H.R. 3831 (112th): Medicare Hospice Care Access Act of 2012

112^th Congress, 2011–2013. Text as of Jan 25, 2012 (Introduced).

HR 3831 IH

112th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 3831

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 25, 2012

Mr. TERRY (for himself and Mr. THOMPSON of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 for the recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients.

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 Hospice Care Access Act of 2012’.

SEC. 2. RECOGNITION OF ATTENDING PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AS ATTENDING PHYSICIANS TO SERVE HOSPICE PATIENTS.

(a) Recognition of Attending Physician Assistants as Attending Physicians To Serve Hospice Patients-

(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1861(dd)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(3)(B)) is amended--

(A) by striking ‘or nurse’ and inserting ‘, the nurse’; and

(B) by inserting ‘, or the physician assistant (as defined in such subsection)’ after ‘subsection (aa)(5))’.

(2) CLARIFICATION OF HOSPICE ROLE OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS- Section 1814(a)(7)(A)(i)(I) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(A)(i)(I)) is amended by inserting ‘or a physician assistant’ after ‘a nurse practitioner’.

(b) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2013.