I
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3302
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2019
Ms. Finkenauer (for herself, Mr. Kind, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. LaHood, and Ms. Sewell of Alabama) 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 improve the accuracy of geographic adjustment factors under the Medicare program and to permanently extend certain adjustments to such factors for certain localities, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Keep Physicians Serving Patients Act of 2019
.
Improving the accuracy of geographic adjustment factors
Section 1848(e)(1)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
Use of accurate data
In general
In establishing indices and index values under this paragraph, the Secretary shall use the most recent data available relating to practice expenses, malpractice expenses, and physician work effort in each fee schedule area.
Practice expense and work indices
In establishing indices and index values under clause (i) or (iii) of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—
use the most recent market data available on physician wages, or if available, actual cost data for physician labor; and
not use nonphysician professional wage data as a proxy for physician wage data.
Practice expense calculation
In calculating index values under clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use the most recent office rent data available or data from Federally qualified health centers (as defined in section 1861(aa)(4)) expense reports.
.
Floor for work and practice expense geographic indices
Work geographic index
Section 1848(e)(1)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(E)) is amended—
by striking and before January 1, 2020,
; and
by adding at the end the following: Any such increase made for purposes of payment for services furnished on or after January 1, 2020, shall not be applied in a budget neutral manner.
.
Practice expense geographic indices
Section 1848(e)(1)(I) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(I)) is amended—
in the header, by striking for services furnished in frontier states
;
in clause (i), by inserting and for purposes of payment for services furnished in any State on or after January 1, 2020,
after 2011,
; and
in clause (ii), by inserting before January 1, 2020,
after furnished
.
