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H.R. 2507 (114th): Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act of 2015


The text of the bill below is as of May 21, 2015 (Introduced).

Summary of this bill

The Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act would extend the time between the draft notice and final notice for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publication on payment rates and changes. Currently there is a 45 day period in which Congress may review the draft and a 15 day period to comment on proposed changes. The bill would extend these times to from 45 to 60 and from 15 to 30. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA5) spoke on behalf of the bill. It was passed by voice vote in the House.


I

114th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2507

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 21, 2015

(for himself, Mr. Pitts, 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 establish an annual rulemaking schedule for payment rates under Medicare Advantage.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Increasing Regulatory Fairness Act of 2015.

2.

Establishing an annual rulemaking schedule for payment rates under Medicare Advantage

Section 1853(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(b)) is amended—

(1)

in the subsection heading, by inserting , annual rulemaking schedule for payment rates for 2017 and subsequent years after Rates;

(2)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

in the subparagraph heading, by inserting before 2017 after years; and

(ii)

in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting and before 2017 after 2005; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(C)

Annual rulemaking schedule for payment rates for 2017 and subsequent years

For 2017 and each subsequent year, before April 1 of the preceding year, the Secretary shall, by regulation and in accordance with the notice and public comment periods required under paragraph (2) for such a year, annually determine and announce the following:

(i)

The annual MA capitation rate for each MA payment area for such year.

(ii)

The risk and other factors to be used in adjusting such rates under subsection (a)(1)(A) for payments for months in such year.

(iii)

With respect to each MA region and each MA regional plan for which a bid was submitted under section 1854, the MA region-specific non-drug monthly benchmark amount for that region for the year involved.

; and

(3)

in paragraph (2)—

(A)

by inserting (or, for 2017 and each subsequent year, at least 60 days) after 45 days; and

(B)

by inserting (for 2017 and each subsequent year, of no less than 30 days) after opportunity.