,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #c1 #bjac ,ms4 ,velzquez introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,small ,business ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,small ,business ,act to provide loan guarantees for the acquisition of health information technology by eligible professionals in solo and small group practices1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,working ,families' ,access to ,health ,innovations ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,amendment of small business act ,the ,small ,business ,act is amended by redesignating section #de as section #df and by inserting after section #dd the following3 #de4 ,loan guarantees for health information technology 7a7 ,definitions ,as used in this section3 7#a7 ,the term health information technology means computer hardware1 software1 and related technology 7including electronic medical record technology7 that-- 7,a7 supports the compliance with the meaningful ,,ehr use requirements set forth in section #ahdh7o77#b77;,a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciew-#d7o77#b77;,a772 7,b7 is purchased by an eligible professional to aid in the provision of health care in a health care setting2 and 7,c7 provides for-- 7i7 enhancement of continuity of care for patients through electronic storage1 transmission1 and exchange of relevant personal health data and information1 such that this information is accessible at the times and places where clinical decisions will be or are likely to be made2 7ii7 enhancement of communication between patients and health care providers2 7iii7 improvement of quality measurement by eligible professionals enabling them to collect1 store1 measure1 and report on the processes and outcomes of individual and population performance and quality of care2 7iv7 improvement of evidence-based decision support2 or 7v7 enhancement of consumer and patient empowerment4 ,such term does not include information technology the sole use of which is financial management1 maintenance of inventory of basic supplies1 or appointment scheduling4 7#b7 ,the term eligible professional means any of the following3 7,a7 ,a physician 7as defined in section #ahfa7r7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7r7774 7,b7 ,a practitioner described in section #ahdb7;b77#ah77;,c7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acieu7b77#ah77;,c774 7,c7 ,a physical or occupational therapist or a qualified speech-language pathologist4 7,d7 ,a qualified audiologist 7as defined in section #ahfa7ll77#d77;,b7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex7ll77#d77;,b7774 7,e7 ,a ,state-licensed pharmacist4 7,f7 ,a ,state-licensed supplier of durable medical equipment1 prosthetics1 orthotics1 or supplies4 7,g7 ,a ,state-licensed1 a ,state-certified1 or a nationally accredited home health care provider4 7#c7 ,the term qualified eligible professional means an eligible professional whose practice-- 7,a7 is a small business concern2 and 7,b7 7i7 is in a medically underserved community 7as defined in section #gii;,b7#f7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #biep7#f7772 7ii7 serves individuals at least #ej percent of whom are entitled to benefits or enrolled under title ,,xviii of the ,social ,security ,act2 or 7iii7 serves an area that consists predominantly of low-income families 7as defined in section #c of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;a774 7b7 ,loan guarantees for qualified eligible professionals 7#a7 ,guarantee percentage ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the ,administrator may guarantee up to #ij percent of the amount of the loan made to a qualified eligible professional for the acquisition of health information technology for use in such eligible professional's medical practice and for the costs associated with the installation of such technology4 7#b7 ,limitations on guarantee amounts ,the maximum amount of loan principal guaranteed under this subsection may not exceed-- 7,a7 #cej1jjj with respect to any single qualified eligible professional2 and 7,b7 #b1jjj1jjj with respect to a single group of affiliated qualified eligible professionals4 7c7 ,fees 7#a7 ,the ,administrator may impose a guarantee fee on the borrower in an amount not to exceed #b percent of the total guaranteed portion of any loan guaranteed under this section4 ,the ,administrator may also impose annual servicing fees on lenders not to exceed #j4e percent of the outstanding balance of the guarantees on lenders' books4 7#b7 ,no service fees1 processing fees1 origination fees1 application fees1 points1 brokerage fees1 bonus points1 or other fees may be charged to a loan applicant or recipient by a lender in the case of a loan guaranteed under this section4 7d7 ,interest rates ,the interest rate charged on a loan guaranteed under this section shall not be greater than #be basis points below the rate provided for a loan under the program under section #g7;a74 7e7 ,deferral period ,loans guaranteed under this section shall carry a deferral period of not more than #c years4 7f7 ,terms and conditions for loan guarantees ,the loans guaranteed under this section shall be subject to the terms and conditions that apply to the program under section #g7;a7 or other such terms and conditions as are prescribed by the ,administrator4 4 #c4 ,small business development center duties ,section #ba7;c77#c7 of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fdh7;c77#c77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking and at the end of subparagraph 7,s72 7#b7 by striking the period at the end of subparagraph 7,t7 and inserting a semicolon2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7,u7 facilitating the training of medical professionals in health information technology systems2 and 7,v7 establishing and providing a network of small health information technology companies available to medical professionals in low-income and underserved areas1 as defined by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 for the purpose of aiding medical professionals in such areas to purchase1 utilize1 and maintain such technology4 4