Medicare Communication Disorders and Services Amendments Act of 1992

Medicare Communication Disorders and Services Amendments Act of 1992 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide expanded coverage of speech-language pathology and audiology services under the Medicare program. Excludes from program coverage procedures performed for selecting or fitting hearing aids.

 
HR 5317 IH
102d CONGRESS
2d Session
 H. R. 5317
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand coverage of
speech-language pathology and audiology services under the medicare program,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 3, 1992
Mr. MOODY introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the
Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand coverage of
speech-language pathology and audiology services under the medicare program,
and for other purposes.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  This Act may be cited as the `Medicare Communication Disorders and Services
  Amendments Act of 1992'.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF COVERAGE OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY
SERVICES UNDER MEDICARE.
  (a) IN GENERAL- Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42
  U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended--
  (1) by striking `and' at the end of subparagraph (O);
  (2) by adding `and' at the end of subparagraph (P); and
  (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
  `(Q) speech-language pathology services (as defined in subsection (ll)(1))
  and audiology services (as defined in subsection (ll)(2));'.
  (b) SERVICES DEFINED- Section 1861 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended--
  (1) by redesignating the subsection (jj) added by section 4156(a)(2)
  of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 as subsection (kk); and
  (2) by inserting after such subsection the following new subsection:
`Speech-Language Pathology Services; Audiology Services
  `(ll)(1) The term `speech-language pathology services' means such speech,
  language, and related function assessment and rehabilitation services
  furnished by a qualified speech-language pathologist, and such services
  and supplies furnished incident to such services (including augmentative
  and alternative communication devices), as the speech-language pathologist
  is legally authorized to perform under State law (or the State regulatory
  mechanism provided by State law) as would otherwise be covered if furnished
  by a physician or as incident to a physician's service.
  `(2) The term `audiology services' means such hearing and balance assessment
  and rehabilitation services furnished by a qualified audiologist, including
  assessments to determine the need for medical or surgical treatment of
  hearing loss or (subsection to section 1862(a)(7)) for hearing aids or
  assistive listening or alerting devices, and such services and supplies
  furnished incident to such services, as the audiologist is legally authorized
  to perform under State law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by
  State law) as would otherwise be covered if furnished by a physician or
  as incident to a physician's service.
  `(3) In this subsection--
  `(A) the term `qualified speech-language pathologist' means an individual
  with a master's or doctoral degree in speech-language pathology who has
  performed not less than 9 months of supervised full-time speech-language
  pathology services after obtaining such degree and who--
  `(i) is licensed (or is otherwise certified) as a speech-language pathologist
  by the State in which the individual furnishes such services, or
  `(ii) in the case of an individual who furnishes services in a State
  which does not provide for the licensing (or other form of certification)
  of speech-language pathologists, has successfully completed a national
  clinical competency examination in speech-language pathology approved by
  the Secretary; and
  `(B) the term `qualified audiologist' means an individual with a master's
  or doctoral degree in audiology who has performed not less than 9 months of
  supervised full-time audiology services after obtaining such degree and who--
  `(i) is licensed (or is otherwise certified) as an audiologist by the
  State in which the individual furnishes such services, or
  `(ii) in the case of an individual who furnishes services in a State which
  does not provide for the licensing (or other form of certification) of
  audiologists, has successfully completed a national clinical competency
  examination in audiology approved by the Secretary.'.
  (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO MEDICARE TREATMENT OF SPEECH,
  LANGUAGE, AUDIOLOGY, AND RELATED SERVICES-
  (1) EXTENDED CARE SERVICES- Section 1861(h)(3) of such Act (42
  U.S.C. 1395x(h)(3)) is amended by striking `, occupational, or speech
  therapy' and inserting `or occupational therapy, speech-language pathology
  services, or audiology services'.
  (2) HOME HEALTH SERVICES- Section 1861(m)(2) of such Act (42
  U.S.C. 1395x(m)(2)) is amended by striking `, occupational, or speech
  therapy' and inserting `or occupational therapy, speech-language pathology
  services, or audiology services'.
  (3) OUTPATIENT PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES- The fourth sentence of section
  1861(p) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(p)) is amended by striking `speech
  pathology services' and inserting `speech-language pathology services or
  audiology services'.
  (4) COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION FACILITY SERVICES- Section
  1861(cc)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(cc)(1)(B)) is amended by
  striking `speech pathology services' and inserting `speech-language
  pathology services, audiology services'.
  (5) HOSPICE CARE- Section 1861(dd)(1)(B) of such Act (42
  U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(1)(B)) is amended by striking `therapy or speech-language
  pathology' and inserting `therapy, speech-language pathology services,
  or audiology services'.
  (d) OTHER CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 1861(s)(2)(O) of such Act (42
  U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(O)) is amended by striking `subsection (jj)' and inserting
  `subsection (kk)'.
SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF RESTRICTION ON COVERAGE OF EXAMINATIONS RELATING
TO HEARING AIDS.
  Section 1862(a)(7) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(7)) is
  amended by striking `hearing aids or examinations therefor' and inserting
  `hearing aids or procedures performed for selecting or fitting hearing aids'.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.
  The amendments made by sections 2 and 3 shall apply to services furnished
  on or after January 1, 1993.