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H.R. 2957 113th Congress House

Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2013

Official title: To amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Public Health Service Act and the Social Security Act to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 28, 2014 See on congress.gov
Health Civil actions and liabilityDrug, alcohol, tobacco useEvidence and witnessesHealth care quality
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Health facilities and institutionsHealth information and medical recordsHealth personnelHealth technology, devices, suppliesJudicial procedure and administrationMedicaidMedicareMental healthSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 2, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Aug 1, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Aug 1, 2013
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 2, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to include as a health care provider behavioral and mental health professionals, substance abuse professionals, psychiatric hospitals, certain community mental health centers, and residential or outpatient mental health or substance abuse treatment facilities.

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), with respect to incentives for meaningful use of certified electronic health records (EHR) technology under the pay schedule for physician's services, to include as additional eligible professionals clinical psychologists providing qualified psychologist services. Subjects any additional eligible professionals, including those under a MedicareAdvantage (MA) plan, to reductions in incentive payments after a certain date for failure to be a meaningful EHR user.

Makes inpatient psychiatric hospitals eligible for payment for inpatient hospital services.

Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to treat as Medicaid providers: (1) public and certain private hospitals that are principally psychiatric hospitals, (2) certain community mental health centers, and (3) certain residential or outpatient mental health or substance abuse treatment facilities.

Makes eligible professionals under the Medicaid program certain clinical psychologists providing qualified psychologist services.

Authorizes a covered entity to submit to a patient safety organization information on electronic health record (EHR)-related adverse events with respect to certified EHR technology.

Specifies covered entities as certain EHR users, health information exchange entities, and health care professionals who use EHR technology.

Defines an EHR-related adverse event as a defect, malfunction, or error in the certified health information technology or EHR used by a provider, or in the input or output of data maintained through such technology or record, that results or could reasonably result in harm to a patient.

Limits electronic discovery (e-discovery) in any health care lawsuit against a covered entity relating to an Reallotted adverse event involving certified EHR technology to information: (1) related to that event, and (2) from the period in which the event occurred.

Prohibits a claimant from commencing a lawsuit more than three years after the manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers, or should have discovered, the injury, whichever occurs first. Requires tolling of this limitation, however, to the extent that the claimant is able to prove: (1) fraud; (2) intentional concealment; or (3) the presence of a foreign body, with no therapeutic or diagnostic purpose or effect, in the injured person.

Subjects each party to such a lawsuit which is not a covered entity to proportionate liability only.

Allows punitive damages against a covered entity only upon proof by clear and convincing evidence that the entity acted with reckless disregard for the claimant's health or safety.

Shields covered entities, employees, agents, and representatives from civil liability for libel or slander arising from information or entries made in certified EHR technology, or transferred to another eligible provider, if the information, entries, or transfer were made in good faith and without malice.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 61
TIERNEY, JOHN
· Jul 30, 2014
PASTOR, ED
· Jul 24, 2014
D
Meng, Grace
New York · Jul 23, 2014
Johnson, Bill
· Jun 5, 2014
Tsongas, Niki
· Jun 5, 2014
D
Brownley, Julia
California · May 28, 2014
D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · May 28, 2014
LEWIS, JOHN
· May 28, 2014
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · May 28, 2014
VISCLOSKY, PETER
· May 28, 2014
YOUNG, DON
· May 28, 2014
Ruppersberger, C.
· May 9, 2014
D
Scott, David
Georgia · May 9, 2014
PETERSON, COLLIN
· Apr 29, 2014
RAHALL, NICK
· Apr 29, 2014
Stivers, Steve
· Apr 29, 2014
McKinley, David
· Apr 10, 2014
Blumenauer, Earl
· Apr 1, 2014
DOYLE, MIKE
· Mar 26, 2014
MORAN, JAMES
· Mar 26, 2014
D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Mar 26, 2014
Bishop, Timothy
· Mar 24, 2014
Griffin, Tim
· Mar 24, 2014
Bordallo, Madeleine
· Mar 14, 2014
CHRISTENSEN, DONNA
· Mar 14, 2014
GREEN, GENE
· Mar 14, 2014
Hanabusa, Colleen
· Mar 14, 2014
Sinema, Kyrsten
· Mar 14, 2014
D
Connolly, Gerald E.
Virginia · Dec 19, 2013
DEFAZIO, PETER
· Dec 19, 2013
D
Peters, Scott H.
California · Dec 19, 2013
Delaney, John
· Nov 13, 2013
HONDA, MICHAEL
· Nov 13, 2013
R
Joyce, David P.
Ohio · Nov 13, 2013
LATHAM, TOM
· Nov 13, 2013
Polis, Jared
· Nov 13, 2013
Kildee, Daniel
· Oct 15, 2013
Lowenthal, Alan
· Oct 15, 2013
Michaud, Michael
· Oct 15, 2013
Shea-Porter, Carol
· Oct 15, 2013
Barletta, Lou
· Sep 28, 2013
Kirkpatrick, Ann
· Sep 28, 2013
Loebsack, David
· Sep 28, 2013
R
Graves, Sam
Missouri · Sep 23, 2013
Schwartz, Allyson
· Sep 23, 2013
R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Sep 18, 2013
Enyart, William
· Sep 18, 2013
Kline, John
· Sep 18, 2013
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Sep 18, 2013
D
Quigley, Mike
Illinois · Sep 18, 2013
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2957: Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2957/
MLA
"H.R. 2957: Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2957/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2957, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2957/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2957: Behavioral Health Information Technology Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-2957/)
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