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H.R. 3302: Keep Physicians Serving Patients Act of 2019

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The text of the bill below is as of Jun 18, 2019 (Introduced).

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3302

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 18, 2019

(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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Keep Physicians Serving Patients Act of 2019.

2.

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:

(D)

Use of accurate data

(i)

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.

(ii)

Practice expense and work indices

In establishing indices and index values under clause (i) or (iii) of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—

(I)

use the most recent market data available on physician wages, or if available, actual cost data for physician labor; and

(II)

not use nonphysician professional wage data as a proxy for physician wage data.

(iii)

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.

.

3.

Floor for work and practice expense geographic indices

(a)

Work geographic index

Section 1848(e)(1)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(E)) is amended—

(1)

by striking and before January 1, 2020,; and

(2)

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..

(b)

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—

(1)

in the header, by striking for services furnished in frontier states;

(2)

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

(3)

in clause (ii), by inserting before January 1, 2020, after furnished.