To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for low vision devices under Medicare, and for other purposes.

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to cover low vision devices under Medicare.

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3975 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3975

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for 
       low vision devices under Medicare, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 29, 2014

  Mr. Owens introduced the following bill; which was 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for 
       low vision devices under Medicare, 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. MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR LOW VISION DEVICES.

    (a) Coverage as Durable Medical Equipment.--Section 1861(n) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(n)) is amended by inserting ``low 
vision devices (as defined in subsection (iii)(1)),'' after ``hospital 
beds,''.
    (b) Low Vision Devices Defined.--Section 1861 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:

                    ``Low Vision Device; Low Vision

    ``(iii)(1) The term `low vision device' means a device that--
            ``(A) is an electronic optical device with one or more 
        lenses that operates to modify or enlarge images;
            ``(B) is prescribed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist to 
        an individual with low vision in order to address such low 
        vision; and
            ``(C) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may 
        prescribe.
    ``(2) The term `low vision' means macular degeneration, glaucoma, 
or other visual impairment that--
            ``(A) cannot be corrected by standard eyeglasses, contact 
        lenses, medication, or surgery; and
            ``(B) interferes with the ability of the individual 
        involved to perform everyday activities (as determined by the 
        Secretary).''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to low vision devices furnished on or after January 
1, 2016.
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