues

related to palliative care and suicide prevention;

‘‘(B) train the faculty of health professions schools in

pain management, depression identification and treatment,

and issues related to palliative care and suicide

prevention; or

42 USC 295 note.

42 USC 14401

note.

42 USC 14408.

42 USC 14401

note.

111 STAT. 30 PUBLIC LAW 105–12—APR. 30, 1997

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1003:

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105–46, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Commerce).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 143 (1997):

Apr. 10, considered and passed House.

Apr. 16, considered and passed Senate.

WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 33 (1997):

Apr. 30, Presidential statement.

‘‘(C) develop and implement curricula regarding disabil-

ity issues, including living with disabilities, living with

chronic or terminal illness, attendant and personal care,

assistive technology, and social support services.

‘‘(3) D

EMONSTRATION PROJECTS

.—The Secretary may make

grants to and enter into contracts with public and nonprofit

private entities for the purpose of conducting demonstration

projects that will—

‘‘(A) reduce restrictions on access to hospice

programs; or

‘‘(B) fund home health care services, community living

arrangements, and attendant care services.

‘‘(4) P

ALLIATIVE MEDICINE

.—The Secretary shall emphasize

palliative medicine among its funding and research priorities.’’.

EPORT BY

ENERAL

CCOUNTING

FFICE

.—Not later than

1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller

General of the United States shall submit to the Congress a report

providing an assessment of programs under subsection (e) of section

781 of the Public Health Service Act (as added by subsection (b)

of this section) to conduct research, provide training, and develop

curricula and of the curricula offered and used by schools of medi-

cine and osteopathic medicine in pain management, depression

identification and treatment, and issues related to palliative care

and suicide prevention. The purpose of the assessment shall be

to determine the extent to which such programs have furthered

knowledge and practice of pain management, depression identifica-

tion and treatment, and issues related to palliative care and suicide

prevention.

Approved April 30, 1997.

42 USC 295 note.