A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the interim payment system for home health services, and for other purposes.
Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to eliminate the 15 percent home health services payment reduction in interim payments which would occur if the Secretary did not establish a prospective payment system (PPS) for such services as provided for in such Act.
Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to the PPS for home health services to reduce the current 15 percent reduction in cost and per beneficiary limits to ten percent, establishing a special rule beginning in FY 2004 that restores the reduction back to its original 15 percent.
Increases the per visit cost limit to 112 percent of the national median.
Provides that in the case of home health services furnished to an individual who (at the time of furnishing) is under a home health agency plan of care, payment for an item of durable medical equipment shall be made to the agency separately from payment for other items and services furnished.
Eliminates timekeeping requirements under the PPS for home health agencies.
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary should establish a nationally uniform process that ensures that fiscal intermediaries and carriers under Medicare have the training and ability necessary to provide timely, accurate, and consistent coverage and payment information to each home health agency and to each individual eligible to have payment made under Medicare.
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10729-10730)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Star Print ordered on S.1574.
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