H.R. 3300 — Doctors' Bill of Rights Act of 1999

Summary

Doctors' Bill of Rights Act of 1999 - Outlines specified obligations of carriers, fiscal intermediaries, the Medicare Integrity Program under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA), the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) with regard to physician rights within the context of the following matters and examples: (1) education (additional HHS educational outreach for physicians for Medicare coverage areas with the most frequent billing errors); (2) information (restoration of the toll-free telephone hotline at HCFA to permit physicians to call for information and questions on Medicare); (3) overpayments (HHS authorized repayment of overpayments within three months without penalty or interest); and (4) suspected fraud or wrongdoing (HHS Office of Inspector General must follow specified guidelines regarding arrest). Authorizes appropriations.

Prohibits HCFA from implementing any new evaluation and management (E&M) guidelines under Medicare unless it has: (1) provided for an assessment of the proposed guidelines by physicians; (2) established a plan that contains specific goals for improving participation of physicians; (3) carried out a minimum of four described pilot projects in at least four different HCFA regions to test such guidelines; and (4) found that specified objectives for E&M guidelines will be met in the implementation of such guidelines. Requires each pilot project to study the effect of E&M guidelines on physician practices and patient and physician satisfaction.

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Legislative Actions

1999-11-10
Introduced in House
1999-11-10
Introduced in House
1999-11-10
Referred to the Committee on 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.
1999-11-10
Referred to the Committee on 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.
1999-11-10
Referred to the Committee on 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.
1999-11-17
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
1999-11-30
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.

Doctors' Bill of Rights Act of 1999

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