Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

The following bills were introduced in the House:
 
HR. 1410. A bill to provide for coverage of hormone replacement therapy for treatment of menopausal symptoms, and for coverage of an alternative therapy for hormone replacement therapy for such symptoms under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, group health plans, and individual health insurance coverage, and other federal health insurance programs. Introduced March 17 by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, Government Reform, and Veterans Affairs.
 
HR. 1416. A bill to repeal the reduction in Medicare payment for therapeutic shoes and inserts for individuals with diabetes effected by section 627 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. Introduced March 17 by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means.
 
The following bills were introduced in the Senate:
 
S. 604. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize expansion of Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services. Introduced March 11 by Sen. Larry Craig (R-WY), referred to the Committee on Finance. 
 
S. 626. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to diabetes self-management training by designating certified diabetes educators who are recognized by a nationally recognized certifying body and who meet the same quality standards set forth for other providers of diabetes self-management training as certified providers for purposes of outpatient diabetes self-management training services under Part B of the Medicare program. Introduced March 15 by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), referred to the Committee on Finance. 
 
S. 635. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the benefits under the Medicare program for beneficiaries with kidney disease. Introduced March 16 by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), referred to the Committee on Finance. 
 
S. 647. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize physical therapists to evaluate and treat Medicare beneficiaries without a requirement for a physician referral. Introduced March 17 by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), referred to the Committee on Finance. 
 
S. 657. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make a technical correction in the definition of outpatient speech-language pathology services. Introduced March 17 by Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), referred to the Committee on Finance.