Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

The following bills were introduced in the House:

H.R. 712. A bill to require the establishment of regional consumer price indices to compute cost-of-living increases under the programs for Social Security and Medicare and other medical benefits under titles II and XVIII of the Social Security Act. Introduced Feb. 9 by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 752. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare program. Introduced Feb. 10 by Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means. 

HR. 791. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services to which payments are made under the Medicare program. Introduced Feb. 14 by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.

HR. 801. A bill to amend titles XVIII of and XIX of the Social security Act to provide for coverage under the Medicare and Medicaid programs of certain screening procedures for diabetic retinopathy, and to amend the public Health Service Act to establish pilot programs to foster such screening. Introduced Feb. 15 by Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.

HR. 818. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under part B of the Medicare program, and to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for coverage of such services under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Introduced Feb. 15 by Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.

HR. 827. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms under part B of the Medicare program. Introduced Feb. 15 by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.

HR. 868. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social security Act to improve the provision of items and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries residing in rural areas. Introduced Feb. 16 by Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce

HR. 872. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for reimbursement of certified midwife services and to provide for more equitable reimbursement rates for certified nurse-midwife services. Introduced Feb. 16 by Rep. Ed Towns (D-NY), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

HR. 880. A bill to amend part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require Medicare Advantage organizations to pay for critical access hospital services and rural health clinic services at a rate that is at least 101 percent of the payment rate otherwise applicable under the Medicare program. Introduced Feb. 17 by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

HR. 916. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social security Act to repeal the Medicare outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps. Introduced Feb 17 by Rep. Phil English (R-PA), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.

HR. 918. A bill to contain the costs of the Medicare prescription drug program under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Introduced Feb. 17 by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.

HR. 964. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social security Act to recognize the services of respiratory therapists under the plan of care for home health services. Introduced Feb 17 by Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The following bills were introduced in the Senate:

S. 300. A bill to extend the temporary increase in payments under the Medicare program for home health services furnished in a rural area. Introduced Feb. 7 by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), referred to the Finance Committee.

S. 345. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices under the Medicare program. Introduced Feb. 10 by Rep. Richard Durbin (D-IL), referred to Finance.

S. 351. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services to which payments are made under Medicare. Introduced Feb. 10 by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), referred to the Finance Committee.

S. 390. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms under part B of the Medicare program. Introduced Feb. 15 by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), referred to the Committee on Finance.

S. 411. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the provision of items and services provided to Medicare beneficiaries residing in states with more cost-effective health care delivery systems. Introduced Feb. 16 by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), referred to Finance Committee.