110 S1871 PCS: SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013
U.S. Senate
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013
.(b)The table of contents of this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.TITLE I—Medicare Payment for Physicians' ServicesSec. 101. Repealing the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and improving Medicare payment for physicians’ services.Sec. 102. Priorities and funding for quality measure development.Sec. 103. Encouraging care management for individuals with chronic care needs.Sec. 104. Ensuring accurate valuation of services under the physician fee schedule.Sec. 105. Promoting evidence-based care.Sec. 106. Empowering beneficiary choices through access to information on physicians’ services.Sec. 107. Expanding claims data availability to improve care.TITLE II—Extensions and Other ProvisionsSubtitle A—Medicare ExtensionsSec. 201. Work geographic adjustment.Sec. 202. Medicare payment for therapy services.Sec. 203. Medicare ambulance services.Sec. 204. Revision of the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program.Sec. 205. Revision of Medicare inpatient hospital payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals.Sec. 206. Specialized Medicare Advantage plans for special needs individuals.Sec. 207. Reasonable cost reimbursement contracts.Sec. 208. Quality measure endorsement and selection.Sec. 209. Permanent extension of funding outreach and assistance for low-income programs.Subtitle B—Medicaid and Other ExtensionsSec. 211. Qualifying individual program.Sec. 212. Transitional Medical Assistance.Sec. 213. Express lane eligibility.Sec. 214. Pediatric quality measures.Sec. 215. Special diabetes programs.Subtitle C—Human Services ExtensionsSec. 221. Abstinence education grants.Sec. 222. Personal responsibility education program.Sec. 223. Family-to-family health information centers.Sec. 224. Health workforce demonstration project for low-income individuals.Subtitle D—Program IntegritySec. 231. Reducing improper Medicare payments.Sec. 232. Authority for Medicaid fraud control units to investigate and prosecute complaints of abuse and neglect of Medicaid patients in home and community-based settings.Sec. 233. Improved use of funds received by the HHS Inspector General from oversight and investigative activities.Sec. 234. Preventing and reducing improper Medicare and Medicaid expenditures.Subtitle E—Other ProvisionsSec. 241. Commission on Improving Patient Directed Health Care.Sec. 242. Expansion of the definition of inpatient hospital services for certain cancer hospitals.Sec. 243. Quality measures for certain post-acute care providers relating to notice and transfer of patient health information and patient care preferences.Sec. 244. Criteria for medically necessary, short inpatient hospital stays.Sec. 245. Transparency of reasons for excluding additional procedures from the Medicare ambulatory surgical center (ASC) approved list.Sec. 246. Supervision in critical access hospitals.Sec. 247. Requiring State licensure of bidding entities under the competitive acquisition program for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).Sec. 248. Recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients.Sec. 249. Remote patient monitoring pilot projects.Sec. 250. Community-Based Institutional Special Needs Plan Demonstration Program.Sec. 251. Applying CMMI waiver authority to PACE in order to foster innovations.Sec. 252. Improve and modernize Medicaid data systems and reporting.Sec. 253. Fairness in Medicaid supplemental needs trusts.Sec. 254. Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving Access to Podiatric Physicians.Sec. 255. Demonstration program to improve community mental health services.Sec. 256. Annual Medicaid DSH report.Sec. 257. Implementation.<enum>I</enum><header>Medicare Payment for Physicians' Services</header><section id="HC0BDBDA2FEBE40CC9D8DCB91DBCB8EB0"><enum>101.</enum><header>Repealing the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and improving Medicare payment for physicians’ services</header><subsection id="H5E87AB1883E2468990ED2400BB988A63"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Stabilizing fee updates</header><paragraph id="H34BB57D521474544B1C7559722326125"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Repeal of SGR payment methodology</header><text>Section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="H7774A18120324CFD875212D0F7A5CED8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text><clause id="HB46B3A4806644A1FA8BF0633EAD9BB7F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting <quote>or a subsequent paragraph</quote> after <quote>paragraph (4)</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="H55E46FD7B9644DFE80E3E4E606CF534C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text><subclause id="H26A5029082C14310A63E70A94D82BE0E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the heading, by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">and ending with 2013</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">years beginning with 2001</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HCFFFF4882E414542ACE9D0692F5AD770"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>and ending with 2013</quote> after <quote>a year beginning with 2001</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H22BE75F7DC28479A803734C200DC8DEB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (f)—</text><clause id="HB222FD93400345AEBCB0692E01F8AFA4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting <quote>through 2013</quote> after <quote>of each succeeding year</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="HF093847BC01D4098954E942D28ECEAF3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by inserting <quote>and ending with 2013</quote> after <quote>beginning with 2000</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H624DA4B4FDEE439CA4CFC8918500C423"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Update of rates for 2014 and subsequent years</header><text>Subsection (d) of section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:</text><quoted-block id="H30AFEB29FD5D44ED92C7974E1900F396" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HE9397AF7FAED40669B342D00AC24AF26"><enum>(15)</enum><header>Update for 2014 through 2023</header><text>The update to the single conversion factor established in paragraph (1)(C) for each of 2014 through 2023 shall be zero percent.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H687DA0AA1AD14EB39B10FC2F641CEBA1"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Update for 2024 and subsequent years</header><text>The update to the single conversion factor established in paragraph (1)(C) for 2024 and each subsequent year shall be—</text><subparagraph id="H49BC30FDA03949B1A409F369872D559F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>for items and services furnished by a qualifying APM participant (as defined in section 1833(z)(2)) for such year, 2 percent; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5F9CBCD4995748F29AC596280E8CE5A3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>for other items and services, 1 percent.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HD474ABF64C8F4C188ED25DFDBFAE9606"><enum>(3)</enum><header>MedPAC reports</header><subparagraph id="HE89C61FD5FE2472DAF6B49A23F05D91B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Initial report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than July 1, 2016, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the relationship between—</text><clause id="H138090B1511441F0B373F63C64E55749"><enum>(i)</enum><text>physician and other health professional utilization and expenditures (and the rate of increase of such utilization and expenditures) of items and services for which payment is made under section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>); and</text></clause><clause id="H120F4C5E72E74C6C8129EAA0D6B5E5FA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>total utilization and expenditures (and the rate of increase of such utilization and expenditures) under parts A, B, and D of title XVIII of such Act.</text></clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph">Such report shall include a methodology to describe such relationship and the impact of changes in such physician and other health professional practice and service ordering patterns on total utilization and expenditures under parts A, B, and D of such title.</continuation-text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H83D45A53991347A8815BC6E62BAEAA21"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Final report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than July 1, 2020, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the relationship described in subparagraph (A), including the results determined from applying the methodology included in the report submitted under such subparagraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H0250008A865E4D4088D29A1C2D22CBD7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consolidation of certain current law performance programs with new value-based performance incentive program</header><paragraph id="HA193CC1841A64E8CACAF4B73E0DFDEC4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>EHR meaningful use incentive program</header><subparagraph id="H85F544D0FC604F8AA74ABBF033D709DE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Sunsetting separate meaningful use payment adjustments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(a)(7)(A) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(a)(7)(A)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause id="H6B32485120BB497CA7082CAF8E604BC2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>or any subsequent payment year</quote> and inserting <quote>or 2016</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="H8507FF4433B947E08694552321E583EF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (ii)—</text><subclause id="HF6FEA0D56B464C4984535713DDDD0AF6"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking <quote>Subject to clause (iii), for</quote> and inserting <quote>For</quote>;</text></subclause><subclause id="H0DB8B70DC8A14AEC9E13527CD55D0EFB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in subclause (I), by adding at the end <quote>and</quote>;</text></subclause><subclause id="H9906FC5B9DBA42E0BCE70D44B6917E59"><enum>(III)</enum><text>in subclause (II), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a period; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HC3BAE11A57D74282814515ABA3A252B6"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>by striking subclause (III); and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H4DE4CDFF8123476F8AE5F1BD37B3C551"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking clause (iii).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC0A34E2059404E32847E9A928F99551D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Continuation of meaningful use determinations for VBP program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(o)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(o)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause id="HFD956BB2899A4E059529DDD1E1233789"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i)—</text><subclause id="H61A9FC5727CB4DFE8929864D706CE945"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>For purposes of paragraph (1), an</quote> and inserting <quote>An</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H4F119EF6B7034E39BFE40E111CE17676"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>, or pursuant to subparagraph (D) for purposes of subsection (q), for a performance period under such subsection for a year</quote> after <quote>under such subsection for a year</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H1223BFB47618413799DD15D9BA9E90FD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0720235668EF49D692B815FCF85998B2" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="H1FBAB218766041DB9EBAC1A58FE5EBD1"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Continued application for purposes of VBP program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to 2017 and each subsequent payment year, the Secretary shall, for purposes of subsection (q) and in accordance with paragraph (1)(F) of such subsection, determine whether an eligible professional who is a VBP eligible professional (as defined in subsection (q)(1)(C)) for such year is a meaningful EHR user under this paragraph for the performance period under subsection (q) for such year.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H32365413C3504783A202E71D1EC3E8DE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Quality reporting</header><subparagraph id="HF0D7B3487D624C568F6994EE3528F6DE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Sunsetting separate quality reporting incentives</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(a)(8)(A) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(a)(8)(A)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause id="HB476EB6A45264E3387F1FF16D0E1B2BE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>or any subsequent year</quote> and inserting <quote>or 2016</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="HDBB687937B234DB787F6A73DFCC011BE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (ii)(II), by striking <quote>and each subsequent year</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8D3E87867D2A4557A217B6C931D7E200"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Continuation of quality measures and processes for VBP program</header><text>Section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause id="HBB427AB0454C43FB8A772D7EFD21275D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subsection (k), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H383D4848E9194384A1D2BD45E47DA50B" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HF5B3B8746F52464987D18FC55165DA5F"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Continued application for purposes of VBP program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, in accordance with subsection (q)(1)(F), carry out the provisions of this subsection for purposes of subsection (q).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="H0BC73E52C9484975A57E18863936904A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subsection (m)—</text><subclause id="H6287434C0B01451FBA407B81C3047909"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating the paragraph (7) added by section 10327(a) of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/148">Public Law 111–148</external-xref> as paragraph (8); and</text></subclause><subclause id="H9D4144D5FB5044009317A40C4780AA7B"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA7268E8DA7E649929B741C39B65CE041" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HAF22330969EC4073B821F393192723F3"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Continued application for purposes of VBP program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, in accordance with subsection (q)(1)(F), carry out the processes under this subsection for purposes of subsection (q).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H62F325571E0B4D71BFD8732ED2BD22C2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Value-based payments</header><subparagraph id="H1F4C1A2714C94F7CA5A82658D2E0145D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Sunsetting separate value-based payments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clause (iii) of section 1848(p)(4)(B) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(p)(4)(B)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D831564D7654622A8310576C57E57E5" style="OLC"><clause id="H528C4703FBD1414B9B23E2EB06C447A0"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Application</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall apply the payment modifier established under this subsection for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2015, but before January 1, 2017, with respect to specific physicians and groups of physicians the Secretary determines appropriate. Such payment modifier shall not be applied for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2017.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFC3E2BB19100414CBD13EDF633211869"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Continuation of value-based payment modifier measures for VBP program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(p) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(p)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause id="HB793EE71ACAF4B138FFF74E995E9AB91"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA478499FE01F4061A30E71A8D84185AC" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="HA98A5536EC64469D86A244F5AA1CCDFE"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Continued application for purposes of VBP program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, in accordance with subsection (q)(1)(F), carry out subparagraph (B) for purposes of subsection (q).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="H07E3185E042646C886B55607218DB413"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following: <quote>With respect to 2017 and each subsequent year, the Secretary shall, in accordance with subsection (q)(1)(F), carry out this paragraph for purposes of subsection (q).</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H54BE532E9E1340918A9ABD8493709802"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Value-based performance incentive program</header><paragraph id="HB1C4EDDDBFDD4968B94F5E451A553059"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H383FF27B8AC44D3CB8804D7485659240" style="OLC"><subsection id="H4D9F1735123D4A418A0F7268667AFFF7"><enum>(q)</enum><header>Value-based performance incentive program</header><paragraph id="HD1A07BF43A5E4EDF965C5438DC6CFDBA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><subparagraph id="H2B40FB343FCE47CBBA41DDF210E6D1CC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish an eligible professional value-based performance incentive program (in this subsection referred to as the <quote>VBP program</quote>) under which the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="HF6D35AC17D1D4629AF7D60247A5B9783"><enum>(i)</enum><text>develop a methodology for assessing the total performance of each VBP eligible professional according to performance standards under paragraph (3) for a performance period (as established under paragraph (4)) for a year;</text></clause><clause id="HA6A389EC52AB4F75B074A9D9D9B212C4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>using such methodology, provide for a composite performance score in accordance with paragraph (5) for each such professional for each performance period; and</text></clause><clause id="HA444B18DE26C41F6974657CB68E97CED"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>use such composite performance score of the VBP eligible professional for a performance period for a year to make VBP program incentive payments under paragraph (7) to the professional for the year.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA7F87EB6290F4C1D95EF9C653D105886"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Program implementation</header><text>The VBP program shall apply to payments for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2017.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9D06A34D85524025B0F99B1C34F3BF64"><enum>(C)</enum><header>VBP eligible professional defined</header><clause commented="no" id="HA32CBCADAC1C46798E55D37698724A24"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For purposes of this subsection, subject to clauses (ii) and (iv), the term <quote>VBP eligible professional</quote> means—</text><subclause commented="no" id="H279DCD5BC19449B68FFD5347FC03B58D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>for the first and second years for which the VBP program applies to payments (and for the performance period for such first and second year), a physician (as defined in section 1861(r)), a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, and clinical nurse specialist (as such terms are defined in section 1861(aa)(5)), and a certified registered nurse anesthetist (as defined in section 1861(bb)(2)); and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HE1916CE16C474F74BAB0AC2B0C5A90F4"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for the third year for which the VBP program applies to payments (and for the performance period for such third year) and for each succeeding year (and for the performance period for each such year), the professionals described in subclause (I) and such other eligible professionals (as defined in subsection (k)(3)(B)) as specified by the Secretary.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H1146E6ED842A4D339B97D26F1B02BECC"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>For purposes of clause (i), the term <quote>VBP eligible professional</quote> does not include, with respect to a year, an eligible professional (as defined in subsection (k)(3)(B))—</text><subclause id="HD2CAAE0362554CE7B7E0B1A2EBCDA568"><enum>(I)</enum><text>who is a qualifying APM participant (as defined in section 1833(z)(2));</text></subclause><subclause id="HCFE8CC2353674CE982015135D55E1DCC"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who, subject to clause (vii), is a partial qualifying APM participant (as defined in clause (iii)) for the most recent period for which data are available and who, for the performance period with respect to such year, does not report on applicable measures and activities described in paragraph (2)(B) that are required to be reported by such a professional under the VBP program; or</text></subclause><subclause id="HF7C2F135209A43CEB09D26500C095C0D"><enum>(III)</enum><text>who, for the performance period with respect to such year, does not exceed the low-volume threshold measurement selected under clause (iv).</text></subclause></clause><clause display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFFF6EFBD48184C08948F5BF8F1A6A27F"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Partial qualifying APM participant</header><text>For purposes of this subparagraph, the term <quote>partial qualifying APM participant</quote> means, with respect to a year, an eligible professional for whom the Secretary determines the minimum payment percentage (or percentages), as applicable, described in paragraph (2) of section 1833(z) for such year have not been satisfied, but who would be considered a qualifying APM participant (as defined in such paragraph) for such year if—</text><subclause id="HBFD545242F0B4A7CA31BF841BEB83DD5"><enum>(I)</enum><text>with respect to 2017 and 2018, the reference in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph to 25 percent was instead a reference to 20 percent;</text></subclause><subclause id="HFF26CB0E19A44BABA99148E3822097E4"><enum>(II)</enum><text>with respect to 2019 and 2020—</text><item id="H754657D6DE5047E780B4D501DBD9025F"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the reference in subparagraph (B)(i) of such paragraph to 50 percent was instead a reference to 40 percent; and</text></item><item id="H46AF7C7A640448B1837D3BF8B606DA28"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>the references in subparagraph (B)(ii) of such paragraph to 50 percent and 25 percent of such paragraph were instead references to 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively; and</text></item></subclause><subclause id="H77B1D88C56DD414BAAE52ADFDA4CBCB3"><enum>(III)</enum><text>with respect to 2021 and subsequent years—</text><item id="H933DB8013B77445FB6043197D0CC8C48"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>the reference in subparagraph (C)(i) of such paragraph to 75 percent was instead a reference to 50 percent; and</text></item><item id="H39A4E566AE624330A54AD1051A13D1E0"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>the references in subparagraph (C)(ii) of such paragraph to 75 percent and 25 percent of such paragraph were instead references to 50 percent and 20 percent, respectively.</text></item></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="H2431C7E3580B46DCA321670A11985041"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Selection of low-volume threshold measurement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall select one of the following low-volume threshold measurements to apply for purposes of clause (ii)(III):</text><subclause commented="no" id="H181EB79BEA134B7D90B67B372D12B9E9"><enum>(I)</enum><text>The minimum number (as determined by the Secretary) of individuals enrolled under this part who are treated by the VBP eligible professional for the performance period involved.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H5165BC13C2564A2889F22BB4B679EA10"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The minimum number (as determined by the Secretary) of items and services furnished to individuals enrolled under this part by such professional for such performance period.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H0DFA421A45DD47E6872662DB33E2EB38"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The minimum amount (as determined by the Secretary) of allowed charges billed by such professional under this part for such performance period.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H2F6F94BD111A4D1680237F965E96C918"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Treatment of new Medicare enrolled eligible professionals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a professional who first becomes a Medicare enrolled eligible professional during the performance period for a year (and had not previously submitted claims under this title such as a person, an entity, or a part of a physician group or under a different billing number or tax identifier), such professional shall not be treated under this subsection as a VBP eligible professional until the subsequent year and performance period for such subsequent year.</text></clause><clause id="H29EA09CB48EA4845B7972C8B23F2D06A"><enum>(vi)</enum><header>Clarification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of items and services furnished during a year by an individual who is not a VBP eligible professional (including pursuant to clauses (ii) and (v)) with respect to a year, in no case shall a reduction under paragraph (6) or a VBP program incentive payment under paragraph (7) apply to such individual for such year.</text></clause><clause id="H0CFDDE894A8346578B2EB6F6238731B5"><enum>(vii)</enum><header>Partial qualifying APM participant clarification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of an eligible professional who is a partial qualifying APM participant, with respect to a year, and who for the performance period for such year reports on applicable measures and activities described in paragraph (2)(B) that are required to be reported by such a professional under the VBP program, such eligible professional is considered to be a VBP eligible professional with respect to such year.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2BC2934972F34FE093878F251AAC2C36"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Application to group practices</header><clause id="HE763ECDBC47F4EAA8D38C4624532909F"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Under the VBP program:</text><subclause id="H0E023EC8E6FE47A1A1DB60541DA90F75"><enum>(I)</enum><header>Quality performance category</header><text>The Secretary shall establish and apply a process that includes features of the provisions of subsection (m)(3)(C) for VBP eligible professionals in a group practice with respect to assessing performance of such group with respect to the performance category described in clause (i) of paragraph (2)(A).</text></subclause><subclause id="H2505AE18C8564ABF95572F261BD2FCA6"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Other performance categories</header><text>The Secretary may establish and apply a process that includes features of the provisions of subsection (m)(3)(C) for VBP eligible professionals in a group practice with respect to assessing the performance of such group with respect to the performance categories described in clauses (ii) through (iv) of such paragraph.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HD2FE95A644A742CE94706E111D969EE6"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Ensuring comprehensiveness of group practice assessment</header><text>The process established under clause (i) shall to the extent practicable reflect the full range of items and services furnished by the VBP eligible professionals in the group practice involved.</text></clause><clause id="HB1C5A4F0144F4CD986D73AB34EC609DA"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Clarification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">VBP eligible professionals electing to be a virtual group under paragraph (5)(J) shall not be considered VBP eligible professionals in a group practice for purposes of applying this subparagraph.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFC144CB5303747BFBDFE05AC4A4A7065"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Use of registries</header><text>Under the VBP program, the Secretary shall encourage the use of qualified clinical data registries pursuant to subsection (m)(3)(E) in carrying out this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC4B4BF5380A446769039E03D75920039"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Application of certain provisions</header><text>In applying a provision of subsection (k), (m), (o), or (p) for purposes of this subsection, the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="HAD71C95DFB2941549112E869B5EEEE21"><enum>(i)</enum><text>adjust the application of such provision to ensure the provision is consistent with the provisions of this subsection; and</text></clause><clause id="H0E03D1EBE7A547B69E91F859E7BC978D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>not apply such provision to the extent that the provision is duplicative with a provision of this subsection.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2D06B539238D4E009E002EDF9B04E86A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Measures and activities under performance categories</header><subparagraph id="H9F3DF0839E90402DACAEF51EFDD96AAE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Performance categories</header><text>Under the VBP program, the Secretary shall use the following performance categories (each of which is referred to in this subsection as a performance category) in determining the composite performance score under paragraph (5):</text><clause id="H7DDE66DD6538428CB0AE8F885253C517"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Quality.</text></clause><clause id="H194AA091E0644D758D3D3E630135A680"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Resource use.</text></clause><clause id="H74F82D7263FD4E3BB93474EC9D349EFA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Clinical practice improvement activities.</text></clause><clause id="HF104DC59C79C4F04947858A868C38A12"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Meaningful use of certified EHR technology.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0FB344B9B350475B91464C870CF933C5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Measures and activities specified for each category</header><text>For purposes of paragraph (3)(A) and subject to subparagraph (C), measures and activities specified for a performance period (as established under paragraph (4)) for a year are as follows:</text><clause id="H0AECD218CCF3455CB99DE9E1658837AE"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Quality</header><text>For the performance category described in subparagraph (A)(i), the quality measures established for such period under subsections (k) and (m), including under subsection (m)(3)(E), and the measures of quality of care established for such period under subsection (p)(2).</text></clause><clause id="H5851A1AB62EA44AFA48B46325B40BD2A"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Resource use</header><text>For the performance category described in subparagraph (A)(ii), the measurement of resource use for such period under subsection (p)(3), using the methodology under subsection (r), as appropriate, and, as feasible and applicable, accounting for the cost of covered part D drugs.</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="H352BA402D235406DB93912BD29608FD4"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Clinical practice improvement activities</header><text>For the performance category described in subparagraph (A)(iii), clinical practice improvement activities under subcategories specified by the Secretary for such period, which shall include at least the following:</text><subclause commented="no" id="H087F4D0BE14340D4B32A60DCF657DF6D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>The subcategory of expanded practice access, which shall include activities such as same day appointments for urgent needs and after hours access to clinician advice.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HA2647469C2074FEE8498909F3F8E151B"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The subcategory of population management, which shall include activities such as monitoring health conditions of individuals to provide timely health care interventions or participation in a qualified clinical data registry.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H5D65638E57814F40BF4324E7DCD77FB8"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The subcategory of care coordination, which shall include activities such as timely communication of test results, timely exchange of clinical information to patients and other providers, and use of remote monitoring or telehealth.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HCB5EB67354E84D1E8A626446FD408377"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The subcategory of beneficiary engagement, which shall include activities such as the establishment of care plans for individuals with complex care needs, beneficiary self-management training, and using shared decision-making mechanisms.</text></subclause><subclause id="H817CAC58D5B842D78FC32D7572C19AEF"><enum>(V)</enum><text>The subcategory of patient safety and practice assessment, such as through use of clinical or surgical checklists and practice assessments related to maintaining certification.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H5D056492187F429EB8A23B85024F777D"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>The subcategory of participation in an alternative payment model (as defined in section 1833(z)(3)(C)).</text></subclause><continuation-text commented="no" continuation-text-level="clause">In establishing activities under this clause, the Secretary shall give consideration to the circumstances of small practices (consisting of 10 or fewer professionals) and practices located in rural areas and in health professional shortage areas (as designated under section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act).</continuation-text></clause><clause id="H3E54FC39F402420AB108A7BBDECB1893"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Meaningful EHR use</header><text>For the performance category described in subparagraph (A)(iv), the requirements established for such period under subsection (o)(2) for determining whether an eligible professional is a meaningful EHR user.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7E082323BB784E58A6FD736FD88C78E1"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Additional provisions</header><clause id="H100A315536C14677AB6601CEA71B7433"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Emphasizing outcome measures under quality performance category</header><text>In applying subparagraph (B)(i), the Secretary shall, as feasible, emphasize the application of outcome measures.</text></clause><clause id="H75AD367E145D48B08B55BAC83CD17C35"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Application of additional system measures</header><text>The Secretary may use measures used for a payment system other than for physicians for purposes of the performance category described in subparagraph (A)(i).</text></clause><clause id="HE3736631F68D4A62809604AD96C08EBE"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Global and population-based measures</header><text>The Secretary may use global measures, such as global outcome measures, and population-based measures for purposes of the performance category described in subparagraph (A)(i).</text></clause><clause id="HAB196FC90EBC4DFCA807C0B2CCAB82EA"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Request for information for clinical practice improvement activities</header><text>In initially applying subparagraph (B)(iii), the Secretary shall use a request for information to solicit recommendations from stakeholders for identifying activities described in such subparagraph and specifying criteria for such activities.</text></clause><clause id="H6FFC7D398A2B4012B1CEC24798915196"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Contract authority for clinical practice improvement activities performance category</header><text>In applying subparagraph (B)(iii), the Secretary may contract with entities to assist the Secretary in—</text><subclause id="HABEEFDE11DC943C89D196D653296336B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>identifying activities described in subparagraph (B)(iii);</text></subclause><subclause id="HEB090C49E02A4E2A8D4EA7081D39A039"><enum>(II)</enum><text>specifying criteria for such activities; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HE4D2E0A6646B4EAA91A3D5B41C043728"><enum>(III)</enum><text>determining whether a VBP eligible professional meets such criteria.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H661B1C311D4E44B0A607C67B0DCD6572"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Performance standards</header><subparagraph id="HA373EEB4A1654B4AA8446E6D8579DC98"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Under the VBP program, the Secretary shall establish performance standards with respect to measures and activities specified under paragraph (2)(B) for a performance period (as established under paragraph (4)) for a year.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3B75DE964BB74509AEF42D384F547B68"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Considerations in establishing standards</header><text>In establishing such performance standards with respect to measures and activities specified under paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary shall take into account the following:</text><clause id="H01B14C0F327F43D0B1C329A88BBA68A2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Historical performance standards.</text></clause><clause id="H79B4A0F5C7024929A14B2E9627AA1561"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Improvement rates.</text></clause><clause id="HEAFAE0D6C37442B0999A782E6D64D7B2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The opportunity for continued improvement.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2D58EE7A06DB4D36A41B6FAB4E9505D7"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Performance period</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a performance period (or periods) for a year (beginning with the year described in paragraph (1)(B)). Such performance period (or periods) shall begin and end prior to the beginning of such year and be as close as possible to such year. In this subsection, such performance period (or periods) for a year shall be referred to as the performance period for the year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3BAE5278C5CF4BC0A117854FAFA027D8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Composite performance score</header><subparagraph id="H639B3A40520D474F9159DD72ABF4667F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the succeeding provisions of this paragraph, the Secretary shall develop a methodology for assessing the total performance of each VBP eligible professional according to performance standards under paragraph (3) with respect to applicable measures and activities specified in paragraph (2)(B) with respect to each performance category applicable to such professional for a performance period (as established under paragraph (4)) for a year. Using such methodology, the Secretary shall provide for a composite assessment (in this subsection referred to as the <quote>composite performance score</quote>) for each such professional for each performance period.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA9D819E8A64341E4A99E4F873CB5CE43"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Weighting performance categories, measures, and activities</header><text>Under the methodology under subparagraph (A), the Secretary—</text><clause id="H673D7921C4FE43FC9D3ADB563B0161F2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>may assign different scoring weights (including a weight of 0) for—</text><subclause id="HD8788E067B614E95B5419DE1AFE70529"><enum>(I)</enum><text>each performance category based on the extent to which the category is applicable to the type of eligible professional involved; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H73030B443CB24C98B1C2E78ACBBE763E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>each measure and activity specified under paragraph (2)(B) with respect to each such category based on the extent to which the measure or activity is applicable to the type of eligible professional involved; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H2ADD1C7543094DA1A09CA6B463947252"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>with respect to the performance category described in paragraph (2)(A)(i)—</text><subclause id="H586FD913414C45F79213F38E6ADC9BBE"><enum>(I)</enum><text>shall assign a higher scoring weight to outcomes measures than to other measures and increase the scoring weight for outcome measures over time; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H3D085E80F0E24B049520F17C02A0849F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>may assign a higher scoring weight to patient experience measures.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H0E4155E78BCE4904AEF6034ECD3D9D5D"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Incentive to report; encouraging use of certified EHR technology for reporting quality measures</header><clause id="HB5F6286A75E04D2D9658AA5BF642557B"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Incentive to report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Under the methodology established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide that in the case of a VBP eligible professional who fails to report on an applicable measure or activity that is required to be reported by the professional, the professional shall be treated as achieving the lowest potential score applicable to such measure or activity.</text></clause><clause id="H971D5B4DBCC94809B92E1E1E73354F78"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Encouraging use of certified EHR technology for reporting quality measures</header><text>Under the methodology established under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—</text><subclause id="H65F7D529F2504E3ABCBF952A2683E8CE"><enum>(I)</enum><text>encourage VBP eligible professionals to report on applicable measures with respect to the performance category described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) through the use of certified EHR technology; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HF4A04A1956A5461DA101AE82212E3F7D"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to a performance period, with respect to a year, for which a VBP eligible professional reports such measures through the use of such EHR technology, treat such professional as satisfying the clinical quality measures reporting requirement described in subsection (o)(2)(A)(iii) for such year.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD8B5E9EB79D94852A9D7B40F49794436"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Clinical practice improvement activities performance score</header><clause id="HB662A895897E41EABB5D53ACDD7EC1A4"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Rule for accreditation</header><text>A VBP eligible professional who is in a practice that is certified as a patient-centered medical home or comparable specialty practice pursuant to subsection (b)(8)(B)(i) with respect to a performance period shall be given the highest potential score for the performance category described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii) for such period.</text></clause><clause id="HD066D2BAD0D44A849AF8B277AC6AA50C"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>APM participation</header><text>Participation by a VBP eligible professional in an alternative payment model (as defined in section 1833(z)(3)(C)) with respect to a performance period shall earn such eligible professional one-half of the highest potential score for the performance category described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii) for such performance period. Nothing in the previous sentence shall prevent such professional from earning more than one-half of such highest potential score for such performance period by performing additional activities with respect to such performance category.</text></clause><clause id="HE3C5FCC1990146F4B118217A1B9F75A7"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Subcategories</header><text>A VBP eligible professional shall not be required to perform activities in each subcategory under paragraph (2)(B)(iii) to achieve the highest potential score for the performance category described in paragraph (2)(A)(iii).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H12753FCECA2C405D9673FA90523446C4"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Distribution</header><text>The Secretary shall ensure that the application of the methodology developed under subparagraph (A) results in a continuous distribution of performance scores, which shall result in differential payments under paragraph (7).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H767B4460E4274C498E3CA72F796B7D05"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Achievement and improvement</header><clause id="HFD0039FBAD1D44D1AF22096870FD2B87"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Taking into account improvement</header><text>Beginning with the second year to which the VBP program applies, in addition to the achievement score of a VBP eligible professional, the methodology developed under subparagraph (A)—</text><subclause id="H436673ABD8314325BF95B4252039A933"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the case of the performance score for the performance category described in clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(A), shall take into account the improvement of the professional; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HBCCA142F7A59440E8756F5514B214256"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the case of performance scores for other performance categories, may take into account the improvement of the professional.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HFC721BDF78C840CE9FF1CC82A1CEEE8D"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Assigning higher weight for achievement</header><text>Beginning with the fourth year to which the VBP program applies, under the methodology developed under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall assign a higher scoring weight under subparagraph (B) with respect to the achievement score of a VBP eligible professional with respect to a measure or activity specified under paragraph (2)(B) (or with respect to such a measure or activity and with respect to categories described in paragraph (2)(A)) than to any improvement score applied under clause (i) with respect to such measure or activity (or such measure or activity and categories).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H311FCD3F49804E6D8DFE55F4DF87E005"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Weights for the performance categories</header><clause id="H7F5E838BC5FA42788BA22EF088BD1495"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Under the methodology developed under subparagraph (A), subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), the composite performance score shall be determined as follows:</text><subclause id="HABCAA0ABA32D4CBF9AA9ADFF9A27F9EC"><enum>(I)</enum><header>Quality</header><text>Thirty percent of such score shall be based on performance with respect to the category described in clause (i) of paragraph (2)(A).</text></subclause><subclause id="HD917A9AF4C2246009F2F7EFAA28FD22C"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Resource use</header><text>Thirty percent of such score shall be based on performance with respect to the category described in clause (ii) of paragraph (2)(A).</text></subclause><subclause id="HD6D6D789D94045B79ABABC6FDDE6DC69"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Clinical practice improvement activities</header><text>Fifteen percent of such score shall be based on performance with respect to the category described in clause (iii) of paragraph (2)(A).</text></subclause><subclause id="HAD565E53AB5342A08714E38989D94661"><enum>(IV)</enum><header>Meaningful use of certified EHR technology</header><text>Twenty-five percent of such score shall be based on performance with respect to the category described in clause (iv) of paragraph (2)(A).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H9BFD230B622F4DDFA44619C8742E5AD8"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Authority to adjust percentages in case of high ehr meaningful use adoption</header><text>In any year in which the Secretary estimates that the proportion of eligible professionals (as defined in subsection (o)(5)) who are meaningful EHR users (as determined under subsection (o)(2)) is 75 percent or greater, the Secretary may reduce the percent applicable under clause (i)(IV), but not below 15 percent. If the Secretary makes such reduction for a year, the percentages applicable under one or more of subclauses (I), (II), and (III) of clause (i) for such year shall be increased in a manner such that the total percentage points of the increase under this clause for such year equals the total number of percentage points reduced under the preceding sentence for such year.</text></clause><clause id="H94D8AF1398434A5A85F468727CBF75B9"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Authority to adjust percentages for quality and resource use</header><subclause id="HB839E99A83F242A3986C4BE2166D4286"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subclause (II), the percentages described in subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i), including after application of clause (ii), shall be equal.</text></subclause><subclause id="HFBEFDE05913C479791A709B285567EA2"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>For the first 2 years for which the VBP program applies, after application of clause (ii), the Secretary may increase the percentage applicable under subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i) as long as the Secretary decreases the percentage applicable under the other subclause by an equal number of percentage points and the number of percentage points applicable under each of subclauses (I) and (II) is not less than 15.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H680C12080A9D45AC872E32736BF920EE"><enum>(H)</enum><header>Resource use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Analysis of the performance category described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) shall include results from the methodology described in subsection (r)(5), as appropriate.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HE6C29C7941BC4E769BA81F186279D05F"><enum>(I)</enum><header>Inclusion of quality measure data from multiple payers</header><text>In applying subsections (k), (m), and (p) with respect to measures described in paragraph (2)(B)(i), analysis of the performance category described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) may include data submitted by VBP eligible professionals with respect to multiple payers.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3E2A2212E98D4D978857D0C98890309E"><enum>(J)</enum><header>Use of voluntary virtual groups for certain assessment purposes</header><clause commented="no" id="H960D2FF0BD0A43B28B3F6E1232A678C3"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of VBP eligible professionals electing to be a virtual group under clause (ii) with respect to a performance period for a year, for purposes of applying the methodology under subparagraph (A)—</text><subclause commented="no" id="H6C8967EEEA8F488598BDF8449671576E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the assessment of performance provided under such methodology with respect to the performance categories described in clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(A) that is to be applied to each such professional in such group for such performance period shall be with respect to the combined performance of all such professionals in such group for such period; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H518B52DC4EF24EFEA991E3269F01E238"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the composite score provided under this paragraph for such performance period with respect to each such performance category for each such VBP eligible professional in such virtual group shall be based on the assessment of the combined performance under subclause (I) for the performance category and performance period.</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="HB072836341F44DB887084D2493FDDF7F"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Election of practices to be a virtual group</header><text>The Secretary shall, in accordance with clause (iii), establish and have in place a process to allow an individual VBP eligible professional or a group practice consisting of not more than 10 VBP eligible professionals to elect, with respect to a performance period for a year, for such individual VBP eligible professional or all such VBP eligible professionals in such group practice, respectively, to be a virtual group under this subparagraph with at least one other such individual VBP eligible professional or group practice making such an election.</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="H4B6F6F0D25B348829691ED159281A918"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The process under clause (ii) shall provide that—</text><subclause commented="no" id="HCB1D996DE8D848418131D8E9B239B14B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>an election under such clause, with respect to a performance period, shall be made before the beginning of such performance period and may not be changed during such performance period; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H2B0DF01D18624F9DA527B30A65030090"><enum>(II)</enum><text>a practice described in such clause, and each VBP eligible professional in such practice, may elect to be in no more than one virtual group for a performance period.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB85A762E14D4412E9D2CD3BEF5D29EC2"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Funding for VBP program incentive payments</header><subparagraph id="H6B2E17B945C246FF840D414CA6589DC9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Total amount for incentive payments</header><text>The total amount for VBP program incentive payments under paragraph (7) for all VBP eligible professionals for a year shall be equal to the total amount of the performance funding pool for all VBP eligible professionals under subparagraph (B) for such year, as estimated by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H62B07F6E1E934B8A927D6CEA81D4D410"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Performance funding pool</header><clause id="HDDB3A2828EAB4977AB4AEF0268B4FBEB"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In the case of items and services furnished by a VBP eligible professional during a year (beginning with 2017), the otherwise applicable fee schedule amount (as defined in clause (iii)) with respect to such items and services and eligible professional for such year shall be reduced by the applicable percent under clause (ii). The total amount of such reductions for a year shall be referred to in this subsection as the <quote>performance funding pool</quote> for such year.</text></clause><clause id="HF516E2C15D33416CA0B14D98BE626FFE"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Applicable percent defined</header><text>For purposes of clause (i), the term <quote>applicable percent</quote> means—</text><subclause id="H4C39B9F44787412BA78FFC242D4B88E9"><enum>(I)</enum><text>for 2017, 4 percent;</text></subclause><subclause id="HA4A2FCD02D7941C183C94C8100A22605"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for 2018, 6 percent;</text></subclause><subclause id="H08D90C1C298F4B51971BAF4B2936A5C4"><enum>(III)</enum><text>for 2019, 8 percent;</text></subclause><subclause id="H66BFD034AAB745DF8F3A22A3D15DA140"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>for 2020, 10 percent; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HA441AB3C99DF458B8975DE2B5B34B31D"><enum>(V)</enum><text>for 2021 and subsequent years, a percent specified by the Secretary (but in no case less than 10 percent or more than 12 percent).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H28CFC41C61414BA19DF0536B2D42D0E6"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Otherwise applicable fee schedule amount</header><text>For purposes of this subparagraph and paragraph (7), the term <quote>otherwise applicable fee schedule amount</quote> means, with respect to items and services furnished by a VBP eligible professional during a year, the fee schedule amount for such items and services and year that would otherwise apply (without application of this subparagraph or paragraph (7)) with respect to such eligible professional under subsection (b), after application of subsection (a)(3), or under another fee schedule under this part.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H77C250939DA34A4AAD526AD792EF495E"><enum>(7)</enum><header>VBP program incentive payments</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="HEA2743C632124BCDAE7A1FB3F626CD69"><enum>(A)</enum><header>VBP program incentive payment adjustment factor</header><text>The Secretary shall specify a VBP program incentive payment adjustment factor for each VBP eligible professional for a year. Such VBP program incentive payment adjustment factor for a VBP eligible professional for a year shall be determined—</text><clause id="H77210D89046A46F0BA95CCA77C0BE600"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by the composite performance score of the eligible professional for such year;</text></clause><clause id="HFB427F044D2B4369814E8B6FAA900B01"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in a manner such that the adjustment factors specified under this subparagraph for a year results in differential payments under this paragraph reflecting the full range of the distribution of composite performance scores of VBP eligible professionals determined under paragraph (5)(E) for such year, with such professionals having higher composite performance scores receiving higher payment; and</text></clause><clause id="H64DE6F57253E4EF7B8DBC8158A9E0B22"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in a manner such that the adjustment factors specified under this subparagraph for a year—</text><subclause id="H658269F199174D3BA9AF1D49AE38BBB8"><enum>(I)</enum><text>do not result in a payment reduction for such year by an amount that exceeds the applicable percent described in paragraph (6)(B)(ii) for such year; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HAE7DE46872E244DDA8E841B4D405E811"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">do not result in a payment increase for such year by an amount that exceeds the applicable percent described in paragraph (6)(B)(ii) for such year.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H62AF532218F14C44B6E39DC6A191A33C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Calculation of VBP program incentive payment amounts</header><text>The VBP program incentive payment amount with respect to items and services furnished by a VBP eligible professional during a year shall be equal to the difference between—</text><clause commented="no" id="HB4B874B0453C495C83675322409DAE63"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the product of—</text><subclause commented="no" id="H321D9440A6574A7ABB6541081CD49AC7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the VBP program incentive payment adjustment factor determined under subparagraph (A) for such VBP eligible professional for such year; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H9C9D81A5DD4644F68E5363C5A66DFF15"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the otherwise applicable fee schedule amount (as defined in paragraph (6)(B)(iii)) with respect to such items and services and eligible professional for such year; and</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="H25F0F3F009BF4470A7277406269E4DF3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the otherwise applicable fee schedule amount, as reduced under paragraph (6)(B), with respect to such items and services, eligible professional, and year.</text></clause><continuation-text commented="no" continuation-text-level="subparagraph">The application of the preceding sentence may result in the VBP program incentive payment amount being 0.0 with respect to an item or service furnished by a VBP eligible professional.</continuation-text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H2F256D1B4DFE4CCB8BFAFD0306D153E8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Application of VBP program incentive payment amount</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of items and services furnished by a VBP eligible professional during a year (beginning with 2017), the otherwise applicable fee schedule amount, as reduced under paragraph (6)(B), with respect to such items and services and eligible professional for such year shall be increased, if applicable, by the VBP program incentive payment amount determined under subparagraph (B) with respect to such items and services, professional, and year.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE89CE0B8F49D4E65B4EA46D017FD38BC"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Budget neutrality</header><text>In specifying the VBP program incentive payment adjustment factor for each VBP eligible professional for a year under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that the total amount of VBP program incentive payment amounts under this paragraph for all VBP eligible professionals in a year shall be equal to the performance funding pool for such year under paragraph (6), as estimated by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5BF6D5FA07E3452984966DDC58793586"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Announcement of result of adjustments</header><text>Under the VBP program, the Secretary shall, not later than 60 days prior to the year involved, make available to each VBP eligible professional the VBP program incentive payment adjustment factor under paragraph (7) and the payment reduction under paragraph (6) applicable to the eligible professional for items and services furnished by the professional in such year. The Secretary may include such information in the confidential feedback under paragraph (13).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBAD99178B29D447EA47667363E945751"><enum>(9)</enum><header>No effect in subsequent years</header><text>The VBP program incentive payment under paragraph (7) and the payment reduction under paragraph (6) shall each apply only with respect to the year involved, and the Secretary shall not take into account such VBP program incentive payment or payment reduction in making payments to a VBP eligible professional under this part in a subsequent year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5DCC91132ECF4EC7A2702660B4CD55CB"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Public reporting</header><subparagraph id="H1F606D09B9AE4ABFA2FB4CC241AD747D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall, in an easily understandable format, make available on the Physician Compare Internet website under subsection (t) the following:</text><clause id="HD5E20F3B669848A8B158F5C089029A0B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Information regarding the performance of VBP eligible professionals under the VBP program, which—</text><subclause id="H83E8CC73B0874CE2A114617EB95DFD56"><enum>(I)</enum><text>shall include the composite score for each such VBP eligible professional and the performance of each such VBP eligible professional with respect to each performance category; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HB92C566DA0DE410D8355B3FA83A239CA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>may include the performance of each such VBP eligible professional with respect to each measure or activity specified in paragraph (2)(B).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HC9F6B8223FC24B9284689C46FC69D20F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The names of eligible professionals in eligible alternative payment models (as defined in section 1833(z)(3)(D)) and, to the extent feasible, the names of such eligible alternative payment models and performance of such models.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H76237D24F75C458E8255CBB0D8AA3273"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Opportunity to review and submit corrections</header><text>The Secretary shall provide for an opportunity for a professional described in subparagraph (A) to review, and submit corrections for, the information to be made public with respect to the professional under such subparagraph prior to such information being made public.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H789B8C9663C647BABF632D05C32C8005"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Aggregate information</header><text>The Secretary shall periodically post on the Physician Compare Internet website aggregate information on the VBP program, including the range of composite scores for all VBP eligible professionals and the range of the performance of all VBP eligible professionals with respect to each performance category.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2E41E24037744A49A6EF7A3E0428AFD5"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>The Secretary shall consult with stakeholders in carrying out the VBP program, including for the identification of measures and activities under paragraph (2)(B) and the methodologies developed under paragraphs (5)(A) and (7). Such consultation shall include the use of a request for information or other mechanisms determined appropriate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H76B1762B6A6A4540BD9B1A0FA41CDA28"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Technical assistance to small practices and practices in health professional shortage areas</header><subparagraph id="H1DBBA9F473FA49A299CDD8E90D9A0095"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall enter into contracts or agreements with appropriate entities (such as quality improvement organizations, regional extension centers (as described in section 3012(c) of the Public Health Service Act), or regional health collaboratives) to offer guidance and assistance to VBP eligible professionals in practices of 10 or fewer professionals (with priority given to such practices located in rural areas, health professional shortage areas (as designated in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act), medically underserved areas, or practices with low composite scores) with respect to—</text><clause id="H93D7446AD1DE443F828BD8A6CB74521D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the performance categories described in clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (2)(A); or</text></clause><clause id="H96D97BF7FFCD4BD2B33B1E1B6287462D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>how to transition to the implementation of and participation in an alternative payment model as described in section 1833(z)(3)(C).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H645E1F60A26245BCB45EFDEF01D3C802"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding for implementation</header><text>For purposes of implementing subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund established under section 1841 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account of $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. Of amounts transferred under the preceding sentence, not less than $10,000,000 shall be available for technical assistance to small practices (consisting of 10 or fewer professionals) in health professional shortage areas (as so designated). Amounts transferred under this subparagraph for a fiscal year shall be available until expended.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9751FA203F5847B68D3B77C20413AAB8"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Feedback and information to improve performance</header><subparagraph id="H333997100E164D4D9F99FFA4A7819B2C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Performance feedback</header><clause id="HBA6B15CC24794615BBF6351EBC9E2003"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning July 1, 2015, the Secretary—</text><subclause id="H3191D5B58DEC47F0B05889B284AE266F"><enum>(I)</enum><text>shall make available timely (such as quarterly) confidential feedback to each VBP eligible professional on the performance of such professional with respect to the performance categories under clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(A); and</text></subclause><subclause id="H67EDCACA50A34E57999366C209BD3957"><enum>(II)</enum><text>may make available confidential feedback to each such professional on the performance of such professional with respect to the performance categories under clauses (iii) and (iv) of such paragraph.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HC896C74EDBB441B8B40C6CBAC2DDAD46"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Mechanisms</header><text>The Secretary may use one or more mechanisms to make feedback available under clause (i), which may include use of a web-based portal or other mechanisms determined appropriate by the Secretary. The Secretary shall encourage provision of feedback through qualified clinical data registries, as described in subsection (m)(3)(E).</text></clause><clause id="H5E95C9C8CF9946D6AFF21F29229E9662"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Use of data</header><text>For purposes of clause (i), the Secretary may use data, with respect to a VBP eligible professional, from periods prior to the current performance period and may use rolling periods in order to make illustrative calculations about the performance of such professional.</text></clause><clause id="H28A5D78D1B7D4B9CB80D26E7056E9248"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Disclosure exemption</header><text>Feedback made available under this subparagraph shall be exempt from disclosure under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/552">section 552</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code.</text></clause><clause id="H393D925225184BAF8F0122F966BDC7FA"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Receipt of information</header><text>The Secretary may use the mechanisms established under clause (ii) to receive information from professionals, such as information with respect to this subsection.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3AFE5CFB3D224204ADF668E28E6B251F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Additional information</header><clause id="HF544BDC9CFD840468CD53E4057B52CC3"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning July 1, 2016, the Secretary shall make available to each VBP eligible professional information, with respect to individuals who are patients of such VBP eligible professional, about items and services for which payment is made under this title that are furnished to such individuals by other suppliers and providers of services, which may include information described in clause (ii). Such information shall be made available under the previous sentence to such VBP eligible professionals by mechanisms determined appropriate by the Secretary, which may include use of a web-based portal. Such information shall be made available in accordance with the same or similar terms as data are made available to accountable care organizations under section 1899, including a beneficiary opt-out.</text></clause><clause id="H4A6B8ED4B4C74EDAB5DA2EDD6661C6D5"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Type of information</header><text>For purposes of clause (i), the information described in this clause, is the following:</text><subclause id="HDEFC62B5129A4531AD63DE256C4E499C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>With respect to selected items and services (as determined appropriate by the Secretary) for which payment is made under this title and that are furnished to individuals, who are patients of a VBP eligible professional, by another supplier or provider of services during the most recent period for which data are available (such as the most recent three-month period), the name of such providers furnishing such items and services to such patients during such period, the types of such items and services so furnished, and the dates such items and services were so furnished.</text></subclause><subclause id="H265087CEEBA3480BB232FDC67F9DD39D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Historical averages (and other measures of the distribution if appropriate) of the total, and components of, allowed charges (and other figures as determined appropriate by the Secretary) for care episodes for such period.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2548A18534874A22BFD0D32FCA39F63C"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Review</header><subparagraph id="H95921E81DF384E13AE4441C88AB9B4CF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Targeted review</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a process under which a VBP eligible professional may seek an informal review of the calculation of the VBP program incentive payment adjustment factor applicable to such eligible professional under this subsection for a year. The results of a review conducted pursuant to the previous sentence shall not be taken into account for purposes of paragraph (7) with respect to a year (other than with respect to the calculation of such eligible professional’s VBP program incentive payment adjustment factor for such year) after the factors determined in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph have been determined for such year.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF29D04A226C047BA938A3619E0DF22FF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Except as provided for in subparagraph (A), there shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1869, section 1878, or otherwise of the following:</text><clause id="H559C0060E8984A86A6095B88929DDC3B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The methodology used to determine the amount of the VBP program incentive payment adjustment factor under paragraph (7) and the determination of such amount.</text></clause><clause id="H1E9B6CC8ED6744ADA963FE87D00A7D4F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The determination of the amount of funding available for such VBP program incentive payments under paragraph (6)(A) and the payment reduction under paragraph (6)(B)(i).</text></clause><clause id="H9621B0ACF08D47718F0AA6430D4C28DD"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The establishment of the performance standards under paragraph (3) and the performance period under paragraph (4).</text></clause><clause id="H5601ED904D5645B483A5D038E6401C9E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The identification of measures and activities specified under paragraph (2)(B) and information made public or posted on the Physician Compare Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under paragraph (10).</text></clause><clause id="HC4052B0996204BB8BEA92FD0C87C6317"><enum>(v)</enum><text>The methodology developed under paragraph (5) that is used to calculate performance scores and the calculation of such scores, including the weighting of measures and activities under such methodology.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HC6F7D94962774C18BA710217073FBA16"><enum>(2)</enum><header>GAO reports</header><subparagraph id="H3AEF1C8E6437470AAF82AD11E4741B0A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Evaluation of eligible professional VBP program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than October 1, 2018, and October 1, 2021, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report evaluating the eligible professional value-based performance incentive program under subsection (q) of section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>), as added by paragraph (1). Such report shall—</text><clause id="H2CCD3E9CDDBA432180CD7C04E16F7103"><enum>(i)</enum><text>examine the distribution of the performance and incentive payments for VBP eligible professionals (as defined in subsection (q)(1)(C) of such section) under such program, and patterns relating to such performance and incentive payments, including those based on type of provider, practice size, geographic location, and patient mix;</text></clause><clause id="H1B296F91CE38425C878F9C7C056D83A5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide recommendations for improving such program;</text></clause><clause id="id415c37f31d694eadb272b3eacc08ee0c"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>evaluate the impact of technical assistance funding under section 1848(q)(12) of the Social Security Act, as added by paragraph (1), on the ability of professionals to improve within such program or successfully transition to an alternative payment model (as defined in section 1833(z)(3) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (e)(1)), with priority for such evaluation given to practices located in rural areas, health professional shortage areas (as designated in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act), and medically underserved areas; and</text></clause><clause id="idf2bf049ea4284c27929e00d687468fac"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>provide recommendations for optimizing the use of such technical assistance funds.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD6EAB3D640464E21897316533EDB08F3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Study to examine alignment of quality measures used in public and private programs</header><clause id="id53AB27ACFAA04C30A33059E17EDF7BBD"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that—</text><subclause id="HBC1D145AF6E84F6BB41CB7CD0E88D0CF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>compares the similarities and differences in the use of quality measures under the original medicare fee-for-service program under parts A and B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Medicare Advantage program under part C of such title, selected State Medicaid programs under title XIX of such Act, and private payer arrangements; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H79D71FE6AD264B4CBA1C1E605B9CE32D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>makes recommendations on how to reduce the administrative burden involved in applying such quality measures.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id9DA2D3D6DC564221B2906DDAE1C7CA8F"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The report under clause (i) shall—</text><subclause id="idD68F31D6C5DD463A94C701434AE78E32"><enum>(I)</enum><text>consider those measures applicable to individuals entitled to, or enrolled for, benefits under such part A, or enrolled under such part B and individuals under the age of 65; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id1829740AA0194B75A5D2ED58CE798717"><enum>(II)</enum><text>focus on those measures that comprise the most significant component of the quality performance category of the eligible professional value-based performance incentive program under subsection (q) of section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>), as added by paragraph (1).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4A72D07651B447ABB7BB1DD202EEF6DB"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Study to examine rural and health professional shortage area alternative payment models</header><text>Not later than October 1, 2019, and October 1, 2021, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that examines the transition of professionals in rural areas, health professional shortage areas (as designated in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act), or medically underserved areas to an alternative payment model (as defined in section 1833(z)(3) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (e)(1)). Such report shall make recommendations for removing administrative barriers to practices in rural areas, health professional shortage areas, and medically underserved areas to participation in such models.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1D9972B81AA941AEA7E362CBC52D8DCF"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Funding for implementation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of implementing the provisions of and the amendments made by this section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for the transfer of $50,000,000 from the Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund established under section 1841 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395t">42 U.S.C. 1395t</external-xref>) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Program Management Account for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2017. Amounts transferred under this paragraph shall be available until expended.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2905838660AA4CA3B946CE9F76278C60"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Improving quality reporting for composite scores</header><paragraph id="HCFA6E572BC8949A4977FE747A8815AA6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Changes for group reporting option</header><subparagraph id="H857A8AB05FAA433DBA1EED0D91978DCD"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(m)(3)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(m)(3)(C)(ii)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>and, for 2014 and subsequent years, may provide</quote> after <quote>shall provide</quote>.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA22CD7FC2A2F4DC7959BDE3F7A8751F6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Clarification of qualified clinical data registry reporting to group practices</header><text>Section 1848(m)(3)(D) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(m)(3)(D)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>and, for 2015 and subsequent years, subparagraph (A) or (C)</quote> after <quote>subparagraph (A)</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H58656304064D495B813C675117E435BC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Changes for multiple reporting periods and alternative criteria for satisfactory reporting</header><text>Section 1848(m)(5)(F) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(m)(5)(F)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="H71EB6A6C28E24165B71E7C80843F8640"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and subsequent years</quote> and inserting <quote>through reporting periods occurring in 2013</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2BF1E4896D714A1A878CD7D7BCD4778A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>and, for reporting periods occurring in 2014 and subsequent years, the Secretary may establish</quote> following <quote>shall establish</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE73B42F616AA4B9B8F194DEE4E3999FB"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Physician feedback program reports succeeded by reports under VBP program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(n) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(n)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H58259FA6A7F6415DA687BF89629F5708" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H09E080BE65B94977AA6F60EE2F92BC61"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Reports ending with 2016</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reports under the Program shall not be provided after December 31, 2016. See subsection (q)(13) for reports beginning with 2017.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H55362AE41EC74AA3AA176A0532F95B61"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Coordination with satisfying meaningful EHR use clinical quality measure reporting requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(o)(2)(A)(iii) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(o)(2)(A)(iii)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>and subsection (q)(5)(C)(ii)(II)</quote> after <quote>Subject to subparagraph (B)(ii)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H659134E59B954269BE70831538CE3B63"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Promoting alternative payment models</header><paragraph id="HA623771E40144D2FA77B4EAF470899DA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Incentive payments for participation in eligible alternative payment models</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1833 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395l">42 U.S.C. 1395l</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0A2C50B1DA2349689F674EBAC81F16F3" style="OLC"><subsection commented="no" id="HF0DDA12C098A4C4F82121B773E466D14"><enum>(z)</enum><header>Incentive payments for participation in eligible alternative payment models</header><paragraph commented="no" id="HFD134A75C9714BA0BB69623A77AB15D9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Payment incentive</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="HB56CF778F67B46DA98E1D52C1349683C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In the case of covered professional services furnished by an eligible professional during a year that is in the period beginning with 2017 and ending with 2022 and for which the professional is a qualifying APM participant, in addition to the amount of payment that would otherwise be made for such covered professional services under this part for such year, there also shall be paid to such professional an amount equal to 5 percent of the payment amount for the covered professional services under this part for the preceding year. For purposes of the previous sentence, the payment amount for the preceding year may be an estimation for the full preceding year based on a period of such preceding year that is less than the full year. The Secretary shall establish policies to implement this subparagraph in cases where payment for covered professional services furnished by a qualifying APM participant in an alternative payment model is made to an entity participating in the alternative payment model rather than directly to the qualifying APM participant.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC68454F5BCCA4D20A1D6466845884346"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Form of payment</header><text>Payments under this subsection shall be made in a lump sum, on an annual basis, as soon as practicable.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H95E67644F2AB4E10B296A9D0EA38EA07"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Treatment of payment incentive</header><text>Payments under this subsection shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining actual expenditures under an alternative payment model and for purposes of determining or rebasing any benchmarks used under the alternative payment model.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HB4E656CF3691475C885DA5C5AF56DCE1"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>The amount of the additional payment for an item or service under this subsection or subsection (m) shall be determined without regard to any additional payment for the item or service under subsection (m) and this subsection, respectively. The amount of the additional payment for an item or service under this subsection or subsection (x) shall be determined without regard to any additional payment for the item or service under subsection (x) and this subsection, respectively. The amount of the additional payment for an item or service under this subsection or subsection (y) shall be determined without regard to any additional payment for the item or service under subsection (y) and this subsection, respectively.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HF1778AD81189495989DB282B7303575D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Qualifying APM participant</header><text>For purposes of this subsection, the term <quote>qualifying APM participant</quote> means the following:</text><subparagraph id="HDFB9BC7CFF3B4075B29B180C1AFAF268"><enum>(A)</enum><header>2017 and 2018</header><text>With respect to 2017 and 2018, an eligible professional for whom the Secretary determines that at least 25 percent of payments under this part for covered professional services furnished by such professional during the most recent period for which data are available (which may be less than a year) were attributable to such services furnished under this part through an entity that participates in an eligible alternative payment model with respect to such services.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0948122F57474D2C9BFAF1712EADA91B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>2019 and 2020</header><text>With respect to 2019 and 2020, an eligible professional described in either of the following clauses:</text><clause id="HEC48A354CE1E499291BE7C4FCBACA443"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Medicare revenue threshold option</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An eligible professional for whom the Secretary determines that at least 50 percent of payments under this part for covered professional services furnished by such professional during the most recent period for which data are available (which may be less than a year) were attributable to such services furnished under this part through an entity that participates in an eligible alternative payment model with respect to such services.</text></clause><clause id="HBC31939C125D4E7AB7FDAC7D916B371E"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Combination all-payer and Medicare revenue threshold option</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An eligible professional—</text><subclause id="HC71DE8D4A1CB4A66B1162C3BCA781642"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for whom the Secretary determines, with respect to items and services furnished by such professional during the most recent period for which data are available (which may be less than a year), that at least 50 percent of the sum of—</text><item id="H5234393470D74C198EA8F3467898961E"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>payments described in clause (i); and</text></item><item id="HFBE68A549E914F27AA92615D2A2DC1C6"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all other payments, regardless of payer (other than payments made by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/10/55">chapter 55</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code, or title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, and other than payments made under title XIX in a State in which no medical home or alternative payment model is available under the State program under that title).</text></item><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subclause">meet the requirement described in clause (iii)(I) with respect to payments described in item (aa) and meet the requirement described in clause (iii)(II) with respect to payments described in item (bb);</continuation-text></subclause><subclause id="H2FAE0808A13948529A37A75D728CC38E"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for whom the Secretary determines at least 25 percent of payments under this part for covered professional services furnished by such professional during the most recent period for which data are available (which may be less than a year) were attributable to such services furnished under this part through an entity that participates in an eligible alternative payment model with respect to such services; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H1D40BB3D118048D682E8CC2114C4D3E6"><enum>(III)</enum><text>who provides to the Secretary such information as is necessary for the Secretary to make a determination under subclause (I), with respect to such professional.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H7CB83E4E81FC42119B892FB9D8523022"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>For purposes of clause (ii)(I)—</text><subclause id="HD8CAD9F6DA7A4F87ABE20E069D2815F2"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the requirement described in this subclause, with respect to payments described in item (aa) of such clause, is that such payments are made under an eligible alternative payment model; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HB83C3E9E132C45918595FBDE48D59A32"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the requirement described in this subclause, with respect to payments described in item (bb) of such clause, is that such payments are made under an arrangement in which—</text><item id="HB37EC64A812243BE8DABCAA1D0CF7E92"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">quality measures comparable to measures under the performance category described in section 1848(q)(2)(B)(i) apply;</text></item><item id="HDCAA07D8D4D849F89B9CABC4129B4063"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>certified EHR technology is used; and</text></item><item id="HBE2179D26745468CAB98B9F195A9CDB6"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>the eligible professional (AA) bears more than nominal financial risk if actual aggregate expenditures exceeds expected aggregate expenditures; or (BB) is a medical home (with respect to beneficiaries under title XIX) that meets criteria comparable to medical homes expanded under section 1115A(c).</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB1E85472DEC44037884406719C6D774B"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Beginning in 2021</header><text>With respect to 2021 and each subsequent year, an eligible professional described in either of the following clauses:</text><clause id="H9D2C4D4F31EB49D6BE67D3F0391F8F8D"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Medicare revenue threshold option</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An eligible professional for whom the Secretary determines that at least 75 percent of payments under this part for covered professional services furnished by such professional during the most recent period for which data are available (which may be less than a year) were attributable to such services furnished under this part through an entity that participates in an eligible alternative payment model with respect to such services.</text></clause><clause id="HFA277597630E467B883B34FB55D42BB0"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Combination all-payer and Medicare revenue threshold option</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An eligible professional—</text><subclause display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H13E14FB7F9BB47D3A136E37BBB58BB06"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for whom the Secretary determines, with respect to items and services furnished by such professional during the most recent period for which data are available (which may be less than a year), that at least 75 percent of the sum of—</text><item id="HCCE8567AC3E84B0B92340D7D7504C95A"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>payments described in clause (i); and</text></item><item id="id984F09D0FF4C49E9AD6B1EDC51FB0143"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all other payments, regardless of payer (other than payments made by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/10/55">chapter 55</external-xref> of title 10, United States Code, or title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, and other than payments made under title XIX in a State in which no medical home or alternative payment model is available under the State program under that title.</text></item><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subclause">meet the requirement described in clause (iii)(I) with respect to payments described in item (aa) and meet the requirement described in clause (iii)(II) with respect to payments described in item (bb);</continuation-text></subclause><subclause id="H87E31D4F48D34DAC9B8FB9511E75D47A"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for whom the Secretary determines at least 25 percent of payments under this part for covered professional services furnished by such professional during the most recent period for which data are available (which may be less than a year) were attributable to such services furnished under this part through an entity that participates in an eligible alternative payment model with respect to such services; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H531EA7775E2E497D88AE9DFD3C9F201C"><enum>(III)</enum><text>who provides to the Secretary such information as is necessary for the Secretary to make a determination under subclause (I), with respect to such professional.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H41C368046E8B49E2A089DA824407C165"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>For purposes of clause (ii)(I)—</text><subclause id="H674F2D08B4984636BF151C601EB14781"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the requirement described in this subclause, with respect to payments described in item (aa) of such clause, is that such payments are made under an eligible alternative payment model; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H8AF037256CD34877A613260278899D98"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the requirement described in this subclause, with respect to payments described in item (bb) of such clause, is that such payments are made under an arrangement in which—</text><item id="H9C34F32E73DC40D581C67D0B796E6109"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">quality measures comparable to measures under the performance category described in section 1848(q)(2)(B)(i) apply;</text></item><item id="HFD67D8EB2B0949BC9196701F3747948E"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>certified EHR technology is used; and</text></item><item id="idDBD2AB04386343CFAC81772382099320"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>the eligible professional (AA) bears more than nominal financial risk if actual aggregate expenditures exceeds expected aggregate expenditures; or (BB) is a medical home (with respect to beneficiaries under title XIX) that meets criteria comparable to medical homes expanded under section 1115A(c).</text></item></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H414881BE2CE44155AD48E9617151B071"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Additional definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H7B64A4A72F0D479CB8059AA351B3B5D4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Covered professional services</header><text>The term <quote>covered professional services</quote> has the meaning given that term in section 1848(k)(3)(A).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H1FDC67A853224A59A579CE7DB899B5EB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Eligible professional</header><text>The term <quote>eligible professional</quote> has the meaning given that term in section 1848(k)(3)(B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HDF4496437A3040358C476F9443B18430"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Alternative payment model (APM)</header><text>The term <quote>alternative payment model</quote> means any of the following:</text><clause commented="no" id="HA08DF254FB0543F78D85990817E3D019"><enum>(i)</enum><text>A model under section 1115A (other than a health care innovation award).</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="H407A933EC6DF44AAAA49FCA0DCBD06F9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>An accountable care organization under section 1899.</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="HAE339FC00F1444948A9E229942AD25DF"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>A demonstration under section 1866C.</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="HE9B6BA3A90A24DD88EE1DDD7460BFD8E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>A demonstration required by Federal law.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H94DBFBC2530144A2A4D6E52B860B92E0"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Eligible alternative payment model (APM)</header><clause commented="no" id="H169E48AD633D47BC92FA8D03193A4941"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>eligible alternative payment model</quote> means, with respect to a year, an alternative payment model—</text><subclause id="HAA853A8021824FB29013174B89CEB184"><enum>(I)</enum><text>that requires use of certified EHR technology (as defined in subsection (o)(4));</text></subclause><subclause id="H85B0A54C66C74A33BDAA8E9DB3D33350"><enum>(II)</enum><text>that provides for payment for covered professional services based on quality measures comparable to measures under the performance category described in section 1848(q)(2)(B)(i); and</text></subclause><subclause id="HDE0B5AEBBE0C4961B84E958BB9DA5601"><enum>(III)</enum><text>that satisfies the requirement described in clause (ii).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HFC8A437D82424D8DAAC3AAA287EDC4EF"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Additional requirement</header><text>For purposes of clause (i)(III), the requirement described in this clause, with respect to a year and an alternative payment model, is that the alternative payment model—</text><subclause commented="no" id="HF2D018FB136E4184B1A4A34F25EAFB01"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is one in which one or more entities bear financial risk for monetary losses under such model that are in excess of a nominal amount; or</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="H3422B3C7CCF74CB39806467389181CE0"><enum>(II)</enum><text>is a medical home expanded under section 1115A(c).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H0DF9962CF4574920AF41ED3467F17950"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1869, 1878, or otherwise, of the following:</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H7E45821FEF21412A8839585D9545CC4F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The determination that an eligible professional is a qualifying APM participant under paragraph (2) and the determination that an alternative payment model is an eligible alternative payment model under paragraph (3)(D).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H64F5CB780F4F419D8EA8E298464FAED7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The determination of the amount of the 5 percent payment incentive under paragraph (1)(A), including any estimation as part of such determination.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HA6EFC6D7E5E844D88914949E8FD2A1AB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coordination conforming amendments</header><text>Section 1833 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395l">42 U.S.C. 1395l</external-xref>) is further amended—</text><subparagraph id="H0FFF723B5A33418BB474EDED30F6F77E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (x)(3), by adding at the end the following new sentence: <quote>The amount of the additional payment for a service under this subsection and subsection (z) shall be determined without regard to any additional payment for the service under subsection (z) and this subsection, respectively.</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD26BD114EA464665954F42265CAAC4B2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (y)(3), by adding at the end the following new sentence: <quote>The amount of the additional payment for a service under this subsection and subsection (z) shall be determined without regard to any additional payment for the service under subsection (z) and this subsection, respectively.</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H037D7AA61CE5417F95A387E25D5DAC91"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Encouraging development and testing of certain models</header><text>Section 1115A(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1315a">42 U.S.C. 1315a(b)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="H8896D4DE33E744C58EA84333EB79E13A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by adding at the end the following new clauses:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H265025FD834E49DC9C807F0D5746A8E8" style="OLC"><clause id="H9490C3B57B4D43B09EEC082FBC3F9F79"><enum>(xxi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Focusing primarily on physicians’ services (as defined in section 1848(j)(3)) furnished by physicians who are not primary care practitioners.</text></clause><clause id="H803F6475D674487AA266BC2C61EB3FA9"><enum>(xxii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Focusing on practices of 10 or fewer professionals.</text></clause><clause id="id002EF6ABDD804E4DB2FD56F3B40A1021"><enum>(xxiii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Focusing primarily on title XIX, working in conjunction with the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC33400B8C13944169B031316525E46D3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C)(viii), by striking <quote>other public sector or private sector payers</quote> and inserting <quote>other public sector payers, private sector payers, or Statewide payment models</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id69dd1bcc902e494b8f638cc746be3c71"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Construction regarding telehealth services</header><text>Nothing in the provisions of, or amendments made by, this Act shall be construed as precluding an alternative payment model or a qualifying APM participant (as those terms are defined in section 1833(z) of the Social Security Act, as added by paragraph (1)) from furnishing a telehealth service for which payment is not made under section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395m">42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbe84ce877166429fbdf1b39048887cf1"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Plan for integrating Medicare advantage alternative payment models</header><text>Not later than July 1, 2015, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a plan to integrate Medicare Advantage alternative payment models that take into account a budget neutral value-based modifier.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H154BBB9FD74447A1933FB8F52CB7CB4A"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Study and report on fraud related to alternative payment models under the Medicare program</header><paragraph id="H2776ECFDD9584623821AE13A42912231"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, shall conduct a study that—</text><subparagraph id="HB4658B264E6744F2B2E6EF6C4484A289"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examines the applicability of the Federal fraud prevention laws to items and services furnished under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for which payment is made under an alternative payment model (as defined in section 1833(z)(3)(C) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395l">42 U.S.C. 1395l(z)(3)(C)</external-xref>));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H874BC21ADB654D859081CC581C81A7EF"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identifies aspects of such alternative payment models that are vulnerable to fraudulent activity; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5D9D794C92364F7D908B21666852CF68"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examines the implications of waivers to such laws granted in support of such alternative payment models, including under any potential expansion of such models.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBB123E2F723646F0A2DE2147B5D5BBC3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1). Such report shall include recommendations for actions to be taken to reduce the vulnerability of such alternative payment models to fraudulent activity. Such report also shall include, as appropriate, recommendations of the Inspector General for changes in Federal fraud prevention laws to reduce such vulnerability.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HEA05B64793F142C9A76FAAC7058C1D36"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Improving payment accuracy</header><paragraph id="HAF9E3BE5A5C44D9682143359D89327B1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Studies and reports of effect of certain information on quality and resource use </header><subparagraph id="HA68CFDC8D64A4367B991D5A433B1929C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Study using existing Medicare data</header><clause id="HEABF3279FEFB407E9B72675EDCA034CD"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subsection referred to as the <quote>Secretary</quote>) shall conduct a study that examines the effect of individuals’ socioeconomic status on quality and resource use outcome measures for individuals under the Medicare program. The study shall use information collected on such individuals in carrying out such program, such as urban and rural location, eligibility for Medicaid (recognizing and accounting for varying Medicaid eligibility across States), and eligibility for benefits under the supplemental security income (SSI) program. The Secretary shall carry out this paragraph acting through the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.</text></clause><clause id="H2673000F27A04BEFA71B661073400E93"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under clause (i).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF5C42D5F4BFD4C768C7ACBB4F2966678"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Study using other data</header><clause id="HB2189CE40CFB4FA6A1A0B67CB6F964E5"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall conduct a study that examines the impact of risk factors, such as those described in section 1848(p)(3) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(p)(3)</external-xref>), race, health literacy, limited English proficiency (LEP), and patient activation, on quality and resource use outcome measures under the Medicare program. In conducting such study the Secretary may use existing Federal data and collect such additional data as may be necessary to complete the study.</text></clause><clause id="H333E498190BC43E79C6554BD6055B6C6"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under clause (i).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5E688B92D1DD48C580033289B3F49736"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Examination of data in conducting studies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting the studies under subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Secretary shall examine what non-Medicare data sets, such as data from the American Community Survey (ACS), can be useful in conducting the types of studies under such paragraphs and how such data sets that are identified as useful can be coordinated with Medicare administrative data in order to improve the overall data set available to do such studies and for the administration of the Medicare program.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFD255AB4646349E6AC802CA18D2E571B"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Recommendations to account for information in payment adjustment mechanisms</header><text>If the studies conducted under subparagraphs (A) and (B) find a relationship between the factors examined in the studies and quality and resource use outcome measures, then the Secretary shall also provide recommendations for how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should—</text><clause id="HA3C81D175B184F8793A6855204BADD90"><enum>(i)</enum><text>obtain access to the necessary data (if such data is not already being collected) on such factors, including recommendations on how to address barriers to the Centers in accessing such data; and</text></clause><clause id="H6EA3F5FFFE2247758C6C064F3570A296"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">account for such factors in determining payment adjustments based on quality and resource use outcome measures under the eligible professional value-based performance incentive program under section 1848(q) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(q)</external-xref>) and, as the Secretary determines appropriate, other similar provisions of title XVIII of such Act.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H050B7F45B7C742BF8CB7F7CACFB06B06"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are hereby appropriated from the Federal Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund to the Secretary to carry out this paragraph $6,000,000, to remain available until expended.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8CA47622359C42FE9D4192948E6E86F6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>CMS activities</header><subparagraph id="H43245570393E4A09A83924CD445C1FB6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Hierarchal Condition Category (HCC) improvement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Taking into account the relevant studies conducted and recommendations made in reports under paragraph (1), the Secretary, on an ongoing basis, shall estimate how an individual’s health status and other risk factors affect quality and resource use outcome measures and, as feasible, shall incorporate information from quality and resource use outcome measurement (including care episode and patient condition groups) into the eligible professional value-based performance incentive program under section 1848(q) of the Social Security Act and, as the Secretary determines appropriate, other similar provisions of title XVIII of such Act.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBD6BEC3B4E884C2984EB32768999AE49"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Accounting for other factors in payment adjustment mechanisms</header><clause id="HB3D74A79E9B941E99118B3F1B386B904"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Taking into account the studies conducted and recommendations made in reports under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall account for identified factors (other than those applied under subparagraph (A)) with an effect on quality and resource use outcome measures when determining payment adjustments under the eligible professional value-based performance incentive program under section 1848(q) of the Social Security Act and, as the Secretary determines appropriate, other similar provisions of title XVIII of such Act.</text></clause><clause id="HD672E5F82D9B4E22AEDF7FC5DF643CB2"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Accessing data</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall collect or otherwise obtain access to the data necessary to carry out this paragraph through existing and new data sources.</text></clause><clause id="H39BA1C15FCDA4EC393B6E9091746E8EE"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Periodic analyses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall carry out periodic analyses, at least every 3 years, based on the factors referred to in clause (i) so as to monitor changes in possible relationships.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF8145AC0C26F4537B431F06B893B1F5A"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are hereby appropriated from the Federal Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund to the Secretary to carry out this paragraph $10,000,000, to remain available until expended.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4BE79EB9033E41C5AEB69F0826136CA9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Strategic plan for accessing race and ethnicity data</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and report to Congress on a strategic plan for collecting or otherwise accessing data on race and ethnicity for purposes of carrying out the Medicare program.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H26C4DB3D2A5B44F5879E6D7021105544"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Collaborating with the physician, practitioner, and other stakeholder communities to improve resource use measurement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (c), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H51F20999E215409CBA90C3EFCFA8A60D" style="OLC"><subsection id="H3011AFA6EC5D4B6BA1BD6A57E9170CB2"><enum>(r)</enum><header>Collaborating with the physician, practitioner, and other stakeholder communities To improve resource use measurement</header><paragraph id="HCE653F05F0A54BD8820F6667D42786D0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to involve the physician, practitioner, and other stakeholder communities in enhancing the infrastructure for resource use measurement, including for purposes of the value-based performance incentive program under subsection (q) and alternative payment models under section 1833(z), the Secretary shall undertake the steps described in the succeeding provisions of this subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H4249FD50E8EA437096A5834A6F2BD99B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Development of care episode and patient condition groups and classification codes</header><subparagraph id="HEF4FB9C14D89491BAD0CA1B49655B899"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to classify similar patients into distinct care episode groups and distinct patient condition groups, the Secretary shall undertake the steps described in the succeeding provisions of this paragraph.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HED032DCA333D42D18A88B6338F7D80E8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public availability of existing efforts to design an episode grouper</header><text>Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a list of the episode groups developed pursuant to subsection (n)(9)(A) and related descriptive information.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H34E028B4AC0746589B794C473E0EF7FA"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Stakeholder input</header><text>The Secretary shall accept, through the date that is 60 days after the day the Secretary posts the list pursuant to subparagraph (B), suggestions from physician specialty societies, applicable practitioner organizations, and other stakeholders for episode groups in addition to those posted pursuant to such subparagraph, and specific clinical criteria and patient characteristics to classify patients into—</text><clause id="H78DAF48C41D7438D8BB9E897B7ECA809"><enum>(i)</enum><text>distinct care episode groups; and</text></clause><clause id="H6A448F478D164BF1A149DE698FB6646D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>distinct patient condition groups.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF96113EA295F4E0CA5049FB599E5FD2D"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Development of proposed classification codes</header><clause id="H10E8AED040BC4769A9D75C99924528BE"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Taking into account the information described in subparagraph (B) and the information received under subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall—</text><subclause id="H712A8288863A495B8564CEE27DD54D0D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>establish distinct care episode groups and distinct patient condition groups, which account for at least an estimated two-thirds of expenditures under parts A and B; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H73CD8A373DE54183AFF976024566F0EB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>assign codes to such groups.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HFD6D059A3B264145BD7888EC848E6D0B"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Care episode groups</header><text>In establishing the care episode groups under clause (i), the Secretary shall take into account—</text><subclause id="HA6066EBE2F9046C9BC5674D08EEA438F"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the patient’s clinical problems at the time items and services are furnished during an episode of care, such as the clinical conditions or diagnoses, whether or not inpatient hospitalization is anticipated or occurs, and the principal procedures or services planned or furnished; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HCAFEA5967FCB4D6A8531CA295240E51E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>other factors determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HF451FD0DA9904CF7933BD127E188E85C"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Patient condition groups</header><text>In establishing the patient condition groups under clause (i), the Secretary shall take into account—</text><subclause id="HC5E7EC289D31470AB3D8D1E01C16AC80"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the patient’s clinical history at the time of each medical visit, such as the patient’s combination of chronic conditions, current health status, and recent significant history (such as hospitalization and major surgery during a previous period, such as 3 months); and</text></subclause><subclause id="H4039E65A3A1C499599A2635F185F6FB4"><enum>(II)</enum><text>other factors determined appropriate by the Secretary, such as eligibility status under this title (including eligibility under section 226(a), 226(b), or 226A, and dual eligibility under this title and title XIX).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5BE1B08474374FB2AD759991FDAC2871"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Draft care episode and patient condition groups and classification codes</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the end of the comment period described in subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a draft list of the care episode and patient condition codes established under subparagraph (D) (and the criteria and characteristics assigned to such code).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1B1C036B604546FCB745D97AA28B9952"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Solicitation of input</header><text>The Secretary shall seek, through the date that is 60 days after the Secretary posts the list pursuant to subparagraph (E), comments from physician specialty societies, applicable practitioner organizations, and other stakeholders, including individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under this part, regarding the care episode and patient condition groups (and codes) posted under subparagraph (E). In seeking such comments, the Secretary shall use one or more mechanisms (other than notice and comment rulemaking) that may include use of open door forums, town hall meetings, or other appropriate mechanisms.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H99EA6D61C9A847E98EF629E614935040"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Operational list of care episode and patient condition groups and codes</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the end of the comment period described in subparagraph (F), taking into account the comments received under such subparagraph, the Secretary shall post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services an operational list of care episode and patient condition codes (and the criteria and characteristics assigned to such code).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H04794D3A247C4FF08242983F46760F64"><enum>(H)</enum><header>Subsequent revisions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than November 1 of each year (beginning with 2016), the Secretary shall, through rulemaking, make revisions to the operational lists of care episode and patient condition codes as the Secretary determines may be appropriate. Such revisions may be based on experience, new information developed pursuant to subsection (n)(9)(A), and input from the physician specialty societies, applicable practitioner organizations, and other stakeholders, including individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under this part.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA71535FA331B40C793981CCCE12B7AB9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Attribution of patients to physicians or practitioners</header><subparagraph id="HCDBC64D60D234E85BF957297975500AB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to facilitate the attribution of patients and episodes (in whole or in part) to one or more physicians or applicable practitioners furnishing items and services, the Secretary shall undertake the steps described in the succeeding provisions of this paragraph.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD2B84D2EBF3C43549C4E937BB3EAAF5A"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Development of patient relationship categories and codes</header><text>The Secretary shall develop patient relationship categories and codes that define and distinguish the relationship and responsibility of a physician or applicable practitioner with a patient at the time of furnishing an item or service. Such patient relationship categories shall include different relationships of the physician or applicable practitioner to the patient (and the codes may reflect combinations of such categories), such as a physician or applicable practitioner who—</text><clause id="H9624A53961124C6C92172D0D073F3314"><enum>(i)</enum><text>considers themself to have the primary responsibility for the general and ongoing care for the patient over extended periods of time;</text></clause><clause id="HCA04119B1FD346D4BE79D8F83424ADDC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>considers themself to be the lead physician or practitioner and who furnishes items and services and coordinates care furnished by other physicians or practitioners for the patient during an acute episode;</text></clause><clause id="HF0ED6D3DA1FC47D5A471AC5A56F03415"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>furnishes items and services to the patient on a continuing basis during an acute episode of care, but in a supportive rather than a lead role;</text></clause><clause id="HC7654BA19A6C4FD0A6F9521AFF90B1F1"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>furnishes items and services to the patient on an occasional basis, usually at the request of another physician or practitioner; or</text></clause><clause id="H4F30804F609344A09AEB0F0A2F338628"><enum>(v)</enum><text>furnishes items and services only as ordered by another physician or practitioner.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4AA0D51F1D654C8082BD723A75141439"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Draft list of patient relationship categories and codes</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a draft list of the patient relationship categories and codes developed under subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7FD32EBD6C2240F6999CAEDB8D2642F9"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Stakeholder Input</header><text>The Secretary shall seek, through the date that is 60 days after the Secretary posts the list pursuant to subparagraph (C), comments from physician specialty societies, applicable practitioner organizations, and other stakeholders, including individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under this part, regarding the patient relationship categories and codes posted under subparagraph (C). In seeking such comments, the Secretary shall use one or more mechanisms (other than notice and comment rulemaking) that may include open door forums, town hall meetings, or other appropriate mechanisms.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H32650193D01346839778F504292843A5"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Operational list of patient relationship categories and codes</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the end of the comment period described in subparagraph (D), taking into account the comments received under such subparagraph, the Secretary shall post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services an operational list of patient relationship categories and codes.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H21BD947BFBC44BE5AB1330AB68D63565"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Subsequent revisions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than November 1 of each year (beginning with 2016), the Secretary shall, through rulemaking, make revisions to the operational list of patient relationship categories and codes as the Secretary determines appropriate. Such revisions may be based on experience, new information developed pursuant to subsection (n)(9)(A), and input from the physician specialty societies, applicable practitioner organizations, and other stakeholders, including individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under this part.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6B2F21B1EE744FC09D984257306C2B34"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reporting of information for resource use measurement</header><text>Claims submitted for items and services furnished by a physician or applicable practitioner on or after January 1, 2016, shall, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, include—</text><subparagraph id="H3D76A17BBC80492E98BB34D404DCFA97"><enum>(A)</enum><text>applicable codes established under paragraphs (2) and (3); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB0B83ED9034147359E817B46C46E48F5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the national provider identifier of the ordering physician or applicable practitioner (if different from the billing physician or applicable practitioner).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H86686C14E58F4DD9BDBABE811B145F2D"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Methodology for resource use analysis</header><subparagraph id="H6B8B86DD72FD4CFBA5B97A99E7EFE43A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to evaluate the resources used to treat patients (with respect to care episode and patient condition groups), the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="HE160EB47602D4310BEAAB86C7A459D31"><enum>(i)</enum><text>use the patient relationship codes reported on claims pursuant to paragraph (4) to attribute patients (in whole or in part) to one or more physicians and applicable practitioners;</text></clause><clause id="H4D1D8C77C26C45CFADB4513D15D8892D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>use the care episode and patient condition codes reported on claims pursuant to paragraph (4) as a basis to compare similar patients and care episodes and patient condition groups; and</text></clause><clause id="HD4090A9A049940FFBB53CD2DF381DA21"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>conduct an analysis of resource use (with respect to care episodes and patient condition groups of such patients), as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC923066F55EA448DAE1E905CAB67280B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Analysis of patients of physicians and practitioners</header><text>In conducting the analysis described in subparagraph (A)(iii) with respect to patients attributed to physicians and applicable practitioners, the Secretary shall, as feasible—</text><clause id="H05874D84C61A47F5996FC0A94D13C897"><enum>(i)</enum><text>use the claims data experience of such patients by patient condition codes during a common period, such as 12 months; and</text></clause><clause id="H5FB15F33E264405880A53DA19A34E488"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>use the claims data experience of such patients by care episode codes—</text><subclause id="H62C565CECC87446EB1FFD2D4EFF2AB58"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the case of episodes without a hospitalization, during periods of time (such as the number of days) determined appropriate by the Secretary; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HA8DF721B539B47BFBB611B7CDB192824"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the case of episodes with a hospitalization, during periods of time (such as the number of days) before, during, and after the hospitalization.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H06C70F4E5E5145AC9E033EE05CA0ED2E"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Measurement of resource use</header><text>In measuring such resource use, the Secretary—</text><clause id="H41BDACB68AFD457184F9D1B03EB5C26F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall use per patient total allowed amounts for all services under part A and this part (and, if the Secretary determines appropriate, part D) for the analysis of patient resource use, by care episode codes and by patient condition codes; and</text></clause><clause id="H3AFA86B311F34D299E8F6DBFF23C9338"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may, as determined appropriate, use other measures of allowed amounts (such as subtotals for categories of items and services) and measures of utilization of items and services (such as frequency of specific items and services and the ratio of specific items and services among attributed patients or episodes).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H69EB1838177246FF941FA654974DC8E1"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Stakeholder Input</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall seek comments from the physician specialty societies, applicable practitioner organizations, and other stakeholders, including individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under this part, regarding the resource use methodology established pursuant to this paragraph. In seeking comments the Secretary shall use one or more mechanisms (other than notice and comment rulemaking) that may include open door forums, town hall meetings, or other appropriate mechanisms.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H73770E19CBE946928367C9BA65F951E1"><enum>(6)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1869, section 1878, or otherwise of—</text><subparagraph id="H0DC39EF1CAB447A68930A3E13A80D674"><enum>(A)</enum><text>care episode and patient condition groups and codes established under paragraph (2);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H47D0C47D6EB543C1987265E993FC2B86"><enum>(B)</enum><text>patient relationship categories and codes established under paragraph (3); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD515CEBAD6444A1B9ED7AF10A4F7E71A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>measurement of, and analyses of resource use with respect to, care episode and patient condition codes and patient relationship codes pursuant to paragraph (5).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAE4D1E4F6A764641AE5942FE62251A46"><enum>(7)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">Chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB936B08F58774AB981A1F201D623BA08"><enum>(8)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H469A681742FF4AECB225274EF3334172"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Physician</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>physician</term> has the meaning given such term in section 1861(r).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CEA71585D244F17B66BB9A024321E17"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Applicable practitioner</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>applicable practitioner</quote> means—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3D555965B9D24FAEB7E31588E9DAC06F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, and clinical nurse specialist (as such terms are defined in section 1861(aa)(5)); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2E785A97D418444BBC6D16299EF85C66"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">beginning January 1, 2017, such other eligible professionals (as defined in subsection (k)(3)(B)) as specified by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H011EF38E777E41FF9EC01E2C132814A1"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Clarification</header><text>The provisions of sections 1890A(b)(2) and 1890B shall not apply to this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="HCCF54EED1E4F4E4BB1B594800C24520B"><enum>102.</enum><header>Priorities and funding for quality measure development</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>), as amended by subsections (c) and (h) of section 101, is further amended by inserting at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H505EC2893F6B4905BCAF72DABA8CAF4C" style="OLC"><subsection id="H9FC9D6B01F3C45FB914FDE73BD4C4ECE"><enum>(s)</enum><header>Priorities and funding for quality measure development</header><paragraph id="H11538FBA0A994C498298742FD672E7BD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Plan identifying measure development priorities and timelines</header><subparagraph id="H1E9C23597D5546519E29F0E465633045"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Draft measure development plan</header><clause id="HA6AEC88241674196A845CC3010800696"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Draft plan</header><subclause id="H0E6BFD20B077482B8E6766FBBEEEEDCE"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than October 1, 2014, the Secretary shall develop, and post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a draft plan for the development of quality measures for application under the applicable provisions.</text></subclause><subclause id="H926FFF18CE4B4CED99840DEB6FC331AA"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>Such plan shall address how measures used by private payers and integrated delivery systems could be incorporated under such subsection.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H451EDFFF5B184067B994777B530326AC"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>In developing the draft plan under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider—</text><subclause id="H3BD358A46F944DAEA7FE125EE653817A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>gap analyses conducted by the entity with a contract under section 1890(a) or other contractors or entities; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H32E9BA9AA7944BC2A4E3F3CE2C7654C0"><enum>(II)</enum><text>whether measures are applicable across health care settings.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H094EDD9D7F854071892B843A63BD04BF"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Priorities</header><text>In developing the draft plan under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to the following types of measures:</text><subclause id="H06B45954688944108FB59D88E41065A0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Outcome measures including patient reported outcome and functional status measures.</text></subclause><subclause id="H13540A945CB84C46B6009A33D0C3CF68"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Patient experience measures.</text></subclause><subclause id="H831369C47DCA4C209C7EB0268C2795A4"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Care coordination measures.</text></subclause><subclause id="HB0C05267B94D459294CB4ADA866823C2"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Measures of appropriate use of services, including measures of over use.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HAB9DF1DA71584BA1B913F141369FCC42"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Definition of applicable provisions</header><text>In this subsection, the term <quote>applicable provisions</quote> means the following provisions:</text><subclause id="HF577229C43924AE18CFB21DF4209A93B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Subsection (q)(2)(B)(i).</text></subclause><subclause id="H5BE86E87630149D9B74898ADFECCE7B1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Section 1833(z)(2)(C).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC959554B637C4C9A88AD70F93C89F2E9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Stakeholder input</header><text>The Secretary shall accept through December 1, 2014, comments on the draft plan posted under paragraph (1)(A) from the public, including health care providers, payers, consumers, and other stakeholders.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1387A69997AC489CA938883B2B67E62A"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Operational measure development plan</header><text>Not later than February 1, 2015, taking into account the comments received under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services an operational plan for the development of quality measures for use under subsection (q)(2)(A)(i).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF83150D05AE345E08BDCD1495475ECD7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contracts and other arrangements for quality measure development</header><subparagraph id="HAEF4E28D761A4D3EA923A34E9D23FB9A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall enter into contracts or other arrangements with entities for the purpose of developing, improving, updating, or expanding quality measures for application under the applicable provisions. Such entities may include physician specialty societies and other practitioner organizations.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEAF090DF12214C799E47FEABCBF0067E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Prioritization</header><clause id="H2962BE82E49E4E3BA8C79E9522EDFEC6"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In entering into contracts or other arrangements under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to the development of the types of measures described in paragraph (1)(A)(iii).</text></clause><clause id="H285C8065BFD34E5592BD14067061E84D"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>In selecting measures for development under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider whether such measures would be electronically specified.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6E7FDAE3713A4DA6B8890F484A65E2E9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Annual report by the Secretary</header><subparagraph id="H9249F7A38339492886BF43ACA662A693"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than February 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a report on the progress made in developing quality measures for application under the applicable provisions.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9610C6677050417CA00C1052BC6C28F9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text><clause id="HF59453E6182849BB88959DEA2E06F1A4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>A description of the Secretary’s efforts to implement this subsection.</text></clause><clause id="H16F6DFEDFE984241AD3D893453B7C2D6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>With respect to the measures developed during the previous year—</text><subclause id="H82D07150056740079D4A676FCB2F8DA5"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a description of the total number of quality measures developed and the types of such measures, such as an outcome or patient experience measure;</text></subclause><subclause id="H6E50E08EB60144768A01FEC3165EB508"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the name of each measure developed;</text></subclause><subclause id="HA40678CD98B641FE97BC0DBACA9E8DA7"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the name of the developer and steward of each measure;</text></subclause><subclause id="H58EB50AF04A94D0CAE6572FB4CCDE1B6"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>with respect to each type of measure, an estimate of the total amount expended under this title to develop all measures of such type; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H3109BFCF233C4787B9C16F1BD6028F2F"><enum>(V)</enum><text>whether the measure would be electronically specified.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HA43AD37507AA475E97792BF538EF2CBA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>With respect to measures in development at the time of the report—</text><subclause id="H90641C8989044F8EB473DEDBD7CF9780"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the information described in clause (ii), if available; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H853FACA136B549018EB6F581D6F9C8A6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>a timeline for completion of the development of such measures.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HAF8320B2F7BC47508F5243FF506C160D"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>An update on the progress in developing the types of measures described in paragraph (1)(A)(iii), including a description of issues affecting such progress.</text></clause><clause id="H4C2009AB99C34D66B0373FB0D231B6CF"><enum>(v)</enum><text>A list of quality topics and concepts that are being considered for development of measures and the rationale for the selection of topics and concepts including their relationship to gap analyses.</text></clause><clause id="H9354612B620C4F8EBB39384FF094D6CC"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>A description of any updates to the plan under paragraph (1) (including newly identified gaps and the status of previously identified gaps) and the inventory of measures applicable under the applicable provisions.</text></clause><clause id="HC86725CC3CEB46AFB4AA3E3680E14328"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>Other information the Secretary determines to be appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H3C68044BE46A44B593031CC0CE1C6F28"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Stakeholder input</header><text>With respect to measures applicable under the applicable provisions, the Secretary shall seek stakeholder input with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="HCE0E0A11A1ED4C679A4A3DEE8DA5C4CA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the identification of gaps where no quality measures exist, particularly with respect to the types of measures described in paragraph (1)(A)(iii);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE035404D5B59423083F5DA2D963A030D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>prioritizing quality measure development to address such gaps; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H020EECCBB2AF4E38815D4BE74A77A006"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other areas related to quality measure development determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H30F00CD74D3245B88BDFD401CE0C6435"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>For purposes of carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841, of $15,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. Amounts transferred under this paragraph shall remain available through the end of fiscal year 2021.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H415435CAD7164546A41D91F493368D0A" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header>Encouraging care management for individuals with chronic care needs</header><subsection id="idF697FD327913492380ED5D968E745228"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(b) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(b)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H37C7FE3914AE4A78A39E4B7FD1E5D035" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H49EFB596F7194895AE7EEEC7A4A5E67D"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Encouraging care management for individuals with chronic care needs</header><subparagraph id="HCAA6B2BF08D14ECE8F50E1E4C718DF34"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In order to encourage the management of care by an applicable provider (as defined in subparagraph (B)) for individuals with chronic care needs the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="H1261808CA6D2439489031635B6B1BD85"><enum>(i)</enum><text>establish one or more HCPCS codes for chronic care management services for such individuals; and</text></clause><clause id="HAF4DCB95F1F14653974BD76457312174"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">subject to subparagraph (D), make payment (as the Secretary determines to be appropriate) under this section for such management services furnished on or after January 1, 2015, by an applicable provider.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBB2BD89E1BB3432EA48EF41EA6A032AF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Applicable provider defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of this paragraph, the term <quote>applicable provider</quote> means a physician (as defined in section 1861(r)(1)), physician assistant or nurse practitioner (as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)(A)), or clinical nurse specialist (as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)(B)) who furnishes services as part of a patient-centered medical home or a comparable specialty practice that—</text><clause id="HED821CB463BE4EF6B412798F0128459F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is recognized as such a medical home or comparable specialty practice by an organization that is recognized by the Secretary for purposes of such recognition as such a medical home or practice; or</text></clause><clause id="HD268EBF30C8543FAAE18E5E2E69AC34B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>meets such other comparable qualifications as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE6CF4B79B3344919B31B10FC90390E73"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Budget neutrality</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The budget neutrality provision under subsection (c)(2)(B)(ii)(II) shall apply in establishing the payment under subparagraph (A)(ii).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H565301FF5B0A4020B8D103FF98773F5D"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Policies relating to payment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this paragraph, with respect to chronic care management services, the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="H9AFEE2E256F345C181A419FA612F9395"><enum>(i)</enum><text>make payment to only one applicable provider for such services furnished to an individual during a period;</text></clause><clause id="H7C2B8A105A3244CE9ED27C9B30FF1C9B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not make payment under subparagraph (A) if such payment would be duplicative of payment that is otherwise made under this title for such services (such as in the case of hospice care or home health services); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="HE766DA63F5344F22B605B5CFE0DFED59"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not require that an annual wellness visit (as defined in section 1861(hhh)) or an initial preventive physical examination (as defined in section 1861(ww)) be furnished as a condition of payment for such management services.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idB3DF0B2C33934DCB9B92C9CC20B3A14C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Education and outreach</header><paragraph id="idEE2184D06EF44171AD7CBF09F88A6475"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Campaign</header><subparagraph id="idDFA463AD5FC9444D82A4D114622D4228"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subsection referred to as the <quote>Secretary</quote>) shall conduct an education and outreach campaign to inform professionals who furnish items and services under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act and individuals enrolled under such part of the benefits of chronic care management services described in section 1848(b)(8) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a), and encourage such individuals with chronic care needs to receive such services.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE7068A699E5A4634A5E319411D248552"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Such campaign shall—</text><clause id="id875B52A2C6BD4A3797EC710DCE9FFB10"><enum>(i)</enum><text>be directed by the Office of Rural Health Policy of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Minority Health of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and</text></clause><clause id="id720DAE1B4AFD405CB233601AD7B1B0D9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>focus on encouraging participation by underserved rural populations and racial and ethnic minority populations.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id04F1B66DBD8B46678F753D434168D09A"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><subparagraph id="idCCEEAC106E6A4BBFA81BBC87DED9E189"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than December 31, 2017, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the use of chronic care management services described in such section 1848(b)(8) by individuals living in rural areas and by racial and ethnic minority populations. Such report shall—</text><clause id="id2B14C384B00F441EA7742072E0C18808"><enum>(i)</enum><text>identify barriers to receiving chronic care management services; and</text></clause><clause id="id6F8FBE2F1A48462C843B39DCF20C90EA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>make recommendations for increasing the appropriate use of chronic care management services.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H27BEF34441354E80890D5C1F9F94A810"><enum>104.</enum><header>Ensuring accurate valuation of services under the physician fee schedule</header><subsection id="HD7112C9270E744D19A8159FBA40FD227"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority To collect and use information on physicians’ services in the determination of relative values</header><paragraph id="HD0BEEB1FFF134423AB022988E199BAAA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1848(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3934CFA9E8F24743B8A5A4E27C62F44A" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="H62DC1E0BAF164F4FA907999C9945BFB0"><enum>(M)</enum><header>Authority to collect and use information on physicians’ services in the determination of relative values</header><clause id="H2EF8F09E81E94F19AA39C2319E53E8D6"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Collection of information</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may collect or obtain information on the resources directly or indirectly related to furnishing services for which payment is made under the fee schedule established under subsection (b). Such information may be collected or obtained from any eligible professional or any other source.</text></clause><clause id="H8AB1D7DFDB054DF69EAEAC2AC2A697B9"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Use of information</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to clause (v), the Secretary may (as the Secretary determines appropriate) use information collected or obtained pursuant to clause (i) in the determination of relative values for services under this section.</text></clause><clause id="HD914C3D95A7B4C178E9EFA80A734E378"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Types of information</header><text>The types of information described in clauses (i) and (ii) may, at the Secretary’s discretion, include any or all of the following:</text><subclause id="H6A74DB439112493B9C47232E7446FE61"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Time involved in furnishing services.</text></subclause><subclause id="HA73D4F46EEEA4820B468168F864AD619"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Amounts and types of practice expense inputs involved with furnishing services.</text></subclause><subclause id="H7EE9367CD1D84249A981D9276D979C09"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Prices (net of any discounts) for practice expense inputs, which may include paid invoice prices or other documentation or records.</text></subclause><subclause id="H6FD7986BB2FE420C806853DA6C3D0A81"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>Overhead and accounting information for practices of physicians and other suppliers.</text></subclause><subclause id="H545ECADCA918487FB195F4E57B1BC1B9"><enum>(V)</enum><text>Any other element that would improve the valuation of services under this section.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HBBE43E018FC04A46A800516BD67E582A"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Information collection mechanisms</header><text>Information may be collected or obtained pursuant to this subparagraph from any or all of the following:</text><subclause id="H6C70DBBD91D6455BB7679FA6C27A6F16"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Surveys of physicians, other suppliers, providers of services, manufacturers, and vendors.</text></subclause><subclause id="H9AEB9494F58F474BA390B75C7F4E3CA6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Surgical logs, billing systems, or other practice or facility records.</text></subclause><subclause id="H53CD2E69B75B4B84A25824EE993F4432"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Electronic health records.</text></subclause><subclause id="HCB219EB342884F8FB741C11ED876F8E6"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>Any other mechanism determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H1242AFB963794DD9A8C7537EFF4DFF60"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Transparency of use of information</header><subclause id="HF1AFBD8CB10D4F50B21311C6A497729B"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subclauses (II) and (III), if the Secretary uses information collected or obtained under this subparagraph in the determination of relative values under this subsection, the Secretary shall disclose the information source and discuss the use of such information in such determination of relative values through notice and comment rulemaking.</text></subclause><subclause id="H6DC008B9D7E44FC0814C5F2D1DE848AF"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Thresholds for use</header><text>The Secretary may establish thresholds in order to use such information, including the exclusion of information collected or obtained from eligible professionals who use very high resources (as determined by the Secretary) in furnishing a service.</text></subclause><subclause id="H39A9FF63B7D14E87A3F3F9F5A25E05E8"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Disclosure of information</header><text>The Secretary shall make aggregate information available under this subparagraph but shall not disclose information in a form or manner that identifies an eligible professional or a group practice, or information collected or obtained pursuant to a nondisclosure agreement.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HD62101F322B944DA94A3AFCC67CE626F"><enum>(vi)</enum><header>Incentive to participate</header><text>The Secretary may provide for such payments under this part to an eligible professional that submits such solicited information under this subparagraph as the Secretary determines appropriate in order to compensate such eligible professional for such submission. Such payments shall be provided in a form and manner specified by the Secretary.</text></clause><clause id="HCE07D2BD084343E59AF84AA531C00DF7"><enum>(vii)</enum><header>Administration</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">Chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to information collected or obtained under this subparagraph.</text></clause><clause id="H40266E117D3246F3BA829B09CEABDD43"><enum>(viii)</enum><header>Definition of eligible professional</header><text>In this subparagraph, the term <quote>eligible professional</quote> has the meaning given such term in subsection (k)(3)(B).</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="H3B5BC83C4D024A5889989749B997D3B0"><enum>(ix)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>For purposes of carrying out this subparagraph, in addition to funds otherwise appropriated, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841, of $2,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2014. Amounts transferred under the preceding sentence for a fiscal year shall be available until expended.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H115CCD71FFD94A07927C31E3BD63CA5E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation on review</header><text>Section 1848(i)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(i)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H33D5DBB1E57542B995684DE5A03A4DA1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H353A27BAA53C4D3C97977D3C73B0E5B7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>, and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HC1233CDF253443FDAF4C60A56FCEC8AD"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDDA5AE4F3CF54877ADA00AA7C05132F6" style="OLC"><subparagraph commented="no" id="H619FEBB0013545E4B4774DBF0A603E18"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the collection and use of information in the determination of relative values under subsection (c)(2)(M).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H4DBCC292C28E4232A4BB637984A1E77E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authority for alternative approaches To establishing practice expense relative values</header><text>Section 1848(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H47DB4630F0EB4DF485DFF855CCEF8F07" style="OLC"><subparagraph commented="no" id="HC62239ACCD8D4D2AB3AEA5FE87C04862"><enum>(N)</enum><header>Authority for alternative approaches to establishing practice expense relative values</header><text>The Secretary may establish or adjust practice expense relative values under this subsection using cost, charge, or other data from suppliers or providers of services, including information collected or obtained under subparagraph (M).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HE9C4781D77294D1784AF9DAEB8D98BBE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Revised and expanded identification of potentially misvalued codes</header><text>Section 1848(c)(2)(K)(ii) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)(K)(ii)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5A7BEF83BA1C4FB88DD7163F8CC48BDC" style="OLC"><clause id="HF1E205CB644F4992B0F855E74D8D2005"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Identification of potentially misvalued codes</header><text>For purposes of identifying potentially misvalued codes pursuant to clause (i)(I), the Secretary shall examine codes (and families of codes as appropriate) based on any or all of the following criteria:</text><subclause id="HEE95378AA4004D1CB7FE0FE5C3D8E6A3"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Codes that have experienced the fastest growth.</text></subclause><subclause id="HCD2F5A4E4A054D049EC9DDD188F29DE9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Codes that have experienced substantial changes in practice expenses.</text></subclause><subclause id="HCE23B9F6E83549FC9826000BFFF70224"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Codes that describe new technologies or services within an appropriate time period (such as 3 years) after the relative values are initially established for such codes.</text></subclause><subclause id="H69C904A7244D49BD988FD5ED0BE2CD61"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>Codes which are multiple codes that are frequently billed in conjunction with furnishing a single service.</text></subclause><subclause id="H70CE270F6D5F4FE78907B0341D12B99C"><enum>(V)</enum><text>Codes with low relative values, particularly those that are often billed multiple times for a single treatment.</text></subclause><subclause id="HB8D5A33EC7AB4FA4BEF8A56051164B0B"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>Codes that have not been subject to review since implementation of the fee schedule.</text></subclause><subclause id="HAA51A2CBBF3048178DBC76FCD36C6C5F"><enum>(VII)</enum><text>Codes that account for the majority of spending under the physician fee schedule.</text></subclause><subclause id="H1E07E3C951C04E089F1F6118045DC58A"><enum>(VIII)</enum><text>Codes for services that have experienced a substantial change in the hospital length of stay or procedure time.</text></subclause><subclause id="H0002E9122646489C9B4FA9C281C9B261"><enum>(IX)</enum><text>Codes for which there may be a change in the typical site of service since the code was last valued.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HF8D666B0FC1B4DA39E3BCCE4E51E4356"><enum>(X)</enum><text>Codes for which there is a significant difference in payment for the same service between different sites of service.</text></subclause><subclause id="H7F52D7D7EF294CBDBD50E0F4BD1643FA"><enum>(XI)</enum><text>Codes for which there may be anomalies in relative values within a family of codes.</text></subclause><subclause id="H3B4547285C964670BC98246337E139F2"><enum>(XII)</enum><text>Codes for services where there may be efficiencies when a service is furnished at the same time as other services.</text></subclause><subclause id="HBEA17AA50E4F40CF8E91B1182CB6C351"><enum>(XIII)</enum><text>Codes with high intra-service work per unit of time.</text></subclause><subclause id="H9D75EA9ADE5D490EAD6CD02A63D3C990"><enum>(XIV)</enum><text>Codes with high practice expense relative value units.</text></subclause><subclause id="H5D30BDA33AE244F0AFB6597ED13D4CA7"><enum>(XV)</enum><text>Codes with high cost supplies.</text></subclause><subclause id="H2F300E2C42D146D1AE25FD361DB2FEFD"><enum>(XVI)</enum><text>Codes as determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HC6E636789D8E449EA55D66297970BC31"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Target for relative value adjustments for misvalued services</header><paragraph id="HB1B4B2BA7C494E07854E4DC12336D974"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1848(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)</external-xref>), as amended by subsections (a) and (b), is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEE6524BFD71A4301A03BC365B9938B11" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="H017D216E8B8B4732AEFCBEC36D2C4412"><enum>(O)</enum><header>Target for relative value adjustments for misvalued services</header><text>With respect to fee schedules established for each of 2015 through 2018, the following shall apply:</text><clause id="HE71EFA21F2F3413194473A6C8E61101F"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Determination of net reduction in expenditures</header><text>For each year, the Secretary shall determine the estimated net reduction in expenditures under the fee schedule under this section with respect to the year as a result of adjustments to the relative values established under this paragraph for misvalued codes.</text></clause><clause id="H1C6621D0E5E243F389C35509CD58F269"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Budget neutral redistribution of funds if target met and counting overages towards the target for the succeeding year</header><text>If the estimated net reduction in expenditures determined under clause (i) for the year is equal to or greater than the target for the year—</text><subclause id="H8F0EB96CE0974E7EB44276F89623700F"><enum>(I)</enum><text>reduced expenditures attributable to such adjustments shall be redistributed for the year in a budget neutral manner in accordance with subparagraph (B)(ii)(II); and</text></subclause><subclause id="HA3A4082A0290474DBB4A1564C1D75089"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the amount by which such reduced expenditures exceeds the target for the year shall be treated as a reduction in expenditures described in clause (i) for the succeeding year, for purposes of determining whether the target has or has not been met under this subparagraph with respect to that year.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HE1FE93482E054135A90042EA8E4134DF"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Exemption from budget neutrality if target not met</header><text>If the estimated net reduction in expenditures determined under clause (i) for the year is less than the target for the year, reduced expenditures in an amount equal to the target recapture amount shall not be taken into account in applying subparagraph (B)(ii)(II) with respect to fee schedules beginning with 2015.</text></clause><clause id="H2F259ED959494747AA4717B7F1BE38D0"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Target recapture amount</header><text>For purposes of clause (iii), the target recapture amount is, with respect to a year, an amount equal to the difference between—</text><subclause id="H9DFCF585D5724D698D5DCEF0A637123C"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the target for the year; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H22245556EFDE41D08E44444EE0DE6E1F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the estimated net reduction in expenditures determined under clause (i) for the year.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HB11165C8AA1D422E86720DF559602699"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Target</header><text>For purposes of this subparagraph, with respect to a year, the target is calculated as 0.5 percent of the estimated amount of expenditures under the fee schedule under this section for the year.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H569ED134A1844EF7825EA26EB36D0CA4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 1848(c)(2)(B)(v) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)(B)(v)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subclause:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDFF78CD047CE4F49AD5ADCE7D5096594" style="OLC"><subclause id="H33EBE9FE3CD44DE5BCF2103B15C45372"><enum>(VIII)</enum><header>Reductions for misvalued services if target not met</header><text>Effective for fee schedules beginning with 2015, reduced expenditures attributable to the application of the target recapture amount described in subparagraph (O)(iii).</text></subclause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1470564B5CDD4137B2AAD3CBC6E8FB60"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Phase-in of significant relative value unit (RVU) reductions</header><paragraph id="H8E5F91A8D3494986853C67EB19154BFD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1848(c) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9F15BF6C57804A3BA4EB1B27E22DD24C" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H6BEDCC5EFCF6474199A7C9BA457319A3"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Phase-in of significant relative value unit (RVU) reductions</header><text>Effective for fee schedules established beginning with 2015, if the total relative value units for a service for a year would otherwise be decreased by an estimated amount equal to or greater than 20 percent as compared to the total relative value units for the previous year, the applicable adjustments in work, practice expense, and malpractice relative value units shall be phased-in over a 2-year period.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="HDA4D49305012489E8788D39B820E3C82"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Section 1848(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="H3CF158E94BF94C838FC0B3142D79409B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)(ii)(I), by striking <quote>subclause (II)</quote> and inserting <quote>subclause (II) and paragraph (7)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5EE9C1FA8CD141C48C06A7279F34AA1A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (K)(iii)(VI)—</text><clause id="H912612EBC03C4567833865461E6593C9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>provisions of subparagraph (B)(ii)(II)</quote> and inserting <quote>provisions of subparagraph (B)(ii)(II) and paragraph (7)</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="H8564EC4C81DC40D3B36AF977AF1A7E56"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>under subparagraph (B)(ii)(II)</quote> and inserting <quote>under subparagraph (B)(ii)(I)</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC4A6BC83F99E4779822C657ABA8E0F63"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authority To smooth relative values within groups of services</header><text>Section 1848(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)(C)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H8E4E4E8BD4874DA5B1529722D2E72678"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in each of clauses (i) and (iii), by striking <quote>the service</quote> and inserting <quote>the service or group of services</quote> each place it appears; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5E2363109A8E4E9D912162CC75DDBEDA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the first sentence of clause (ii), by inserting <quote>or group of services</quote> before the period.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H932073F4F5E643ADAA4615B5C93C39F6"><enum>(g)</enum><header>GAO study and report on Relative Value Scale Update Committee</header><paragraph commented="no" id="H25D535FF8F4D45D99A039EE8AFCF8337"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States (in this subsection referred to as the <quote>Comptroller General</quote>) shall conduct a study of the processes used by the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) to provide recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding relative values for specific services under the Medicare physician fee schedule under section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H3747603FE68A49BFA90DD21058C6D2B9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HA1A2D26415974F75A8C5D14788243B82"><enum>105.</enum><header>Promoting evidence-based care</header><subsection id="H90BCD621102F40FFACBA9451689C75B2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Recognizing appropriate use criteria for certain imaging services</header><paragraph id="H3EEF163FB1854C42A60E5E27667D707F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1834 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395m">42 U.S.C. 1395m</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFA7745C7393D4331A721CF3CD9BC88BC" style="OLC"><subsection id="H0D9AEA17180F486F8F7BD2A4D7576433"><enum>(p)</enum><header>Recognizing appropriate use criteria for certain imaging services</header><paragraph id="HDFC83DC867824671884B7C2D4F55786D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Program established</header><subparagraph id="H5D45D3B34953438293E5D271212BB6C4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a program to promote the use of appropriate use criteria (as defined in subparagraph (B)) for applicable imaging services (as defined in subparagraph (C)) furnished in an applicable setting (as defined in subparagraph (D)) by ordering professionals and furnishing professionals (as defined in subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA2AECE661E4945059132E8D00AA4A4F2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Appropriate use criteria defined</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>appropriate use criteria</term> means criteria, only developed or endorsed by national professional medical specialty societies or other provider-led entities, to assist ordering professionals and furnishing professionals in making the most appropriate treatment decision for a specific clinical condition. To the extent feasible, such criteria shall be evidence-based.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H79D749E7E3DA44C78F410035A9D4E75E"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Applicable imaging service defined</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>applicable imaging service</term> means an advanced diagnostic imaging service (as defined in subsection (e)(1)(B)) for which the Secretary determines—</text><clause id="H73019F1B973148AC870941789AE56DEB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>one or more applicable appropriate use criteria specified under paragraph (2) apply;</text></clause><clause id="H208D77C190E4432FA01B86BA90BAEC13"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>there are one or more qualified clinical decision support mechanisms listed under paragraph (3)(C); and</text></clause><clause id="HCC30BBE42C0E470FB2A32054F2FDE6D3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>one or more of such mechanisms is available free of charge.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H56FDD4007BC54C47926BD403398467CD"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Applicable setting defined</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>applicable setting</term> means a physician’s office, a hospital outpatient department (including an emergency department), an ambulatory surgical center, and any other provider-led outpatient setting determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC899FEF3F431485E84944DF484870602"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Ordering professional defined</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>ordering professional</term> means a physician (as defined in section 1861(r)) or a practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) who orders an applicable imaging service for an individual.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDCFC8E12757848A98AEC283FB7A1103C"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Furnishing professional defined</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>furnishing professional</term> means a physician (as defined in section 1861(r)) or a practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) who furnishes an applicable imaging service for an individual.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H07003AA43DA24B88A0AA37364E8925DC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Establishment of applicable appropriate use criteria</header><subparagraph id="HB14F7F6AEC374BDBBB52665E93ED5246"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than November 15, 2015, the Secretary shall through rulemaking, and in consultation with physicians, practitioners, and other stakeholders, specify applicable appropriate use criteria for applicable imaging services only from among appropriate use criteria developed or endorsed by national professional medical specialty societies or other provider-led entities.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H63EBE680E9BB4EB5B2E98D651ECF4F55"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In specifying applicable appropriate use criteria under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall take into account whether the criteria—</text><clause id="H0BAB3A22FDC349D99B5DB1A889DE57C8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>have stakeholder consensus;</text></clause><clause id="H1EBF6177F7D94FE883101FA3983E92C9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>have been determined to be scientifically valid and are evidence based; and</text></clause><clause id="H3314CFDE7850463E8153ACF531AE9DC5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>are based on studies that are published and reviewable by stakeholders.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFDBBD1A4E442417696E35E5FA71B08DC"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Revisions</header><text>The Secretary shall periodically update and revise (as appropriate) such specification of applicable appropriate use criteria.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC7197E03EF8B4BEE8CE1DE4624D96E45"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Treatment of multiple applicable appropriate use criteria</header><text>In the case where the Secretary determines that more than one appropriate use criteria applies with respect to an applicable imaging service, the Secretary shall specify one or more applicable appropriate use criteria under this paragraph for the service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H562EF39323A4415087F2F5708EDB216F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Mechanisms for consultation with applicable appropriate use criteria</header><subparagraph id="HB9A7BF446DF14FEAA123C30AD79D36E5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Identification of mechanisms to consult with applicable appropriate use criteria</header><clause id="H3DA71A73DE734F598AEB3E94696131CD"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall specify one or more qualified clinical decision support mechanisms that could be used by ordering professionals to consult with applicable appropriate use criteria for applicable imaging services.</text></clause><clause id="H5B79487FC0034D21A94A60F06DE18365"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>The Secretary shall consult with physicians, practitioners, and other stakeholders in specifying mechanisms under this paragraph.</text></clause><clause id="H9C0FE96A272044FBA190F42CBA937658"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Inclusion of certain mechanisms</header><text>Mechanisms specified under this paragraph may include any or all of the following that meet the requirements described in subparagraph (B)(ii):</text><subclause id="H2AA6FE0C28CA44A6B592E491D5EB8AD6"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Use of clinical decision support modules in certified EHR technology (as defined in section 1848(o)(4)).</text></subclause><subclause id="H78367BAAE42B424DAD305D813522EA18"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Use of private sector clinical decision support mechanisms that are independent from certified EHR technology, which may include use of clinical decision support mechanisms available from medical specialty organizations.</text></subclause><subclause id="H2633D17D1D9B474F84A156A8720CAFA5"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Use of a clinical decision support mechanism established by the Secretary.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H33DB95A369C046B49698074CF6B6B772"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Qualified clinical decision support mechanisms</header><clause id="H8A435D029DA642ADADC38A44E8A5D920"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For purposes of this subsection, a qualified clinical decision support mechanism is a mechanism that the Secretary determines meets the requirements described in clause (ii).</text></clause><clause id="H542E7E3A60B1451BAEFF29420B0FD6F7"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The requirements described in this clause are the following:</text><subclause id="H965845A583F447E1ACA81A6FCCB5A674"><enum>(I)</enum><text>The mechanism makes available to the ordering professional applicable appropriate use criteria specified under paragraph (2) and the supporting documentation for the applicable imaging service ordered.</text></subclause><subclause id="H9E5578F0854D4613BAD5A3FECD292737"><enum>(II)</enum><text>In the case where there are more than one applicable appropriate use criteria specified under such paragraph for an applicable imaging service, the mechanism indicates the criteria that it uses for the service.</text></subclause><subclause id="HC55C0F72678547FEA8C0BE76D4807DF6"><enum>(III)</enum><text>The mechanism determines the extent to which an applicable imaging service ordered is consistent with the applicable appropriate use criteria so specified.</text></subclause><subclause id="H29151E8186ED415DA815DE56702318FD"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>The mechanism generates and provides to the ordering professional a certification or documentation that documents that the qualified clinical decision support mechanism was consulted by the ordering professional.</text></subclause><subclause id="H984C7B87C24C46138D25B52276B4F2C8"><enum>(V)</enum><text>The mechanism is updated on a timely basis to reflect revisions to the specification of applicable appropriate use criteria under such paragraph.</text></subclause><subclause id="H52A3B17425AC4142899B51E5413D3956"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>The mechanism meets privacy and security standards under applicable provisions of law.</text></subclause><subclause id="H5940AAF21FFD4EA286166B727A0692B1"><enum>(VII)</enum><text>The mechanism performs such other functions as specified by the Secretary, which may include a requirement to provide aggregate feedback to the ordering professional.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC738400C36654F88A1ED421F77B34474"><enum>(C)</enum><header>List of mechanisms for consultation with applicable appropriate use criteria</header><clause id="HCAE0FF9BBC2B49C3B1F88059EE895BDF"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Initial list</header><text>Not later than April 1, 2016, the Secretary shall publish a list of mechanisms specified under this paragraph.</text></clause><clause id="H19593A6485804BF4B011FD529630A91B"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Periodic updating of list</header><text>The Secretary shall periodically update the list of qualified clinical decision support mechanisms specified under this paragraph.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H45F418618D9C4972A297429D3F708435"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Consultation with applicable appropriate use criteria</header><subparagraph id="H3B0405F2B1AE4C3DA8A2B69873ECF7F8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Consultation by ordering professional</header><text>Beginning with January 1, 2017, subject to subparagraph (C), with respect to an applicable imaging service ordered by an ordering professional that would be furnished in an applicable setting and paid for under an applicable payment system (as defined in subparagraph (D)), an ordering professional shall—</text><clause id="H4BF8B16FB90E41FD96C35A9855DB4E98"><enum>(i)</enum><text>consult with a qualified decision support mechanism listed under paragraph (3)(C); and</text></clause><clause id="H9ECF463EB33B40B1BA40D735231C0DB2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>provide to the furnishing professional the information described in clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (B).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB15219449ED346D6AA4383613A055927"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reporting by furnishing professional</header><text>Beginning with January 1, 2017, subject to subparagraph (C), with respect to an applicable imaging service furnished in an applicable setting and paid for under an applicable payment system (as defined in subparagraph (D)), payment for such service may only be made if the claim for the service includes the following:</text><clause id="HDCD681E6E83D4E34A3770536C72EE18C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Information about which qualified clinical decision support mechanism was consulted by the ordering professional for the service.</text></clause><clause id="H7AA102725F93467B89C655BE3F18744E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Information regarding—</text><subclause id="HC3C576F7346C4B90BA8C50031ACC0D07"><enum>(I)</enum><text>whether the service ordered would adhere to the applicable appropriate use criteria specified under paragraph (2);</text></subclause><subclause id="HC1015028F1E34BE08205C2FCE860986C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>whether the service ordered would not adhere to such criteria; or</text></subclause><subclause id="HAA6BEDB3A27942E38C80E67415720951"><enum>(III)</enum><text>whether such criteria was not applicable to the service ordered.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H235C6ABEEBBC4258A0A9C327CB9BAB02"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The national provider identifier of the ordering professional (if different from the furnishing professional).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB33882972763458EA80A5946CCC76A4B"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>The provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) and paragraph (6)(A) shall not apply to the following:</text><clause id="H2B6570B1693F44E9A5B9E303F54AB510"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Emergency services</header><text>An applicable imaging service ordered for an individual with an emergency medical condition (as defined in section 1867(e)(1)).</text></clause><clause id="H97BA37A7722E482BB975BF7F95BB001A"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Inpatient services</header><text>An applicable imaging service ordered for an inpatient and for which payment is made under part A.</text></clause><clause id="HA2FE642408AC49838AB2303EE0DBB6B0"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Alternative payment models</header><text>An applicable imaging service ordered by an ordering professional with respect to an individual attributed to an alternative payment model (as defined in section 1833(z)(3)(C)).</text></clause><clause id="HF992E7A256184B46BC1BFA315B2CC9A1"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Significant hardship</header><text>An applicable imaging service ordered by an ordering professional who the Secretary may, on a case-by-case basis, exempt from the application of such provisions if the Secretary determines, subject to annual renewal, that consultation with applicable appropriate use criteria would result in a significant hardship, such as in the case of a professional who practices in a rural area without sufficient Internet access.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5A3C629B5C484B87AF08A68C5B1F591A"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Applicable payment system defined</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>applicable payment system</term> means the following:</text><clause id="H772842A794E34627B3C895C0415D21CF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The physician fee schedule established under section 1848(b).</text></clause><clause id="H9A81D9BC915E4EE3BCF3DBC576276C94"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services under section 1833(t).</text></clause><clause id="HE187A13653AF4D6E84AC8B7A93DD0621"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The ambulatory surgical center payment systems under section 1833(i).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFC61F4D2EFD94018BFBA4867B6D89A4B"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Identification of outlier ordering professionals</header><subparagraph id="H66AE854994FC45608058F019F96F4E01"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>With respect to applicable imaging services furnished beginning with 2017, the Secretary shall determine, on a periodic basis (which may be annually), ordering professionals who are outlier ordering professionals.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H09DE374A08F44F6BA38FBDF13E5077A1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Outlier ordering professionals</header><text>The determination of an outlier ordering professional shall—</text><clause id="H23D9C13668124F5AB6255262F511DC6E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>be based on low adherence to applicable appropriate use criteria specified under paragraph (2), which may be based on comparison to other ordering professionals; and</text></clause><clause id="H326C6093FD424D8791E431716AFD0289"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>include data for ordering professionals for whom prior authorization under paragraph (6)(A) applies.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6BB776D9EAC8497FB2411D3788F90D89"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Use of two years of data</header><text>The Secretary shall use two years of data to identify outlier ordering professionals under this paragraph.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1F60C789EBD64E1A8B7BFC9C2150A559"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Consultation with stakeholders</header><text>The Secretary shall consult with physicians, practitioners and other stakeholders in developing methods to identify outlier ordering professionals under this paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF8EDFFC90B8D4829AD9AACA8EBEC9F44"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Prior authorization for ordering professionals who are outliers</header><subparagraph id="H7523B3103EB14C4790F3F98877188A55"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning January 1, 2020, subject to paragraph (4)(C), with respect to services furnished during a year, the Secretary shall, for a period determined appropriate by the Secretary, apply prior authorization for applicable imaging services that are ordered by an outlier ordering professional identified under paragraph (5).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H27F8DF480C0C44398CD5C474FE30F55D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>For purposes of carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841, of $5,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2021. Amounts transferred under the preceding sentence shall remain available until expended.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H1BF5BB0772724681BFAC9AFB5A2141F2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 1833(t)(16) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395l">42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)(16)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF01194184692418F94847FCEECE68936" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="H6AFDE469C1E14C5ABF4838D3DDD98FF1"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Application of appropriate use criteria for certain imaging services</header><text>For provisions relating to the application of appropriate use criteria for certain imaging services, see section 1834(p).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE35E20662C054C458BC8C4F74F119F79"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment of appropriate use program for other part B services</header><text>Section 1834 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395m">42 U.S.C. 1395m</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC7CE9A08CD3147929B80DE2C6B453532" style="OLC"><subsection id="HCDA9E9E86ACB4FFE81CDB11B5BAFCC3C"><enum>(q)</enum><header>Establishment of appropriate use program for other part b services</header><paragraph id="H6494B5890E0B4D9AA9FC19EF54220C12"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><subparagraph id="HFB25DA0342B4413DA3CD3BE00992302B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may establish an appropriate use program for services under this part (other than applicable imaging services under subsection (p)) using a process that is comparable to the process under such subsection. With respect to appropriate use criteria, such process shall replicate the provider-developed or provider-endorsed criteria framework for appropriate use criteria for applicable imaging services under such subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0BFD3D17C8084B6085546658F5886826"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In determining whether to establish a program under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall take into consideration—</text><clause id="id02A46302FFF042F6AA4E14ED0DB27BC4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the applicability of the provider-developed or provider-endorsed criteria framework for appropriate use criteria for applicable imaging services under subsection (p);</text></clause><clause id="H98F26F55A87D4F18B9937DC8B8A7CDD3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the implementation of provider-developed or provider-endorsed appropriate use criteria for such applicable imaging services; and</text></clause><clause id="H15A76B6090954EA1A5EC0D5351998C3C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the report under paragraph (2).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9A6BBD5C27594DF895913D5ED7E19154"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Input from stakeholders in advance of rulemaking</header><text>Before issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish a program under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8721719BC557448B8C485913CE154965"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report on experience of imaging appropriate use criteria program</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that includes a description of the extent to which appropriate use criteria could be used for other services under this part, such as radiation therapy and clinical diagnostic laboratory services.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="H6A01056E3D5D4697AADC3D58B055FB0D"><enum>106.</enum><header>Empowering beneficiary choices through access to information on physicians’ services</header><subsection id="HBC54B22A2BAF4DBC95F342A6D3ADA779"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Transferring freestanding physician compare provision to the Social Security Act</header><paragraph id="H4F38F84939EC44CA870B767B4E2E2EA1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 10331 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/148">Public Law 111–148</external-xref> is transferred and redesignated as subsection (t) of section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>), as amended by subsections (c) and (h) of section 101 and by section 102.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD08D476C72BB4C968DC79B9B95AB3186"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming redesignations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(t) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(t)</external-xref>), as transferred and redesignated by paragraph (1), is further amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H1DBAB707143447F1AAD62AEBC2351233"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking the subsection heading and inserting the following new subsection heading: <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Public reporting of performance and other information on Physician Compare</header-in-text></quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE4C4E763315F4A0999B0CAEB13E035FB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (a) through (i) as paragraphs (1) through (9), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9F01AF839348470C8758945BB944163E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), as redesignated by subparagraph (B)—</text><clause id="HC5D70DD4D57F428D8764882F2EDC12BD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></clause><clause id="H4B1C63F0BD28420AAFF940E0F3FBE2C6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by clause (i), by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (G) as clauses (i) through (vii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H13AF6C40125140AFA7EAC5C9D576781E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as subparagraphs (A) through (G), respectively, and indenting appropriately; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB8356D362B974D94892B229B9738DF3F"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in paragraph (9), as redesignated by subparagraph (B), by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively, and indenting appropriately.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HFFA065C1D1374D54A8CD0E0C6F466C9C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><text>Section 1848(t) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(t)</external-xref>), as amended by paragraph (2), is further amended—</text><subparagraph id="HBD09A52AFAD540EDA8B9AD4301EDD97F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><clause id="H079E77139D204E859258C68241146222"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text><subclause id="HD3AEFDA3A65C421ABEE161653284D2BE"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Medicare program under section 1866(j) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395cc">42 U.S.C. 1395cc(j)</external-xref>)</quote> and inserting <quote>the program under this title under section 1866(j)</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="HC264E5CF663E4262A1CDC15BAE5A46FC"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>)</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H9816254701ED4E51AA6C458B6795A318"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i)—</text><subclause id="H619E34AA13F84F9FA58FB2F19D4F60C4"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>subsection (c)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (3)</quote>;</text></subclause><subclause id="HC1BF2AF0AEE4478780268F429FD44E78"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Medicare program under such section 1866(j)</quote> and inserting <quote>the program under this title under section 1866(j)</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H63444AB2C8474E71A41F86BCC5EEB4E7"><enum>(III)</enum><text>by striking <quote>this section</quote> and inserting <quote>this subsection</quote>;</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFDC70B0290D8479ABBDBE4457EFF1C11"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="HF81B9ACCA969415581F7AFE0631B3B43"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>subsection (a)(2)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (1)(B)</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="H2D74B05549B646E6A8E8AFF551C553B6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>the Medicare program</quote> and inserting <quote>the program under this title</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="H635C1686C0CC485FA49C54D3140623D3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in each of subparagraphs (F) and (G), by striking <quote>this section</quote> and inserting <quote>this subsection</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H61C43985CF874BDFB77ED4BF04DB9051"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>this section</quote> and inserting <quote>this subsection</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9AB5615304F245D9A4F7C1272CD732ED"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text><clause id="H5253C8001A7D4E7BBBDF13EB4F953B75"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>of the Social Security Act, as added by section 3014 of this Act</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="H44E61ED1EDAC4958A13CBC1C1F0CA5FF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>this section</quote> and inserting <quote>this subsection</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0E03F793387247F2804D9458F575E4DA"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in paragraph (5)—</text><clause id="HB771440907404239AB50CDFF60C71D1D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>this subsection (a)(2)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (1)(B)</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="H7ACCA679E6CE48108EDC8973A6933645"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>(<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/110/275">Public Law 110–275</external-xref>)</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA7998C0C14184C69BDC54EAB4F5663E9"><enum>(F)</enum><text>in paragraph (6), by striking <quote>subsection (a)(1)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (1)(A)</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD7480FFEDA144F758D416B32347A43DA"><enum>(G)</enum><text>in paragraph (7)—</text><clause id="H976B332CDCF24606B72BD22E4E81F7D9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>subsection (f)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (6)</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="H750189ADBF0D4F1E98E3C3541B792318"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>title XVIII of the Social Security Act</quote> and inserting <quote>this title</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5994C83DB3A84A3EB202A7F11519AAEB"><enum>(H)</enum><text>in paragraph (8)—</text><clause id="HCCBC6828E5E045309481B3625869A340"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>subparagraphs (A) through (G) of subsection (a)(2)</quote> and inserting <quote>clauses (i) through (vii) of paragraph (1)(B)</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="H9B05C9CC7B2D47D39D49528DA2E8AFC1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>title XVIII of the Social Security Act</quote> and inserting <quote>this title</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="HC544C8CFB634435983BD9E799761A6E2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>such title</quote> and inserting <quote>this title</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBD25CCAC29F24ED2B2CA32AFED0099DF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in paragraph (9)—</text><clause id="H8FF23EECCF9F439DAA1B8B887046F9E5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (8), by striking <quote>this section</quote> and inserting <quote>this subsection</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="H796BB1E8ACBA42868832AA5E1F025F8B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>)</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="HED9361CB83084B4895DA8B466293E820"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395x">42 U.S.C. 1395x(r)</external-xref>)</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="HB6D406B1815647F0BABF105835AAF2BD"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>subsection (a)(1)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (1)(A)</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="HC416CA6F06EF45E6A83FEDF0946FDC8F"><enum>(v)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (D).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB5F8292C5DA04DC6AA194781E2BC4100"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Public availability of Medicare data</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1848(t) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(t)</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended—</text><paragraph id="HEEC9F61D32FD433FABA2D4F322C6E680"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0A51900E36A64553B7551EAA5B7278D3"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0BD141FBAF664FD7B388F42EABB2EDED" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H12774AF7EEF54E2CBD38C43280221F16"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Public availability of eligible professional claims data</header><subparagraph id="H9B030EE73750412DB8A5A4387ECA69ED"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall make publicly available on Physician Compare the information described in subparagraph (B) with respect to eligible professionals.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H343910AFE7714E07B6990138A665950B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Information described</header><text>The following information, with respect to an eligible professional, is described in this subparagraph:</text><clause id="H2867E7A0CE48422FA741B15283ADE574"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Information on the number of services furnished by the eligible professional, which may include information on the most frequent services furnished or groupings of services.</text></clause><clause id="H4844821CFABB4E149788D64410FFF05F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Information on submitted charges and payments for services under this part.</text></clause><clause id="H466C14EBFD8B43F99D2EB2DE8C6503D8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>A unique identifier for the eligible professional that is available to the public, such as a national provider identifier.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE3A688135E834036A47896E2123157DF"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Searchability</header><text>The information made available under this paragraph shall be searchable by at least the following:</text><clause id="H29240520FD1A48B99740AE77351A91BE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The specialty or type of the eligible professional.</text></clause><clause id="H3D1CE7F947DE41759D84F2C4E0FCEA9F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Characteristics of the services furnished, such as volume or groupings of services.</text></clause><clause id="H3B88851CBC014757B296551FE8BA8390"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The location of the eligible professional.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA6F9C845BA324BB3AE6E24D09156431C"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Disclosure</header><text>The information made available under this paragraph shall indicate, where appropriate, that publicized information may not be representative of the eligible professional’s entire patient population, the variety of services furnished by the eligible professional, or the health conditions of individuals treated.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBEB0689E6F054639B5EA96AF4ED01423"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Implementation</header><clause id="HD9F3B8343AD44D189D21F0FAC07621AF"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Initial implementation</header><text>Physician Compare shall include the information described in subparagraph (B)—</text><subclause id="H9B0DDA5CA05A45A488DE8AA40E6F2073"><enum>(I)</enum><text>with respect to physicians, by not later than July 1, 2015; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H016A458D22184447AB28F548D52B22F3"><enum>(II)</enum><text>with respect to other eligible professionals, by not later than July 1, 2016.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="H9F047168DDD6449E8652FF0046D98301"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Annual updating</header><text>The information made available under this paragraph shall be updated on Physician Compare not less frequently than on an annual basis.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H63E48ABE756F441998BD11EA3DE088CF"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Opportunity to review and submit corrections</header><text>The Secretary shall provide for an opportunity for an eligible professional to review, and submit corrections for, the information to be made public with respect to the eligible professional under this paragraph prior to such information being made public.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H9AD3C05C291E426AB4CC0334C874A5BA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (10)(C), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>(or a successor website)</quote> before the period at the end.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H5317A269DE2E4D86AB3CF1A6EA545CE8"><enum>107.</enum><header>Expanding claims data availability to improve care</header><subsection id="HDF2C56040A4C43EFA889382F8754EB12"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Expansion of uses of claims data by qualified entities</header><text>Section 1874(e) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395kk">42 U.S.C. 1395kk(e)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H26009C017FEA47C59DF673CEFFA819C1" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H009638BC8C114D69AFAC27BA692DFBA2"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Expansion of uses of claims data by qualified entities</header><subparagraph id="HC938B6924082491DB90837004BFBE434"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Expansion</header><text>To the extent consistent with applicable information, privacy, security, and disclosure laws, beginning July 1, 2014, notwithstanding paragraph (4)(B) (other than clause (iii) of such paragraph) and the second sentence of paragraph (4)(D), a qualified entity may, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, do any or all of the following:</text><clause id="H2923C1644AA1431B952C1B3962A77C1A"><enum>(i)</enum><subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H56C6D08CEEC843F2A28A7D85E240CA2E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Use the combined data described in paragraph (4)(B)(iii) to conduct analyses, other than for reports described in paragraph (4), for entities described in subparagraph (B) for non-public uses, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, such as for the purposes described in subclause (II).</text></subclause><subclause id="H4F882DF7EBD047E8A3A1E817A5DC734D" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>The purposes described in this subclause are assisting providers of services and suppliers in developing and participating in quality and patient care improvement activities (including developing new models of care), population health management, and disease monitoring, and the purposes described in subparagraph (C).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HF2F595C2B92D4E83BF482726FA16F1C7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Provide or sell such analyses to entities described in subparagraph (B).</text></clause><clause id="H25C54B79FBF34426A57B9DCD2C5FEC52"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Provide entities described in clauses (i), (ii), (v), and (vi) of subparagraph (B) with access to the combined data described in paragraph (4)(B)(iii) through a qualified data enclave (as defined in subparagraph (F)) that is maintained by the qualified entity, or through an approved alternative method (as defined in subparagraph (G)), in order for entities described in such clauses to conduct analyses for non-public uses, such as for the purposes described in clause (i)(II) (but excluding the purposes described in subparagraph (C)).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B20333E71974BC48BD21C904BF2843C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Entities described</header><text>For the purpose of subparagraph (A) clauses (i) and (ii), the entities described in this subparagraph are the following:</text><clause id="HD24F5917BE9247B2A0C3AC979D94792F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>A provider of services.</text></clause><clause id="H74DBF5AB4A68440BA58AA51ABA2F0960"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>A supplier.</text></clause><clause id="HFE93F96659A94A8EB3C79920863BAECD"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Subject to subparagraph (C), an employer (as defined in section 3(5) of the Employee Retirement Insurance Security Act of 1974).</text></clause><clause id="H73733075FBDE451B8D051A61ECFF0313"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>A health insurance issuer (as defined in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act) that provides data under paragraph (4)(B)(iii).</text></clause><clause id="H2B9BAD2CA7204AD69B0D6EF3B7E77E71"><enum>(v)</enum><text>A medical society or hospital association.</text></clause><clause id="H71621322AA95487B9BA08D0D539A8249"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Other entities approved by the Secretary (other than an employer (as so defined) and a health insurance issuer (as so defined)).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H61D1EE9F45354D72A7021227CB2F7579"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Limitation for employers with respect to analyses</header><text>Any analyses provided or sold under this paragraph to an employer (as so defined) may only be used by such employer for purposes of providing health insurance to employees and retirees of the employer.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8437E032AD84461C9220C61EFB81AF0C"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Protection of patient identification in analyses</header><clause id="H9B1DCE0BBFB64D9BA6F4D4EE3AF0E458"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Except as provided in clause (ii), an analysis provided or sold under this paragraph shall not contain information that individually identifies a patient.</text></clause><clause id="HD64626D023444593B4934CE4844A3246"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Information on patients of the provider of services or supplier</header><text>An analysis that is provided or sold under this paragraph to a provider of services or supplier may contain data that individually identifies a patient of such provider or supplier but only with respect to items and services furnished by such provider or supplier to such patient.</text></clause><clause id="H12DDD61E3D5443DA85F98A3BFEA0F89B"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Opportunity for providers of services and suppliers to review</header><text>Prior to a qualified entity providing or selling an analysis under this paragraph to an entity described in subparagraph (B), to the extent that such analysis would individually identify a provider of services or supplier who is not being provided or sold such analysis, such qualified entity shall provide an opportunity for such provider or supplier to review and submit corrections to such analysis.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0CC2DE49BC9E433380041EB5B00C8782"><enum>(E)</enum><header>No redisclosure of analyses or data</header><text>An entity described in subparagraph (B) that is provided or sold analyses under this paragraph, or an entity described in subparagraph (A)(iii) that receives data under this paragraph through a qualified data enclave or an approved alternative method, shall not redisclose or make public such analyses, such data, or analyses using such data.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCA0C5533ADAD434BB81C89771162F3D4"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Requirements for a qualified data enclave</header><clause id="H8539D58C645948FC9BE834B23B01BA27"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For purposes of this paragraph, the term <term>qualified data enclave</term> means a data enclave that the Secretary determines meets the following:</text><subclause id="HD8E74E6387B94F97848534D880F932EF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>The data enclave is a virtual private network or comparable mechanism.</text></subclause><subclause id="H2791768E8A094815A11622403A27523C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Subject to the requirements described in clause (ii) and such other requirements as the Secretary may specify, the data enclave is capable of providing access to the combined data described in subparagraph (A)(iii).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HE4BEB26143C6455480866A1C5F0584F4"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Enclave access requirements</header><text>The requirements described in this clause are the following:</text><subclause id="H7AB7111F3254407AB821FFBA40B08415"><enum>(I)</enum><text>A qualified data enclave shall preclude any entity that obtains access to the data from removing or extracting the data from such enclave.</text></subclause><subclause id="H4F33BA0985DF4C6CB50EB76B6F62EDC6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Subject to the succeeding sentence, the enclave shall preclude access to data that individually identifies a patient, including data on the patient's name and date of birth and such other data as the Secretary shall specify. Such data enclave may provide providers of services and suppliers with access to such individually identifiable patient data but only with respect to items and services furnished by such provider or supplier to such patient.</text></subclause><subclause id="H6BE8AFCA1E0443BB818E70CDA5A9A2AE"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Access to data in the enclave shall not be provided to any entity unless the qualified entity and the entity have entered into a data use agreement, the terms of which contain the requirements of this paragraph and paragraph (6) and such other terms the Secretary may specify.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id22F360EB321640A298A2F9C0BD2C9A7B"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Approved alternative method</header><text>For purposes of this paragraph, the term <term>approved alternative method</term> means a method of providing access to the data described in subparagraph (A)(iii) (other than through a qualified data enclave) to entities described in such paragraph that the Secretary determines meets the following:</text><clause id="id06434940825B4D27AE3EC5C12186C2D9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The method is as secure as a qualified data enclave.</text></clause><clause id="id7DF8541FAE074133B703FC2D80BFA280"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The method meets the requirements applicable to a qualified data enclave under subclauses (II) and (III) of subparagraph (F)(ii).</text></clause><clause id="idF50BA6B996DE49DBBB5104229A4F30A5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The method meets other requirements determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84BD081CB6E54E4BAC8FCD371FC4DF80"><enum>(H)</enum><header>Annual reports</header><text>Any qualified entity that provides or sells analyses pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii), or provides access to a data through an approved data enclave or an approved alternative method, shall annually submit to the Secretary a report that includes—</text><clause id="H53518339B06345E1A666C3BA30043B35"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a summary of the analyses provided or sold, including the number of such analyses, the number of purchasers of such analyses, and the total amount of fees received for such analyses;</text></clause><clause id="HC6792CF9FC0141D59E9F52A0C9B5483A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a description of the topics and purposes of such analyses;</text></clause><clause id="HE5ABA75939274CB19D346BA15814CFC8"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>information on the entities who obtained access to data pursuant to subparagraph (A)(iii), the uses of the data, and the total amount of fees received for providing such access; and</text></clause><clause id="H4DEE8334B96D423BA22B70C3F5D995DC"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>other information determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id593579AE3F2D440897F5345E39DF667B"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Civil monetary penalties for a breach of a data use agreement</header><text>A data use agreement under this subsection shall provide for civil monetary penalties (as determined appropriate by the Secretary) for a breach of such agreement.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H2DDD8D664D154DE89F47DDBA0729827B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expansion of data available to qualified entities</header><text>Section 1874(e) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395kk">42 U.S.C. 1395kk(e)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H06690324BD3A4E3CA3951C169024C2B3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the subsection heading, by striking <quote>Medicare</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H91323C992BA7490C8E1B9D9F59074D94"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><subparagraph id="HBA34EA7E4BAB4E97A523051E02C3F5B1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting after the first sentence the following new sentence: <quote>Effective July 1, 2014, if the Secretary determines appropriate, the data described in this paragraph may also include standardized extracts (as determined by the Secretary) of claims data under titles XIX and XXI for assistance provided under such titles for one or more specified geographic areas and time periods requested by a qualified entity.</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H21C84EF5ED864D7F8634E9F4D4AFF72E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the last sentence, by inserting <quote>or under titles XIX or XXI</quote> before the period at the end.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA37506C318FE4D1A96CEAB7AE5AB4ADC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Access to Medicare data by qualified clinical data registries To facilitate quality improvement</header><text>Section 1848(m)(3)(E) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(m)(3)(E)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H40FD5440CF644599AEB5E1C16715DB6E" style="OLC"><clause id="H0E9A5A040A3F4950B099CB7569A2B2B2"><enum>(vi)</enum><header>Access to medicare data to facilitate quality improvement</header><subclause id="H8B319DE48AA94F6CA2B3C7A9660EE53A"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To the extent consistent with applicable information, privacy, security, and disclosure laws, and subject to other requirements as the Secretary may specify, beginning July 1, 2014, the Secretary shall, if requested by a qualified clinical data registry under this subparagraph, subject to subclauses (II) and (III), provide data as described in section 1874(e)(3) (in a form and manner determined to be appropriate) to such registry for purposes of linking such data with clinical data and performing analyses and research to support quality improvement or patient safety.</text></subclause><subclause id="HF6283BA1EF9D40B8A5DD12D272908DCF"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Protection</header><text>A qualified clinical data registry may not publicly report any data made available under subclause (I) (or any analyses or research described in such subclause) that individually identifies a provider of services, supplier, or individual unless the registry obtains the consent of such provider, supplier, or individual prior to such reporting.</text></subclause><subclause id="H95B1830F54A0486B83CD08A23E74A422"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Fee</header><text>The data described in subclause (I) shall be made available to qualified clinical data registries at a fee equal to the cost of making such data available. Any fee collected pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be deposited in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H5FE7456A4C684936BA913B91DFDCEF2F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Revision of placement of fees</header><text>Section 1874(e)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395kk">42 U.S.C. 1395kk(e)(4)(A)</external-xref>) is amended, in the second sentence—</text><paragraph id="HA45419A9B89C49E0A1C6EF6875E5FCEE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>, for periods prior to July 1, 2014,</quote> after <quote>deposited</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFB2E7829A54D49828E5295954C7B484B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting the following before the period at the end: <quote>, and, beginning July 1, 2014, into the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Extensions and Other Provisions</header><subtitle id="idB5D27CD75FF34AAAAA953B705A42B4BC" style="OLC"><enum>A</enum><header>Medicare Extensions</header><section id="id8CD9E8F1BBD34652ADDBBF3BC051E8F9"><enum>201.</enum><header>Work geographic adjustment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1848(e)(1)(E) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(E)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>and before January 1, 2014,</quote>.</text></section><section id="id4a8d6d37e96b4343be57149541ac0a5e"><enum>202.</enum><header>Medicare payment for therapy services</header><subsection id="id6d1b817de1d648a69cc281ad1abd3478"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Repeal of therapy cap and 1-year extension of threshold for manual medical review</header><text>Section 1833(g) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395l">42 U.S.C. 1395l(g)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H99A575A977574066BDAE8163AD2D383A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text><subparagraph id="id4DED96140D6C4F95BB9164C91380CD0A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>This subsection</quote> and inserting <quote>Except as provided in paragraph (5)(C), this subsection</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id337095FFDB6A4FC2A8B2DEB8B524D8C1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting the following before the period at the end: <quote>or with respect to services furnished on or after the date of enactment of the <short-title>SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013</short-title></quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4BC90C45CC7146A7B7C1D0375EC778A5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (5)(C)—</text><subparagraph id="id7AAFAEA545C6499385436561FE721F09"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (i), by inserting <quote>and before January 1, 2015,</quote> after <quote>2012,</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0112CD434FB84872B58DD6D8F5E92D0E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new clause:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1BF3CA5DC2044F7DB0B66A67D6FDA03D" style="OLC"><clause id="idBB8C56B0F9C6498788AB666CB39AAF6C" indent="up3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>With respect to services furnished during the period beginning on the date of enactment of the <short-title>SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013</short-title>, and ending on December 31, 2014, the provisions of this paragraph shall only apply to the extent necessary to carry out the manual medical review process under this subparagraph.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1c77bd8566b94207bc27a7f06f78d804"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Medical review of outpatient therapy services</header><paragraph id="idd4c3dde106c247adac1be9d1ee4f5f9a"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Medical review of outpatient therapy services</header><text>Section 1833 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395l">42 U.S.C. 1395l</external-xref>), as amended by section 101(e), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3C0EA60983D84861AED4384C236540C9" style="OLC"><subsection id="idff5ba4e4e0324c918a419ca101d92035"><enum>(aa)</enum><header>Medical review of outpatient therapy services</header><paragraph id="idb44840541e6e4b83a23d09bf85cf44b5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><subparagraph id="id68F68D7F503D454881D6F8CFA38B7E94"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Process for medical review</header><text>The Secretary shall implement a process for the medical review (as described in paragraph (2)) of outpatient therapy services (as defined in paragraph (10)) and, subject to paragraph (12), apply such process to such services furnished on or after January 1, 2015, focusing on services identified under subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idff6c6e1826b547cbac8c482a6e63316b"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Identification of services for review</header><text>Under the process, the Secretary shall identify services for medical review, using such factors as the Secretary determines appropriate, which may include the following:</text><clause id="idc461d2a4e31a49f6a217a16a9e9e3b66"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Services furnished by a therapy provider (as defined in paragraph (10)) whose pattern of billing is higher compared to peers.</text></clause><clause id="id2d38694040ac4650b4b9a881ed328637"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Services furnished by a therapy provider who, in a prior period, has a high claims denial percentage or is least compliant with other applicable requirements under this title.</text></clause><clause id="ida08eee5da70d421681c9a59ab0029639"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Services furnished by a therapy provider that is newly enrolled under this title.</text></clause><clause id="id80505814b7e74481862e67f87d9e4e5f"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Services furnished by a therapy provider who has questionable billing practices, such as billing medically unlikely units of services in a day.</text></clause><clause id="ida2abfd552eb64c3cad0c26428393825f"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Services furnished to treat a type of medical condition.</text></clause><clause id="id2d9bd32e385d449eb7a2192b1fc4b75b"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Services identified by use of the standardized data elements required to be reported under section 1834(p).</text></clause><clause id="id8d233871feab426cadd8efd4b47bd3e2"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>Services furnished by a single therapy provider or a group that includes a therapy provider identified by factors described in this subparagraph.</text></clause><clause id="id6cbecb8e282a4d3b805fd4612b841cdc"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>Other services as determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id08155e898ca345bf850d87906e603841"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Medical review</header><subparagraph id="idDAC60F6A3F9142999695C85A6CCC65A5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Prior authorization medical review</header><clause id="id293442cb0e834344b81aa4c329308e4f"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall use prior authorization medical review for outpatient therapy services furnished to an individual above one or more thresholds established by the Secretary, such as a dollar threshold or a threshold based on factors such as the type of outpatient therapy service or setting.</text></clause><clause id="id9e727636dcf641198d6343a96e0cc46b"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Ending application of prior authorization for a therapy provider</header><text>The Secretary shall end the application of prior authorization medical review to outpatient therapy services furnished by a therapy provider if the Secretary determines that the provider has a low denial rate under such prior authorization. The Secretary may subsequently reapply prior authorization medical review to such therapy provider if the Secretary determines it to be appropriate.</text></clause><clause id="id46826d913710441a855c709e4c46260c"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Prior authorization of multiple services</header><text>The Secretary shall, where practicable, provide for prior authorization medical review for multiple services at a single time, such as services in a therapy plan of care described in section 1861(p)(2).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddcf036f801bc4455af680ae929c18818"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Other types of medical review</header><text>The Secretary may use pre-payment review or post-payment review for services identified under paragraph (1)(B) that are not subject to prior authorization medical review under subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id361E8146847649619E3E241039DC8DF5"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Limitation for law enforcement activities</header><text>The Secretary may determine that medical review under this subsection does not apply in the case where fraud may be involved.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida47abe32b3754a54a810a1b81620a013"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Review contractors</header><text>The Secretary shall conduct prior authorization medical review of outpatient therapy services under this subsection using medicare administrative contractors (as described in section 1874A) or other review contractors (other than contractors under section 1893(h) or contractors paid on a contingent basis).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc26bca24b841473bbeda4b98349e26be"><enum>(4)</enum><header>No payment without prior authorization</header><text>With respect to an outpatient therapy service for which prior authorization medical review under this subsection applies, no payment shall be made under this part for the service unless a prior authorization determination is made, in advance of furnishing such service, that such service would meet the applicable requirements of section 1862(a)(1)(A).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5e14180f222443858d12cb3676141d3d"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Submission of information</header><text>A therapy provider may submit the information necessary for medical review by fax, by mail, or by electronic means. The Secretary shall make available the electronic means described in the preceding sentence as soon as practicable, but not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5eeeaea5ae0a4d7782f614df6cff1ab0"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Timeliness</header><text>The Secretary shall make a prior authorization determination under this subsection within 10 business days of the date of the Secretary’s receipt of medical documentation needed to make such determination or the Secretary shall be deemed to have found the services to meet the applicable requirements of section 1862(a)(1)(A).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcd01835f596343d8b46ad818ee746947"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Construction</header><text>With respect to an outpatient therapy service that has been affirmed by medical review under this subsection, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude the subsequent denial of a claim for such service that does not meet other applicable requirements under this Act.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e8a33b8e15740cd9d9b7c88b55b407a"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Beneficiary protections</header><text>With respect to services furnished on or after January 1, 2015, where payment may not be made as a result of application of medical review under this subsection, section 1879 shall apply in the same manner as such section applies to a denial that is made by reason of section 1862(a)(1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id615a138a1716445d96c40ff6e025c112"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Implementation</header><subparagraph id="idfb6e231aeefe440e96ef06ea17b8bb9f"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Authority</header><text>The Secretary may implement the provisions of this subsection by interim final rule with comment period.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide3202217f95543468e63aa21e4e5c4ac"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Administration</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">Chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to medical review under this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf12d10647f5543b1a02115490cd01e66"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>For purposes of this subsection:</text><subparagraph id="id94D72BD0445941798135DD233563F5D4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Outpatient therapy services</header><text>The term <term>outpatient therapy services</term> means the following services for which payment is made under section 1848, 1834(g), or 1834(k):</text><clause id="id9FDA9427934B4980BA59B736921D484F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Physical therapy services of the type described in section 1861(p).</text></clause><clause id="id3A4414EC6ED1488F93A17D026594E3A9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Speech-language pathology services of the type described in such section though the application of section 1861(ll)(2).</text></clause><clause id="id453021D09E304B2EA25EFCC1F1A6E069"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Occupational therapy services of the type described in section 1861(p) through the operation of section 1861(g).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id79321506138945128D5CEC2ADDD87591"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Therapy provider</header><text>The term <term>therapy provider</term> means a provider of services (as defined in section 1861(u)) or a supplier (as defined in section 1861(d)) who submits a claim for outpatient therapy services.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="ide78c50a96aa8457e9a3b75c88e73a867"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>For purposes of implementing this subsection, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841, of $35,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2014). Amounts transferred under this paragraph shall remain available until expended.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idBCFB86C1546240048C6A80D85ACC6B3A"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Scaling back</header><subparagraph id="id8eb537d3f02248dea731a4d6fed9c5ca"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Periodic determinations</header><text>Beginning with 2017, and every two years thereafter, the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="id8E2586E6362D4FFF9F982CEB378B8A25"><enum>(i)</enum><text>make a determination of the improper payment rate for outpatient therapy services for a 12-month period; and</text></clause><clause id="id7C8EE388E5D141B3BE2AA364427DB6B2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>make such determination publicly available.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id411c114c973443019ffcd35d2b557288"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Scaling back</header><text>If the improper payment rate for outpatient therapy services determined for a 12-month period under subparagraph (A) is 50 percent or less of the Medicare fee-for-service improper payment rate for such period, the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="idb73e20bc585343cdb22686cc92693931"><enum>(i)</enum><text>reduce the amount and extent of medical review conducted for a prospective year under the process established in this subsection; and</text></clause><clause id="id05404fb1cd1649e188e0b86a0ed0daa8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>return an appropriate portion of the funding provided for such year under paragraph (11).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idf73dcbf342804fb8ab499e0493143912"><enum>(2)</enum><header>GAO study and report</header><subparagraph id="id8599821EF71F4A96BA502C90A7F7B170"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the effectiveness of medical review of outpatient therapy services under section 1833(aa) of the Social Security Act, as added by paragraph (2). Such study shall include an analysis of—</text><clause id="idF52CB57B8B9A4314960EDAD7D53DBCC9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>aggregate data on—</text><subclause id="idB379DEBFD51C485A8FA03823ADD9F8C9"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the number of individuals, therapy providers, and claims subject to such review; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id6259D8F4EBBA4B6FA697344D5665D41D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the number of reviews conducted under such section; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idD056BAA34E2A4A558D45BE840246F4E0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the outcomes of such reviews.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id477FF50659DC4BEA92582C69AB9E9680"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study under subparagraph (A), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbb5bdce72602480b99f224fe0b632f3e"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Collection of standardized data elements for outpatient therapy services</header><paragraph id="id3a3e1e4b93f34d79ba0c94723f15e964"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Collection of standardized data elements for outpatient therapy services</header><text>Section 1834 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395m">42 U.S.C. 1395m</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd58ec8153e89480f8e9668c152e5bcc9" style="OLC"><subsection id="id0c2b2bb88f2745ca8ee16a4e317cd33c"><enum>(p)</enum><header>Collection of standardized data elements for outpatient therapy services</header><paragraph id="ide4d34762c307407e902114525ac2bb4d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Standardized data elements</header><subparagraph id="id9a7c4db6be60451d8a2ab2956c1445d8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services a draft list of standardized data elements for individuals receiving outpatient therapy services.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfaa470a186a44418a069fc1ca50bf80f"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Domains</header><text>Such standardized data elements shall include information with respect to the following domains, as determined appropriate by the Secretary:</text><clause id="id22117b3402564104b680e994c0e40bb7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Demographic information.</text></clause><clause id="idcc56409611d34a7ba03b77bdd1d51194"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Diagnosis.</text></clause><clause id="id6e29787e7bd7450a8ebaa35332c4c326"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Severity.</text></clause><clause id="ide148f49636c547e9980e33de8c555470"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Affected body structures and functions.</text></clause><clause id="id4e7b69d9dc0b4ff89b6db8beeda15f9b"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Limitations with activities of daily living and participation.</text></clause><clause id="id99EB2A59CD624E0BA6254571DE4B4AE3"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Functional status.</text></clause><clause id="ide099b88af52947ca98172c33ba7b2803"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>Other domains determined to be appropriate by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id436617d123df4ef1a16961eeb5e3fdc7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Solicitation of input</header><text>The Secretary shall accept comments from stakeholders through the date that is 60 days after the date the Secretary posts the draft list of standardized data elements pursuant to subparagraph (A). In seeking such comments, the Secretary shall use one or more mechanisms to solicit input from stakeholders that may include use of open door forums, town hall meetings, requests for information, or other mechanisms determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc9ab1bc0522245acbc1632ba00dc5d4f"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Operational list of standardized data elements</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the end of the comment period described in subparagraph (C), the Secretary, taking into account such comments, shall post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services an operational list of standardized data elements.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb0a0762ae7e6447e96ed715514641ee9"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Subsequent revisions</header><text>Subsequent revisions to the operational list of standardized data elements shall be made through rulemaking. Such revisions may be based on experience and input from stakeholders.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7614706564c74ccd8e1831e2f9f5ce4a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>System to report standardized data elements</header><subparagraph id="id84a1ab234534460f91167673e8ad7a0b"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date the Secretary posts the operational list of standardized data elements pursuant to paragraph (1)(D), the Secretary shall develop and implement an electronic system (which may be a web portal) for therapy providers to report the standardized data elements for individuals with respect to outpatient therapy services.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb93c167f47214f398b804d5c3b1ae8a4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>The Secretary shall seek comments from stakeholders regarding the best way to report the standardized data elements.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7ef38d3343d544de9b8c8db5fd567485"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Reporting</header><subparagraph id="idc57e779b50dd4534b41347807e418396"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Frequency of reporting</header><text>The Secretary shall specify the frequency of reporting standardized data elements. The Secretary shall seek comments from stakeholders regarding the frequency of the reporting of such data elements.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7996c8c31d2b4b5083db60e9136303fc"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reporting requirement</header><text>Beginning on the date the system to report standardized data elements under this subsection is operational, no payment shall be made under this part for outpatient therapy services furnished to an individual unless a therapy provider reports the standardized data elements for such individual.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id29ff8f29396947d1adbbd63d26921645"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Report on new payment system for outpatient therapy services</header><subparagraph id="idc857a067b95c4129b5eb2ece59947d80"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date described in paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the design of a new payment system for outpatient therapy services. The report shall include an analysis of the standardized data elements collected and other appropriate data and information.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id92fbff8b43bb427d922b722e6d618da7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Features</header><text>Such report shall consider—</text><clause id="id94D1ED32D78B4A4DA6C1295F4998C42C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>appropriate adjustments to payment (such as case mix and outliers);</text></clause><clause id="id6AB4E71F468F44FFAA9F9945F1BE3C7D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>payments on an episode of care basis; and</text></clause><clause id="idA5C1C1736BD643F7BC319FB5A61E81CA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>reduced payment for multiple episodes.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide9ea11c483f34e42b4e48f25066876ee"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>The Secretary shall consult with stakeholders regarding the design of such a new payment system.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7646bab5ce7c4e449ca4b3755d0af7ec"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Implementation</header><subparagraph id="id80bd25a959204f6a864341208dfd2147"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>For purposes of implementing this subsection, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841, of $7,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. Amounts transferred under this subparagraph shall remain available until expended.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc34c38a0d1a742658a2f76e90de77ac4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Administration</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">Chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to specification of the standardized data elements and implementation of the system to report such standardized data elements under this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd6161c33b43443febc198e129323bddb"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1869, section 1878, or otherwise of the specification of standardized data elements required under this subsection or the system to report such standardized data elements.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDB00F7E8AEBB428486BE07F341218EE7"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Definition of outpatient therapy services and therapy provider</header><text>In this subsection, the terms <quote>outpatient therapy services</quote> and <term>therapy provider</term> have the meaning given those term in section 1833(aa).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id14df1032132a465cabf947e9d9681064"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Sunset of current claims-based collection of therapy data</header><text>Section 3005(g)(1) of the Middle Class Tax Extension and Job Creation Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395l">42 U.S.C. 1395l</external-xref> note) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting <quote>and ending on the date the system to report standardized data elements under section 1834(p) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395m">42 U.S.C. 1395m(p)</external-xref>) is implemented,</quote> after <quote>January 1, 2013,</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7b50bb962d6b45a1a63161a92251489b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reporting of certain information</header><text>Section 1842(t) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395u">42 U.S.C. 1395u(t)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id533736079d804f1da59e833acb479008" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id99c58794d4cc4a668d847f868960d912" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Each request for payment, or bill submitted, by a therapy provider (as defined in section 1833(aa)(10)) for an outpatient therapy service (as defined in such section) furnished by a therapy assistant on or after January 1, 2015, shall include (in a form and manner specified by the Secretary) an indication that the service was furnished by a therapy assistant.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="HDD30D79A6C084089823084512E8E9494" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header>Medicare ambulance services</header><subsection id="id0B94AEDB39B8403BB8474FB2BE731F0C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Extension of certain ambulance add-on payments</header><paragraph id="idA6A238E7A6D8426F9CDF9B823B8BA5C8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Ground
Ambulance</header><text>Section 1834(l)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395m(l)(13)(A)) is amended by striking <quote>January 1, 2014</quote> and inserting
<quote>January 1, 2019</quote> each place it appears.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id10296D701F4A4D08AB0263C73444CCF7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Super Rural
Ambulance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section
1834(l)(12)(A) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395m">42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(12)(A)</external-xref>) is
amended, in the first sentence, by striking <quote>January 1, 2014</quote> and
inserting <quote>January 1, 2019</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide32dc0b8367c4841bc35227c3071479f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requiring ambulance providers To submit cost and other information</header><text>Section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395m">42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id00704f906e6f4616a1c9894aa89842c2" style="OLC"><paragraph id="ida3ebac4e77f542b88b3302646af8a96b"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Submission of cost and other information</header><subparagraph id="id03f86e0cd9054fa0b6fc60b25338549f"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Development of data collection system</header><text>The Secretary shall develop a data collection system (which may include use of a cost survey and standardized definitions) for providers and suppliers of ambulance services to collect cost, revenue, utilization, and other information determined appropriate by the Secretary. Such system shall be designed to submit information—</text><clause id="id71b790a14df44cff8afa0eb2bbb9003a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>needed to evaluate the appropriateness of payment rates under this subsection;</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="ideca7bafc558e4c31838919f20fa1ea75"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>on the utilization of capital equipment and ambulance capacity; and</text></clause><clause id="id9cf05541c7114d719d07de80b13a5491"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>on different types of ambulance services furnished in different geographic locations, including rural areas and low population density areas described in paragraph (12).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaa904df787a4433aa70b43761655feac"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Specification of data collection system</header><clause id="id5a3e9ded85624507b0a07f414f1fe79d"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than January 1, 2015, the Secretary shall—</text><subclause id="id87f0baca178e446bb726c1c2d64cca2a"><enum>(I)</enum><text>specify the data collection system under subparagraph (A); and</text></subclause><subclause id="id5c224059dea6423fb3c4afea98cd5a55"><enum>(II)</enum><text>identify the providers and suppliers of ambulance services who would be required to submit the information under such data collection system.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id70dc5a1e563c4909b7b3cc488490071f"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Respondents</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (D)(ii), the Secretary shall determine an appropriate sample of providers and suppliers of ambulance services to submit information under the data collection system each year.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4693747e74b6413d804adfc66d730520"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Reporting of cost information</header><text>Beginning July 1, 2015, a 5 percent reduction to payments under this part shall be made for a 1-year period to a provider or supplier of ambulance services who—</text><clause id="id87B55384A6984B8C8932530528FDFA8B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>is identified under subparagraph (B)(i)(II) as being required to submit the information under the data collection system; and</text></clause><clause id="idF6C4524A426F4F7498D94A1A97F39CA2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>does not submit such information.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id29f85e8a39db45a9887eb5d645ce8950"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Ongoing data collection</header><clause id="id35c39684fd954cff80c1966689fc2936"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Revision of data collection system</header><text>The Secretary may revise, as the Secretary determines appropriate, the data collection system. The Secretary shall consult with providers and suppliers of ambulance services when revising such system.</text></clause><clause id="iddbcce88fad4a424b927a741d1906f1c5"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Subsequent data collection</header><text>In order to continue to evaluate the appropriateness of payment rates under this subsection, the Secretary shall require providers and suppliers of ambulance services to submit information for years after 2015 as the Secretary determines appropriate, but in no case less often than once every 3 years.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF0879031EA4C4FA085D102431F647398"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>The Secretary shall consult with stakeholders in carrying out the development of the system and collection of information under this paragraph, including the activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (D). Such consultation shall include the use of requests for information and other mechanisms determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf32a12a40e6d47e18202ebb6244a24ce"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Administration</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">Chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to the collection of information required under this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id44f58a3af0a1499fa1ebcdf2fdaa9110"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Limitations on review</header><text>There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1869, section 1878, or otherwise of the data collection system or identification of respondents under this paragraph.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id844DEC9D956941F2B1603B05158BEC7E"><enum>(H)</enum><header>Funding for implementation</header><text>For purposes of carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841, of $1,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for fiscal year 2014. Amounts transferred under this subparagraph shall remain available until expended.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="H4EE65E0C0076452995970CF6E87B0473"><enum>204.</enum><header>Revision of the
Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program</header><subsection id="id1731CD2BDFE44646B1B8C2027A8C26F9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Permanent extension of
payment methodology</header><paragraph id="id79838E7EE5BD4EC6BAED048FA8550D71"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1886(d)(5)(G) of the
<act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C.
1395ww(d)(5)(G)) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id2BDE045C3A4C4B0B90F593A25890A636"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in
clause (i), by striking <quote>and before October 1, 2013,</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id27950B7AFEB649BFBFF7935778F6C270"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in
clause (ii)(II), by striking <quote>and before October 1, 2013,</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6274F41A19D349B29DCC6E286B5A0CD2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><subparagraph id="id4112FFE3143846F1BB4B0092107C8756"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Target amount</header><text>Section 1886(b)(3)(D) of the
<act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C.
1395ww(b)(3)(D)) is amended—</text><clause id="id896A65A8D7CF44F789BAC43B7C48D07F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>and before October 1, 2013,</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id0F367E348ABE48DD9E4AE99625C0D3BD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (iv),
by striking <quote>through fiscal year 2013</quote> and inserting
<quote>or a subsequent fiscal year</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4F7DBC042B4A4580A5F7DD1D57F20D84"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Hospital value-based purchasing program</header><text>Section 1886(o)(7)(D)(ii)(I) of the
<act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C.
1395ww(o)(7)(D)(ii)(I)) is amended by striking <quote>(with respect to discharges occurring during fiscal year 2012 and 2013)</quote>.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id092A494CB8D04C7989BD917A4F74C206"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Hospital readmission reduction program</header><text>Section 1886(q)(2)(B)(i) of the
<act-name parsable-cite="SSA">Social Security Act</act-name> (42 U.S.C.
1395ww(q)(2)(B)(i)) is amended by striking <quote>(with respect to discharges occurring during fiscal years 2012 and 2013)</quote>.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE90D19EED406433FB6E2C00EFED48099"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Permitting
hospitals to decline reclassification</header><text>Section 13501(e)(2) of the
<act-name parsable-cite="OBRA93">Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1993</act-name> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ww">42 U.S.C. 1395ww</external-xref> note) is amended by striking <quote>fiscal year 1998, fiscal year 1999, or fiscal year 2000 through
fiscal year 2013</quote> and inserting <quote>or fiscal year 1998 or a subsequent fiscal year</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3406FCF587724B62AD6EF65F1D2BD08A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>GAO study and report on Medicare-dependent hospitals</header><paragraph id="H75F98F4731DC45E5B7CADC6A26074CE7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the following:</text><subparagraph id="idD80C1E91F8A44A7EB5FDBAA4D6DA676A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The payor mix of medicare-dependent, small rural hospitals (as defined in section 1886(d)(5)(G)(iv)), how such mix will trend in future years, and whether or not the requirement under subclause (IV) of such section should be revised.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7AA5052EC602444CBBA55AB63E7C0375"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The characteristics of medicare-dependent, small rural hospitals that meet the requirement of such subclause (IV) through the application of paragraph (a)(iii)(A) or (a)(iii)(B) of section 412.108 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including Medicare inpatient and outpatient utilization, payor mix, and financial status, including Medicare and total margins, and whether or not Medicare payments for such hospitals should be revised.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3866A58ED3FC499B9493DDD547D51443"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Such other items related to medicare-dependent, small rural hospitals as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA4B1B720DD474D06A728C4A2DD391072"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD90C17918EF4493CA49D396EECB146FB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may implement the provisions of, and the amendments made by, this section through program instruction or otherwise.</text></subsection></section><section id="id4D7ABADE87814C1D82B14B626483A0D0"><enum>205.</enum><header>Revision of
Medicare inpatient hospital payment adjustment for low-volume
hospitals</header><subsection id="idC58ED7DA67D94A86B13CD611451B0C5C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1886(d)(12)
of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ww">42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(12)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id4AE60745F1094DB4AB8EC5BD71D4C442"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in
subparagraph (B)—</text><subparagraph id="idF414F32E203E46BFBB32A2B8E20433DF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the subparagraph heading, by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">for fiscal years 2005 through 2010</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">increase</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0A6BBC89304D49BB9205649E09149EB8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>and for discharges occurring in fiscal year 2014 and subsequent years</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id429B5727133F47CB98B0CD22D98C8956"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking <quote>fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013</quote> and
inserting <quote>fiscal year 2011 and subsequent fiscal years</quote> each place it appears; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC378567218BF49229100230F1330BC7C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in
subparagraph (D)—</text><subparagraph id="id27E6A7B460934B50B6DF42C06D894FDA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">Temporary applicable percentage increase</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">Applicable percentage increase for fiscal year 2011 and subsequent fiscal years</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id695BCC6E380946A9A854F22112AEF437"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013</quote> and inserting <quote>fiscal year 2011 or a subsequent fiscal year</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE4B338260E80451F9F713714F97558FA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may implement the provisions of, and the amendments made by, this section through program instruction or otherwise.</text></subsection></section><section id="id7AC083F39B894B29AD5ECA960804026A"><enum>206.</enum><header>Specialized Medicare Advantage plans for special needs individuals</header><subsection id="idEE4E0221579E47A6BEFD54F993A24B15"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>Section 1859(f)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-28">42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id504EDF56BC2B47C082368CFB6CD99305"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">enrollment</header-in-text>.—In the case</quote> and inserting “<header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">enrollment</header-in-text>.—</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4625843C5F294A54A31B2C42E1519CF3" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id67DAFB9151F548CA9F8FA5D377E29288"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), in the case</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id7329D35D7BF64272AD0F56F4BB85935A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), as added by paragraph (1), by striking <quote>and for periods before January 1, 2015</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4AD1B47941204322810D6E28F68CE70F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF4178D95BCC44530ABB3B7156A7BBDAE" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id15C0C2505CEA457F8EAF7DD6899485CF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Application to dual SNPs</header><text>Subparagraph (A) shall only apply to a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) for periods before January 1, 2021.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id577DCA07BC4A4B3C96105A35A6846459"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Application to severe or disabling chronic condition SNPs</header><text>Subparagraph (A) shall only apply to a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(iii) for periods before January 1, 2018.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5E457C02A53C4E069A906838752962F8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Increased integration of dual SNPs</header><paragraph id="id8D595C371B1C486584E0B0B4D4661516"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1859(f) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-28">42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="idAC4425B850634EB4A72C4BC96D4DF90F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9E6178B5731840D48AD33D7CAA6AA2E7" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="idAD8257BF59864B28AF57DC6F42E87362"><enum>(F)</enum><text>The plan meets the requirements applicable under paragraph (8).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3730D85638704A82A515F352F0DA9E3D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE7DC10653693405CA3486FACC93B18A1" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id8F0B21CBCE7146398F350FFF641929D0"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Increased integration of dual SNPs</header><subparagraph id="id69a1a1cc3ec9404e84d5da3f0105f6d9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Designated contact</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Federal Coordinated
Health Care Office (Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office) established under section 2602 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (in this paragraph referred to as the <quote>MMCO</quote>), shall serve as a dedicated point of contact for States to address misalignments that arise with the integration of specialized MA plans for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) under this paragraph. Consistent with such role, the MMCO shall—</text><clause id="id2974FEC1B0C34F3FABB2F77FE336A0C5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>establish a uniform process for disseminating to State Medicaid agencies information under this title impacting contracts between such agencies and such plans under this subsection; and</text></clause><clause id="idD6FADA5A77CE4B79B6D17F0A16D67831"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>establish basic resources for States interested in exploring such plans as a platform for integration.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0642d833f640406eb993f9e1b3e12f58"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Unified appeals process</header><clause id="id6697B98E61AD49EE977E09A2F74F46B8"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than April 1, 2015, the Secretary shall establish procedures unifying the appeals procedures under sections 1852(g), 1902(a)(3), and 1902(a)(5) for items and services provided by specialized MA plans for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) under this title and title XIX. The Secretary shall solicit comment in developing such procedures from States, plans, beneficiary representatives, and other relevant stakeholders.</text></clause><clause id="idc4cc9c6029954a0c8377fe911991f7d7"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text>To the extent compatible with a unified process, the procedures established under clause (i) shall—</text><subclause id="id18909505EE9E485DAFEFB0A9EC1046AD"><enum>(I)</enum><text>adopt the most protective provisions for the enrollee under current law, including continuation of benefits under title XIX pending appeal if an appeal is filed in a timely manner;</text></subclause><subclause id="idcc785c0a0103466db220de92803fd8b9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>take into account differences in State plans under title XIX;</text></subclause><subclause id="id40BA8BE8C8A6419E816CC2957BD43105"><enum>(III)</enum><text>be easily navigable by an enrollee; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idA88107B559714FA9865C55B8648E4235"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>include the elements described in clause (iii).</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="id1A49EB0FBC534CE6BB75AF64B92B8AEA"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Elements described</header><text>The following elements are described in this clause:</text><subclause commented="no" id="idb940ff258e0844449c5dff3a78d85ce0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Single notification of all applicable appeal rights under this title and title XIX.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="id383876ebf917407988130ac46e19b2dd"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Notices written in plain language and available in a language and format that is accessible to the enrollee.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="id4e3780ab69634156bff6072947cc8ae1"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Unified timeframes for internal and external appeals processes, such as an individual's filing of appeals, a plan’s acknowledgment and resolution of appeals, and notification of appeals decisions.</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="id5d421d7978e74c11a3bb9ce6642cc9a9"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>Mechanisms to allow the plan to track and resolve grievances.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7b247412bd664c5687bd0a8eabdfad49"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Requirement for unified appeals</header><clause id="id79563FE1A8E64E96803C72B505EF6425"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For 2016 and subsequent years, the contract of a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) with a State Medicaid agency under this subsection shall require the use of unified appeals procedures as described in subparagraph (B).</text></clause><clause id="id4508B0B494EC4606B3EA53B58DCAC5B6"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Consideration of application for other SNPs</header><text>The Secretary shall consider applying the unified appeals process described in subparagraph (B) to specialized MA plans for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(i) and subsection (b)(6)(B)(iii).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE8F6D4BDE55448CAB1EAD37C3F38F196"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Requirement for full integration for certain dual SNPs</header><clause id="idA9464356084E40F4BB74633D64F0118E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subparagraph, for 2018 and subsequent years, a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) shall—</text><subclause id="id412E06E0895F4703BE8897D0915ABB97"><enum>(I)</enum><text>integrate all benefits under this title and title XIX; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id768806A27E5144DB8C3364CBEBE28CB2"><enum>(II)</enum><text>meet the requirements of a fully integrated plan described in section 1853(a)(1)(B)(iv)(II) (other than the requirement that the plan have similar average levels of frailty, as determined by the Secretary, as the PACE program), including with respect to long-term care services or behavioral health services to the extent State law permits capitation of those services under such plan.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id2191bb67e3f04329a49a14d9c1f58723"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Initial sanctions for failure to meet requirement for 2018 or 2019</header><text>For each of 2018 and 2019, if the Secretary determines that a plan has failed to meet the requirement described in clause (i), the Secretary shall impose one of the following on the plan:</text><subclause id="id4c13aa927a9e4c9aa07f0f124d516728"><enum>(I)</enum><text>A reduction in payments under this part.</text></subclause><subclause id="id3270bab24eff4ca89ca6e2c59bb0b8f5"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Closing enrollment in the plan.</text></subclause><subclause id="id877cc994e3244866ab00ee70eb657f80"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Sanctioning the plan in accordance with section 1857(g).</text></subclause><subclause id="id8a57b0fadb2044f4bd4bf7b9cfda273b"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>Other reasonable action (other than the sanction described in clause (iii)) the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idf732fbc7d3de4995ada8573af17f0fa6"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Sanctions for failure to meet requirement for 2020 and subsequent years</header><text>For 2020 and subsequent years, if the Secretary determines that a plan has failed to meet the requirement described in clause (i), the plan shall be deemed to no longer meet the definition of a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii).</text></clause><clause id="idB9A44169426141498B4F157CF2538725"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>This subparagraph shall not apply to a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) that only enrolls individuals for whom the only medical assistance to which the individuals are entitled under the State plan is medicare cost sharing described in section 1905(p)(3)(A)(ii).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE799431D56334A299253862ABC43CFFE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming amendment to responsibilities of Federal Coordinated Health Care Office (MMCO)</header><text>Section 2602(d) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1315b">42 U.S.C. 1315b(d)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDA82288F42E041C8847D5D013D2374E6" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id5B1C7F748CDB4C9D9266304D3B7A0636"><enum>(6)</enum><text>To act as a designated contact for States under subsection (f)(8)(A) of section 1859 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-28">42 U.S.C. 1395w–28</external-xref>) with respect to the integration of specialized MA plans for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(ii) of such section.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idC56FE8423748446EB64831AF4E0522D5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Improvements to care management requirements for severe or disabling chronic condition SNPs</header><text>Section 1859(f)(5) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-28">42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(f)(5)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idA84A07FF1C024BCEAB1FF657A092116B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">all SNPs</header-in-text>.—The requirements</quote> and inserting “<header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">all SNPs</header-in-text>.—</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBE01423047094F69A8D34AF2781B4357" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id18D371EC0AB0440EB6CA67E73EE12DED"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), the requirements</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idFB369BCD8CF64CBD86D597A8A880A27B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA0FFE0CDF7C240C68D343E6C8AEE922F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in clause (ii), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by redesignating clauses (i) through (iii) as subclauses (I) through (III), respectively, and indenting appropriately; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5BDA7528A93246FCB501AB04B224E694"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCCBB033F834A421D942826DBAD192210" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id512B5074C2D64730AEA42A86851909F8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Improvements to care management requirements for severe or disabling chronic condition SNPs</header><text>For 2016 and subsequent years, in the case of a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals described in subsection (b)(6)(B)(iii), the requirements described in this paragraph include the following:</text><clause id="id62b1b36874c44fc4bf25f0f01c7d2ca4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The interdisciplinary team under subparagraph (A)(ii)(III) includes a team of providers with demonstrated expertise, including training in an applicable specialty, in treating individuals similar to the targeted population of the plan.</text></clause><clause id="idf0852efc87ff452a9918f0b4c0a408cf"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Requirements developed by the Secretary to provide face-to-face encounters with individuals enrolled in the plan.</text></clause><clause id="id95a54543029248948211b34cf4134fee"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>As part of the model of care under clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the results of the initial assessment and annual reassessment under clause (ii)(I) of such subparagraph of each individual enrolled in the plan are addressed in the individual’s individualized care plan under clause (ii)(II) of such subparagraph.</text></clause><clause id="id9992c320eb7f460db47cf2e66b7a457d"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>As part of the annual evaluation and approval of such model of care, the Secretary shall take into account whether the plan fulfilled the previous year’s goals (as required under the model of care).</text></clause><clause id="idc8a9309fae5b4bcb87e27dac9c79ae79"><enum>(v)</enum><text>The Secretary shall establish a minimum benchmark for each element of the model of care of a plan. The Secretary shall only approve a plan's model of care under this paragraph if each element of the model of care meets the minimum benchmark applicable under the preceding sentence.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ided001ebee4254352866b72c100bc1bea"><enum>(d)</enum><header>GAO Study on Quality Improvement</header><paragraph id="id3B12170E6E2E48D488FE7F1AA9A4EA4C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on how the Secretary of Health and Human Services could change the quality measurement system under the Medicare Advantage program under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-21">42 U.S.C. 1395w–21 et seq.</external-xref>) to allow an accurate comparison of the quality of care provided by specialized MA plans for special needs individuals (as defined in section 1859(b)(6) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-28">42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(b)(6)</external-xref>), both for individual plans and such plans overall, compared to the quality of care delivered by the original Medicare fee-for-service program under parts A and B of such title and other Medicare Advantage plans under such part C across similar populations.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idDB7A017BA4EC412D959D84A406400BC5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than July 1, 2016, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idAC0AF58338F549FF8ECA5C21AFCE4531"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Changes to quality ratings and measurement of SNPs</header><text>Section 1853(o) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-23">42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD873D3889CCB4DF09D4724D9B7736673" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id75054F181FBC45F29F73E1FD155BC7F6"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Changes to quality ratings of SNPs</header><subparagraph id="idDFC891060B8B444880D4A1D5FE16D4CE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Emphasis on improvement across SNPs</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), beginning in plan year 2016, in the case of a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals, the Secretary shall increase the emphasis on the plan’s improvement or decline in performance when determining the star rating of the plan under this subsection for the year as follows:</text><clause id="id319F9F253B364A5F9D6D4A48A3068936"><enum>(i)</enum><text>At least 25 percent, but not more than 33 percent, of the total star rating of the plan shall be based on improvement or decline in performance.</text></clause><clause id="id739d6d8749f547778b5423310b1d6a64"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Improvement or decline in performance under this subparagraph shall be measured based on net change in the individual star rating measures of the plan, with appropriate weight given to specific individual star ratings measures, such as readmission rates, as determined by the Secretary.</text></clause><clause id="id4268c5caf15c4c25a3a10f36b0d98472"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The Secretary shall make an appropriate adjustment to the improvement rating of a plan under this subparagraph if the plan has achieved a 5-star rating or the highest rating possible overall or for an individual measure in order to ensure that the plan is not punished in cases where it is not possible to improve.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8d454b86825746bfbcfbeaac7458ca9b"><enum>(B)</enum><header>No application to certain plans</header><text>Subparagraph (A) shall not apply, with respect to a year, to a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals that has a rating that does not exceed two-and-one-half stars.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idea04abdd0228447f9628c7bb53242dbe"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Quality Measurement at the Plan Level</header><clause id="id7b1aa1473886457faf80f0b41a0cf157"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may require reporting for and apply under this subsection quality measures at the plan level for specialized MA plan for special needs individuals instead of at the contract level.</text></clause><clause id="id987f8eea022c46bcaa8a91b3e45b4dc4"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Consideration</header><text>The Secretary shall take into consideration the minimum number of enrollees in a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals in order to determine if a valid measurement of quality at the plan level is possible under clause (i).</text></clause><clause id="id82b49feb9e00443e839044f3f5619eb0"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Application</header><text>If the Secretary applies quality measurement at the plan level under this subparagraph—</text><subclause id="id9E337480F6A54DA6A7C8D4C312256591"><enum>(I)</enum><text>such quality measurement shall include Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS), Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) measures; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idED58BC3FFBB6438DA293697A5B0B54AA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>payment and other administrative actions linked to quality measurement (including the 5-star rating system under this subsection) shall be applied at the plan level in accordance with this subparagraph.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDCE3179AA8FD4D36B657BDC7AC5368E6" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>207.</enum><header>Reasonable cost reimbursement contracts</header><subsection id="id72EBC7B383B546E29817626CF068809F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>One-year transition and notice regarding transition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1876(h)(5)(C) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395mm">42 U.S.C. 1395mm(h)(5)(C)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idC551CADFDA2A4C6C8AEEE66512BBF331"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking <quote>For any</quote> and inserting <quote>Subject to clause (iv), for any</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idCF762979F9F646E09FD1150D549A663D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new clauses:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAFBBAB347745472792CC9820E0FB040C" style="traditional"><clause id="id0E31939C30C74C189CCECC339A249EEF" indent="up3"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>In the case of an eligible organization that is offering a reasonable cost reimbursement contract that may no longer be extended or renewed because of the application of clause (ii)—</text><subclause id="id8A5DA514FE334E6E99ACD8201904CE05"><enum>(I)</enum><text>notwithstanding such clause, such contract may be extended or renewed for one last reasonable cost reimbursement contract year;</text></subclause><subclause id="id9595862809DD4DD085C4CBA471DCF1BA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the organization may not enroll any new enrollees under such contract during such last reasonable cost reimbursement contract year; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idDA584160AA8D47278641B60665CB6D10"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on a date determined by the Secretary prior to the beginning of such last reasonable cost reimbursement contract year, the organization shall provide notice to the Secretary as to whether or not the organization will apply to have the contract converted over and offered as a Medicare Advantage plan under part C for the year following such last reasonable cost reimbursement contract year.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idDDA43C49D06E422DB166F4A5B5C664F5" indent="up3"><enum>(v)</enum><text>If an eligible organization that is offering a reasonable cost reimbursement contract that is extended or renewed pursuant to clause (iv) provides the notice described in clause (iv)(III) that the contract will be converted—</text><subclause id="idBA726BE1EC42427DB4DC4C7E269A16AF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the deemed enrollment under section 1851(c)(4) shall apply; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idCBB9D94D3ACE40599D45775E8930C200"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the special rule for quality increases under 1853(o)(3)(A)(iv) shall apply.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H54517C5949A646A998629264085105F2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Deemed enrollment from reasonable cost reimbursement contracts converted to Medicare Advantage plans</header><paragraph id="HD3187EEAE6A246EF83B8ACAD725FBE58"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1851(c) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-21">42 U.S.C. 1395w–21(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="HC04BE1E1EE0548A78879BC0A6E6B33B3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>Such elections</quote> and inserting <quote>Subject to paragraph (4), such elections</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE71817771EA54F6687932A8440E2CDE5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCDDB96E95400481B943052A33FE40542" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H0EA8B1EBDA584D7D9DC013B30AB5107A"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Deemed enrollment relating to converted reasonable cost reimbursement contracts</header><subparagraph id="HF8AD39BD4A784623B993A65607242BBE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On the first day of the annual, coordinated election period under subsection (e)(3) for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, an MA eligible individual described in clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (B) is deemed to have elected to receive benefits under this title through an applicable MA plan (and shall be enrolled in such plan) beginning with such plan year, if—</text><clause id="H5DF0E3CB3CCD4D06945727AC8C787BEA"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the individual is enrolled in a reasonable cost reimbursement contract under section 1876(h) in the previous plan year;</text></clause><clause id="H0CC539376F72474C91EDBDF846D9ECAD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such reasonable cost reimbursement contract was extended or renewed for one last reasonable cost reimbursement contract year pursuant to section 1876(h)(5)(C)(iv);</text></clause><clause id="id1F326647F0A04E1281FA2433A77EBC20"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the eligible organization that is offering such reasonable cost reimbursement contract provided the notice described in subclause (III) of such section that the contract was to be converted;</text></clause><clause id="H2A795A68300B48AF9C701328AD17E3D5"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the applicable MA plan—</text><subclause id="id230880C5B2B64A6B9E27609B4368B66F"><enum>(I)</enum><text>is the plan that was converted from the reasonable cost reimbursement contract described in clause (iii);</text></subclause><subclause id="H9D475BC3D7B64B288570C593044A1947"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is offered by the same entity (or an organization affiliated with such entity) that entered into such contract; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H9DFBCFFC72E84BC2B24FA6CE71DC7CB0"><enum>(III)</enum><text>is offered in the service area where the individual resides;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="HBB29902AE8C04BD3AAD749B05CA871F1"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the amount of the MA monthly basic beneficiary premium for such applicable MA plan with respect to the plan year does not exceed monthly premiums under such reasonable cost reimbursement contract for the previous plan year by more than 10 percent;</text></clause><clause id="id5927B2389087400CB5074BF9EA219C68"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the applicable MA plan provides benefits, premiums, and access to providers that are comparable to the benefits, premiums, and access to providers under such reasonable cost reimbursement contract for the previous plan year; and</text></clause><clause id="idEBEB3D6FF8DE46F5B60FBCA2C376D5C0"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the applicable MA plan—</text><subclause id="idB30235AF2A1245869FDB55B311DB6327"><enum>(I)</enum><text>allows enrollees transitioning from the converted reasonable cost contract to such plan to maintain current providers and course of treatment at the time of enrollment for at least 90 days after enrollment; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idA3AE3BC25EAB49E1BAFFF6248C86AA9A"><enum>(II)</enum><text>during such period, pays non-contracting providers for items and services furnished to the enrollee an amount that is not less than the amount of payment applicable for those items and services under the original medicare fee-for-service program under parts A and B.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4C75561CD2B24CB4AF237B50507DBF33"><enum>(B)</enum><header>MA eligible individuals described</header><clause display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H14C654376C674536967434520656933B"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Without prescription drug coverage</header><text>An MA eligible individual described in this clause, with respect to a plan year, is an MA eligible individual who is enrolled in a reasonable cost reimbursement contract under section 1876(h) in the previous plan year and who does not, for such previous plan year, receive any prescription drug coverage under part D, including coverage under section 1860D–22.</text></clause><clause id="H76140B77F8F84BA897ECAF262CF9CF65"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>With prescription drug coverage</header><text>An MA eligible individual described in this clause, with respect to a plan year, is an MA eligible individual who is enrolled in a reasonable cost reimbursement contract under section 1876(h) in the previous plan year and who, for such previous plan year, receives prescription drug coverage under part D—</text><subclause id="H3F65A4AF503040A998B92EF7A438F207"><enum>(I)</enum><text>through such contract; or</text></subclause><subclause id="H744E86C3B1BB4F1EACC5E9840EABC996"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">through a prescription drug plan, if the sponsor of such plan is the same entity (or an organization affiliated with such entity) that entered into such contract.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H22FEE900D10242B394330167BDFB59E6"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Applicable MA plan defined</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <quote>applicable MA plan</quote> means, in the case of an individual described in—</text><clause id="H1F4C7FF78A2C45ED935BD27F72895725"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subparagraph (B)(i), an MA plan that is not an MA–PD plan; and</text></clause><clause id="H57BB319FE971417AA4980ED7D4533A3B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>subparagraph (B)(ii), an MA–PD plan.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3FD9E3042AD84188A63E2D90536637EA"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Identification of deemed individuals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 30 days before the first day of the annual, coordinated election period under subsection (e)(3) for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, the Secretary shall identify the individuals who will be subject to deemed elections under <internal-xref idref="HF8AD39BD4A784623B993A65607242BBE" legis-path="(4)(A)">subparagraph (A)</internal-xref> on the first day of such period.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5B7FB1E266FB4F378F9D4BBE544DF2A6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Beneficiary option to discontinue or change MA plan or MA–PD plan after deemed enrollment</header><subparagraph id="idEC302C1754264CA5B01C4628D5E6E563"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1851(e)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-21">42 U.S.C. 1395w–21(e)(4)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H98542425CFB644318F4680349E45E9E7" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="H132DA8B9D7FB4B7487851194AB5C9C3F"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Special period for certain deemed elections</header><clause id="HE3A878D959574A248BB1E43E8507C783"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At any time during the period beginning after the last day of the annual, coordinated election period under paragraph (3) in which an individual is deemed to have elected to enroll in an MA plan or MA–PD plan under subsection (c)(4) and ending on the last day of February of the first plan year for which the individual is enrolled in such plan, such individual may change the election under subsection (a)(1) (including changing the MA plan or MA–PD plan in which the individual is enrolled).</text></clause><clause id="H0492F36A88424289A1DEF20866124349"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Limitation of one change</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An individual may exercise the right under clause (i) only once during the applicable period described in such clause. The limitation under this clause shall not apply to changes in elections effected during an annual, coordinated election period under paragraph (3) or during a special enrollment period under paragraph (4).</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HED375F451DB14EEA8A8481F175DD731C"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><clause id="H2D413C00DFBF443B94D5E0B5A25E6AD5"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Plan requirement for open enrollment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1851(e)(6)(A) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-21">42 U.S.C. 1395w–21(e)(6)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>paragraph (1), </quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (1), during the period described in paragraph (2)(F), </quote>.</text></clause><clause id="H22D26702D410459FB95C75F9C919A96A"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Part D</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1860D–1(b)(1)(B) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-101">42 U.S.C. 1395w–101(b)(1)(B)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subclause id="H838FE407C76C4B238C6F7A80E70B8D15"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by adding <quote>and paragraph (4)</quote> after <quote>paragraph (3)(A)</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H8DCDF96F40ED42B49BA460DA70670460"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in clause (iii) by striking <quote>and (E)</quote> and inserting <quote>(E), and (F)</quote>.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H66C43C4F29DB4C3E9701352945A223E2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Treatment of ESRD for deemed enrollment</header><text>Section 1851(a)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-21">42 U.S.C. 1395w–21(a)(3)(B)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following flush sentence:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H85B2E11167D6420385BAB4B99DFB0281" style="OLC"><quoted-block-continuation-text quoted-block-continuation-text-level="subparagraph">An individual who develops end-stage renal disease while enrolled in a reasonable cost reimbursement contract under section 1876(h) shall be treated as an MA eligible individual for purposes of applying the deemed enrollment under subsection (c)(4).</quoted-block-continuation-text><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H17B2BFD93D26477A87114F4E437D702A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Information requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1851(d)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-21">42 U.S.C. 1395w–21(d)(2)(B)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H891F858790D34B27BA5B6B3EE70623A3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking the subparagraph heading and inserting the following: <quote><header-in-text level="clause" style="OLC"><enum-in-header>(i)</enum-in-header> Notification to newly eligible Medicare Advantage eligible individuals.—</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6D4A7BE18321463AAD441F35F3899E12"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7D13D33BA5124CCDA9AB3B8AAA2691A2" style="OLC"><clause id="H56F5CB4677B74E3B91A8245F278A6AFB" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Notification related to certain deemed elections</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, not later than 15 days prior to the first day of the annual, coordinated election period under subsection (e)(3) of a year, mail to any individual identified by the Secretary under subsection (c)(4)(D) for such year—</text><subclause id="HE40B644A39B34FD88A065CF70C5EC22E"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a notification that such individual will, on such day, be deemed to have made an election to receive benefits under this title through an MA plan or MA–PD plan (and shall be enrolled in such plan) for the next plan year under subsection (c)(4)(A), but that the individual may make a different election during the annual, coordinated election period for such year;</text></subclause><subclause id="H41218901FEAC4366AD407F25F527A3CB"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the information described in subparagraph (A);</text></subclause><subclause id="id5896C16602AC473D837E3D50FBA91525"><enum>(III)</enum><text>a description of the differences between such MA plan or MA–PD plan and the reasonable cost reimbursement contract in which the individual was most recently enrolled with respect to benefits covered under such plans, including cost-sharing, premiums, drug coverage, and provider networks; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H1B169BC29A2E4F0EB5AE59AD7E948ADC"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>information about the special period for elections under subsection (e)(2)(F).</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5630AFCF79BF499B8DF56BD1FB174790"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Treatment of transition plan for quality rating for payment purposes</header><text>Section 1853(o)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-23">42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(o)(3)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE0E277663E5F4317B160B445528FABBE" style="OLC"><clause id="HC7E79B61F3124276A772C3E62E829DB4"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Special rule for first 2 plan years for plans that were converted from a reasonable cost reimbursement contract</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In applying paragraph (1) for the first 2 plan years under this part in the case of a plan that is a new MA plan (as defined in clause (iii)(II)) to which deemed enrollment applies under section 1851(e)(4), the Secretary shall use the star rating that applied to the converted reasonable cost reimbursement contract for the year preceding the first plan year for such plan under this part.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="id5164578DAB024893A35399129DBC7042"><enum>208.</enum><header>Quality measure endorsement and selection</header><subsection id="idD5374AA8E93D4B529C37426144500A10"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Contract with an entity regarding input on the selection of measures</header><paragraph id="id713887BB7BEA4204B84838982250CDE6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title XVIII of the
Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395">42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id103B1A4AE9C244E0A09DD0500AE57A3D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating section 1890A as section 1890B; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0CFE094DFFA2414CB3C2F67FA56039DF"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after section 1890
the following new section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id295713455BFB481284684DFEC2EDD1C3" style="traditional"><section id="id7D25D9080E7B41ACAF98A08981A63B55"><enum>1890A</enum><header>Contract with an entity regarding input on the selection of measures </header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id69B9C645D04A44F9A813E9440B054BAB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Contract</header><paragraph id="IDAB861B3A641A4C59AD2A49B256537E5A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For purposes of activities conducted under this Act, the Secretary shall identify and have in effect a contract with an entity that meets the requirements described in subsection (c). Such contract shall provide that the entity will perform the duties described in subsection (b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ID20E57BAF744D4FF799435A3594234883"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Timing for first contract</header><text>The first contract under paragraph (1) shall begin on October 1, 2014.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="IDE0A729026E314FF88A494B4DCF660E3C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Period of contract</header><text>A contract under paragraph (1) shall be for a period of 3 years (except as may be renewed after a subsequent bidding process).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="IDF230CD16FE81495E94118D4745AFBF39"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Competitive procedures</header><text>Competitive procedures (as defined in section 4(5) of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/41/403">41 U.S.C. 403(5)</external-xref>)) shall be used to enter into a contract under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDDD5D76EE9C1948DE8A514B3A17702530"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The duties described in this subsection are the following:</text></subsection><subsection id="IDDA6EA0B4A99D4F6A926795E9A85BAA40"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirements described</header><text>The requirements described in this subsection are the following:</text><paragraph id="id7B4F4830C9CE40EBA5C936BA0ED7ADE6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Private nonprofit, board membership, membership fees, and not a measure developer</header><text>The requirements described in paragraphs (1), (2), (7), and (8) of section 1890(c).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA8DA0519BC274861A82411B9A858F1C9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Experience</header><text>The entity has at least 4 years of experience working with quality and efficiency measures.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1AEAEC171C21497FA30C080AAB41F1EE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties of entity</header><subparagraph id="idA4AC7B96F87A48998668C61FFD1BDF16"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Transfer of priority setting process</header><text>Paragraph (1) of section 1890(b) of the Social Security Act
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395aaa">42 U.S.C. 1395aaa(b)</external-xref>) is redesignated as paragraph (1) of section 1890A(b) of such Act, as added by paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id815DD3F3AEDE42C6B521E542A5BA82ED"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Transfer of multi-stakeholder process</header><text>Paragraphs (7) and (8) of such section 1890(b) are redesignated as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively, of section 1890A(b) of such Act, as added by paragraph (1) and amended by subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6A4281E264F54647B5191EC8759E23DB"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Additional duties</header><text>Section 1890A(b) of such Act, as added by paragraph (1) and amended by subparagraphs (A) and (B), is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF404AFF9205F4C788A81DB51065410D0" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id4DCBD270FFDB411B8292D673E959F6BB"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Facilitation to better coordinate and align public and private sector use of quality measures</header><subparagraph id="id344A8E45AC5344E695C5BFCD27806648"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The entity shall facilitate increased coordination and alignment between the public and private sector with respect to quality and efficiency measures.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDE59DCE245B341D3AEF4C9BA5220A4AB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>The entity shall prepare and make available to the public annual reports on its findings under this paragraph. Such public availability shall include posting each report on the Internet website of the entity.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id100F75B1EEFE409FAD538CDBA56CF568"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Gap analysis</header><text>The entity shall conduct an ongoing analysis of—</text><subparagraph id="idFA4277DC2B454D3BB1D4A22A99A46832"><enum>(A)</enum><text>gaps in endorsed quality and efficiency measures, which shall include measures that are within priority areas identified by the Secretary under the national strategy established under section 399HH of the Public Health Service Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0BA9DEB28BE946B29ACCFABC2BDB8026"><enum>(B)</enum><text>areas where quality measures are unavailable or inadequate to identify or address such gaps.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDEFE6CE2055814424B105B479597C101B"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Annual report to congress and the Secretary; Secretarial publication and comment</header><subparagraph id="ID7C4D244CE9354B92A49AA6B1D5FB760E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>By not later than March 1 of each year, the entity shall submit to Congress and the Secretary a report containing—</text><clause id="idAD617253941040869316FBB3001FBF0E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a description of—</text><subclause id="ID0ABE4A46DF2C4409B3EE48E4E2F4F2C2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the recommendations made under paragraph (1);</text></subclause><subclause id="idF90C0131AF95470BB86A66954F859C42"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the matters described in clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(A);</text></subclause><subclause id="id74BBD5A8832347BAA6EFEF85415396F1"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the results of the analysis under paragraph (5); and</text></subclause><subclause id="ID10527D9C7D504AB99BBE479E8D13C4AC"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the performance by the entity of the duties required under the contract entered into with the Secretary under subsection (a); and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id021357705B614C9BA35FE11E5750D6EB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other items determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDE13C389A06CB4953A5D3A2D0BD4C8545"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Secretarial review and publication of annual report</header><text>Not later than 6 months after receiving a report under subparagraph (A) for a year, the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="ID7377899B885D4C2FA5483D44830AD11A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>review such report; and</text></clause><clause id="IDF8BB9B1C9A704774A231B6D9B77E915F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>publish such report in the Federal Register, together with any comments of the Secretary on such report.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9381FC7B9CB54A0FABA572706A3A1AE1"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Additional amendments</header><text>Section 1890A(b) of such Act, as so added and amended, is amended—</text><clause id="id8301B72A11BD4A52AC45500744CC94C8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><subclause id="id01E2B856358247D199E74AE6972F1F8E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the heading of subparagraph (B) by inserting
<quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">and
efficiency</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">Quality</header-in-text></quote>;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="id226E0D58491F42A6855A12D024C815A6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)(i)(III), by striking <quote>this Act</quote> and inserting <quote>this title</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="id8B7D0A3BA41247678580253E944DEDD1"><enum>(III)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5BCA4DB49771426FAD1AB75786FABCED" style="OLC"><subparagraph commented="no" id="idF8A6D375803540C98669E9D823D5F7F5"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Input</header><text>In providing the input described in subparagraph (A), the multi-stakeholder groups—</text><clause commented="no" id="id9581EDFA3D8C4413A348757ECED400AD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall include a detailed description of the rationale for each recommendation made by the multi-stakeholder group, including in areas relating to—</text><subclause commented="no" id="id85551DD764D1430F9A39B79592DAE751"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the expected impact that implementing the measure will have on individuals;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="id66FB893119BB46BE9FC45E625F7C4633"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the burden on providers of services and suppliers;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="id45E1F11FDD97464F9EEF0BF843FE0AD7"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the expected influence over the behavior of providers of services and suppliers;</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="idEA15A7743D7C48D08878778CEFF184F3"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the applicability of a measure for more than one setting or program; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="idD1F601400898402C9E21864E2F1BDB18"><enum>(V)</enum><text>other areas determined in consultation with the Secretary; and</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="idB78E8E1E8064479394E66B784FD992AF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may consider whether it is appropriate to provide separate recommendations with respect to measures for internal use, public reporting, and payment provisions.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idBD35A9B8AB1242298857101DCD63404C"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Equal representation</header><text>In convening multi-stakeholder groups pursuant to this paragraph, the entity shall, to the extent feasible, make every effort to ensure such groups are balanced across stakeholders.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause id="id5EC86869E29D446A8CBAF7EA8EE21DEC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>Not later</quote> and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: <quote>Not later than the applicable dates described in section 1890B(a)(3) of each year (or, as applicable, the timeframe described in section 1890A(a)(4)), the entity shall transmit to the Secretary the input of the multi-stakeholder group under paragraph (2).</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3E4CCC4A304A4D64B85E484B628C4421"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Revisions to contract with consensus-based entity</header><paragraph id="idF0D363EE48464252A6509DA5E2975C21"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Contract</header><text>Section 1890(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395aaa(a)) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id46D8C183E03442559EAE1674EE631B8A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>, such as the National Quality Forum,</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF9AA8BEDAC744C0FA161558B12EF42CB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>4 years</quote> and inserting <quote>3 years</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id11471C1EE611419C84E4EA32BD7512DE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>Section 1890(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395aaa(b)), as amended by subsection (a)(2), is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id3EA7B1D2F101487B9F27D24C175A73C6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAA2B8DF572AB4B7AB19A472115985C70"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>paragraph (2)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (1)</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id40072CE07A6D4AEAB67790931ACB1A3E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking paragraphs (5) and (6); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE41D56C0021C478EA006C74F1B8560F1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8F79C9E18B9D4C43AD6262987FF28691" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id269A03C761B045F3A272BF5FCDE227C9"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Facilitation to better coordinate and align public and private sector use of quality measures</header><subparagraph id="id2898F708D3D848CE8866317F9423CC27"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The entity shall facilitate increased coordination and alignment between the public and private sector with respect to quality and efficiency measures.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCF9B9AC240EE48A78B4C7022404D132B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>The entity shall prepare and make available to the public annual reports on its findings under this paragraph. Such public availability shall include posting each report on the Internet website of the entity.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id575C22297571488A915E177163BFA727"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Annual report to congress and the Secretary; secretarial publication and comment</header><subparagraph id="id1E513406CEB348B3A45637F33B299757"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>By not later than March 1 of each year, the entity shall submit to Congress and the Secretary a report containing—</text><clause id="id9B0170C57F1849CE8022BB17F43C80D8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a description of—</text><subclause id="ID50CBA4F905BA45BFBBC350CFC1545CB4"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the coordination of quality initiatives under this Act with quality initiatives implemented by other payers;</text></subclause><subclause id="ID4D2F15EBFC7B4D9F8E4D2937D404AFC1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>areas in which evidence is insufficient to support endorsement of quality measures in priority areas identified by the Secretary under the national strategy established under section 399HH of the Public Health Service Act and where targeted research may address such gaps; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id78839B271A454FC68A750695A62A7587"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the performance by the entity of the duties required under the contract entered into with the Secretary under subsection (a); and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id3D30C07571D6464DACE8C849CECF6F6C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other items determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id80BF506920F743449B8D2811664C3646"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Secretarial review and publication of annual report</header><text>Not later than 6 months after receiving a report under subparagraph (A) for a year, the Secretary shall—</text><clause id="idF746F04089714E9CAC1DD50D5D6EA8B7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>review such report; and</text></clause><clause id="idCF13CED819474A508064324A09508440"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>publish such report in the Federal Register, together with any comments of the Secretary on such report.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2DD3082F3B004F958F1B791DBACC53E6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Section 1890(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395aaa(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6E41C17147D749D0A28470EF8B696DAA" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id389401A4944D4383A3E6B4E34D5A3447"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Not a measure developer</header><text>The entity is not a measure developer.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id03B7BB34D8264D94B3A57AED230AF383"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Revisions to duties of the Secretary regarding use of measures</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id022212658B2B4EB394BC0F2E8D068F01"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1890B(a) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395aaa–1(a)), as redesignated by subsection (a)(1)(A), is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67D8FCED109D4D18A322A2D4E1CC0037"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>section 1890(b)(7)(B)</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>section 1890A(b)(2)(B)</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC0BC013FDC80404280D40E2B278D6795"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB222B0810FC142B0A3A8DF67030C93B9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>section 1890(b)(7)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 1890A(b)(2)</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id444E4D176935439FA05A74E071D495FF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>section 1890</quote> and inserting <quote>section 1890A</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id691613635DEA4C4DB8C8674407157D5A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEBDE1784313645B880C724B7D2FE1A4D" style="OLC"><paragraph id="ID77CCCC41F2444DDEBD2D27472F03AE4F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Public availability of measures considered for selection</header><text>Subject to paragraph (4), not later than October 1 or December 31 of each year, the Secretary shall make available to the public a list of quality and efficiency measures described in section 1890A(b)(2)(B) that the Secretary is considering under this title. The Secretary shall provide for an appropriate balance of the number of measures to be made available by each such date in a year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ID676006A98CD04B12B18CB24FF943E6FA"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transmission of multi-stakeholder input</header><subparagraph id="id5F0F3468C25440DB946CFFF5E2300F16"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (4), not later than the applicable date described in subparagraph (B) of each year, the entity with a contract under section 1890A shall, pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of such section, transmit to the Secretary the input of multi-stakeholder groups described in paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id618068BF99EE42FFB47142F121DE5948"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Applicable date described</header><text>The applicable date described in this subparagraph for a year is—</text><clause id="id54A75BA0B4F048BB9262F5EAB94F1E3C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>February 1 with respect to quality and efficiency measures made available under paragraph (2) by October 1 of the preceding year; and</text></clause><clause id="idF64C1904A97C4D18AC7EAB736FD336D0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>April 1 with respect to quality and efficiency measures made available under paragraph (2) by December 31 of the preceding year.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFB458BF63FE44F149BB21842EED0E313"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by redesignating—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA75D1D44D2AA4EAEA3700E22B265CDDE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>paragraph (6) as paragraph (8); and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id712D6E55DEDD4DDCBB1CD9ADE6F2401C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id41FF3D3CFCC44DB58C2A9C157D73FBEA"><enum>(E)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0EE7684B3A3844F780EA086211725B08" style="OLC"><paragraph id="ideee3f8b1d0b040feb3d73519e31abbec"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Limited process for additional multi-stakeholder input</header><text>In addition to the Secretary making measures publically available pursuant to the dates described in paragraph (2) and multi-stakeholder groups transmitting the input pursuant to the applicable dates described in paragraph (3)—</text><subparagraph id="id893D87E6F0A249BC9C0544B4F5BA5C66"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary may, at times that do not meet the time requirements described in paragraph (2), make available to the public a limited number of quality and efficiency measures described in section 1890A(b)(2) that the Secretary is considering under this title; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8BE29D12B618404E971ECA7B4F33E6FA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if the Secretary uses the authority under subparagraph (A), the entity with a contract under section 1890A shall, pursuant to section 1890A(b)(3), transmit to the Secretary on a timely basis the input from a multi-stakeholder group described in paragraph (1) with respect to such measures.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9F8B2A9385664B799558DBDF9281517D"><enum>(F)</enum><text>in paragraph (6), as redesignated by subparagraph (D)(ii), by inserting <quote>or that has not been recommended by the multi-stakeholder group under section 1890A(b)(2)</quote> before the period at the end; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id51093009138548DC83AF383F60AB9FDD"><enum>(G)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id800799E8CA264FBFA3A32F83D326DAC6" style="OLC"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id499B13612E744B6B9BF9C033BEF7B37B"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Concordance rates</header><text>For each year (beginning with 2015), the Secretary shall include a list of concordance rates for each type of provider of services and supplier in the annual final rule applicable to such type of provider or supplier.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id79DAE0D73A6941CB91BAE0604AA4716D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Review</header><text>Section 1890B(c) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395aaa–1(c)), as redesignated by subsection (a)(1)(A), is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id560FE1665E954D0FB3132F902122EA42"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), by striking <quote>section 1890(b)(7)(B)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 1890A(b)(2)(B)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB65023295AB2497A8A24764080233BEC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6B25082D8F0341D38EEB6A1DA60EBD3C"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id99216BC26AB741759C4ACF44149648C6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6DC1F28FBF9B4CF2A01ED751FA930E8E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3DA7C0E1D0F345E6BACE4A797C2C3570" style="OLC"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC26ADD4D3C274B74A845A1AD3EE9DC59"><enum>(C)</enum><text>take into consideration the benefits of the alignment of measures between the public and private sector.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id939A20A1A1884C97A56ED86C0F4854B5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Funding for quality measure endorsement and selection</header><paragraph id="idD4AB5D5FE1294BB791A63006F4D6900A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Fiscal year 2014</header><text>In addition to amounts transferred under section 3014(c) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/148">Public Law 111–148</external-xref>), for purposes of carrying out section 1890 and section 1890A (other than
subsections (e) and (f)), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the
Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust
Fund under section 1841, in such proportion as
the Secretary determines appropriate, to the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account of $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2014. Amounts transferred under the preceding sentence
shall remain available until expended.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id93B80DF73C9442FA992ECDBE7B1BB3B8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Fiscal years 2015 through 2017</header><text>Section 1890B of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395aaa–1), as redesignated by subsection (a)(1)(A), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE42922C0D93D45FB817E829202DEF2F2" style="OLC"><subsection id="idED8BAF9F0AC944959F39D65CEA9F93E1"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Funding</header><paragraph id="idC9EE8D724D0447B1865F0962D75546CA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For purposes of carrying out this section (other than
subsections (e) and (f)) and sections 1890 and 1890A, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the
Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust
Fund under section 1841, in such proportion as
the Secretary determines appropriate, to the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account of $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2015 through 2017.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9CE183616E844EF594F40DB6BEF0D34F"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Availability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amounts transferred under paragraph (1)
shall remain available until expended.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc52669e0f2134346bbd349d1c0837461"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>Subsection (d) of section 1890 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395aaa) is repealed.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6AD9245240CE4AADB9215B4EF01A1FBD"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id3A81CABB37AA4C61BACA308ED08420EC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Section 1848(m)(3)(E)(iii) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(m)(3)(E)(iii)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 1890(b)(7) and 1890A(a)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 1890A(b)(2) and 1890B(a)</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA544DF9ED8344B49A09615AD42AB1083" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 1866D(b)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395cc-4">42 U.S.C. 1395cc–4(b)(2)(C)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 1890 and 1890A</quote> and inserting <quote>sections 1890, 1890A, and 1890B</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id58B0B85DB5364B328FD436AACCEA2CEE" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Section 1899A(n)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395cc-4">42 U.S.C. 1395cc–4(n)(2)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 1890(b)(7)(B)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 1890A(b)(2)(B)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7cc537eabd074b2eb31d6e92dcc85acb"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><paragraph id="id06056700EED24032952A45B16696B495"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2014, and shall apply with respect
to contract periods under sections 1890 and 1890A of the Social Security Act that begin on or after such date.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6B01823B5F394A2089A0013443408013"><enum>(2)</enum><header>New contracts beginning with fiscal year 2015</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a new contract under both sections 1890 and 1890A of the Social Security Act, as amended by this Act, for a contract period beginning on October 1, 2014.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF10BBAA62B694CE59A363C05E14B93FB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>209.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Permanent extension of funding outreach and assistance for low-income programs</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF82C565F79AF4232A15E17FFBA02C54B"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional funding for State health insurance programs</header><text>Subsection (a)(1)(B)(iii) of section 119 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395b-3">42 U.S.C. 1395b–3</external-xref> note), as amended by section 3306 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/148">Public Law 111–148</external-xref>) and section 610 of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/112/240">Public Law 112–240</external-xref>), is amended by inserting <quote>and for each subsequent fiscal year</quote> after <quote>fiscal year 2013</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE6798B7BB40640BAAF6CD30257A52806"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Additional funding for area agencies on aging</header><text>Subsection (b)(1)(B) of such section 119, as so amended, is amended by inserting <quote>and for each subsequent fiscal year</quote> after <quote>fiscal year 2013</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2C1B63D0AC0047579C2CC754322C2DBE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Additional funding for aging and disability resource centers</header><text>Subsection (c)(1)(B) of such section 119, as so amended, is amended by inserting <quote>and for each subsequent fiscal year</quote> after <quote>fiscal year 2013</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2005002C633E4C83B536F742796BBA0F"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Additional funding for contract with the national center for benefits and outreach enrollment</header><text>Subsection (d)(2) of such section 119, as so amended, is amended by inserting <quote>and for each subsequent fiscal year</quote> after <quote>fiscal year 2013</quote>.</text></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idffb89cc92a78460db008a3322995197f"><enum>B</enum><header>Medicaid and Other Extensions</header><section id="id3a95acb70c184b4fada64cea11f5cb64"><enum>211.</enum><header>Qualifying individual program</header><subsection id="id4703601c85f34774994cf29cf98b34d3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Extension</header><text>Section 1902(a)(10)(E)(iv) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396a">42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(E)(iv)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>December 2013</quote> and inserting <quote>December 2018</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="H2319C63F1B40443284FAE855E5FC55E3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eliminating limitations on eligibility</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1933 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396u-3">42 U.S.C. 1396u–3</external-xref>) is amended by striking subsections (b) and (e).</text></subsection><subsection id="H20FF6DAEC9D148E5B875AADA13C90D70"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eliminating allocations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1933 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396u-3">42 U.S.C. 1396u–3</external-xref>) is amended by striking subsections (c) and (g). <italic></italic></text></subsection><subsection id="H562EEC43219D4123B627C881159752EB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conforming amendments</header><paragraph id="id286051635F1841E1B7C36A3421F3EC89"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1933 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396u-3">42 U.S.C. 1396u–3</external-xref>), as amended by subsections (b) and (c), is further amended—</text><subparagraph id="H5C24CEE1AF3A48DDB2C51DFF6D77D12C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA59B849B8C474D0382C78E99CAC7D365" style="OLC"><subsection id="H70E939C5173E4D15967A77F3C1106490"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Applicable FMAP</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to assistance described in section 1902(a)(10)(E)(iv) furnished in a State, the Federal medical assistance percentage shall be equal to 100 percent.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H89EB53469BCB4A53AF6BF258F7DCCE1C"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking subsection (d); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAEFA957F4831447990925941627AD911"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (b).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA81D4F2931E94948AC2C8737C10D9923"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Definition of FMAP</header><text>Section 1905(b) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(b)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 1933(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 1933(a)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBA032745CF0542B39FF4A8446A742EAE"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2014, and shall apply with respect to calendar quarters beginning on or after such date.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAA817510A7AC41AD80F29E6F3F19CE0B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>212.</enum><header>Transitional Medical Assistance</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5180DFC7225D426B9E875B53EF641D4C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Extension</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sections 1902(e)(1)(B) and 1925(f) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396a">42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(1)(B)</external-xref>, 1396r–6(f)) are each amended by striking <quote>December 31, 2013</quote> and inserting <quote>December 31, 2018</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA6849091D81942BBA6B78A8B391A6E14"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Opt-out option for States that expand adult coverage and provide 12-month continuous eligibility under Medicaid and CHIP</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id16BF696B22CC40E8AD6A314B8FEB26C1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1925 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396r-6">42 U.S.C. 1396r–6</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H66C82AED35A8465CBF81F33338FFAD6F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA23AA8D0E6A14AE5B3C2A9F0B12FF74B"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), by striking <quote>paragraph (5)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraphs (5) and (6)</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H48946CB9205C46D18EDBB4F5E4F00CA5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H488AF3EED2064DC8A322FFC12C27A568" style="OLC"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H187C822F3BAF479EAAB757C630D78F4B"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Opt-out option for States that expand adult coverage and provide 12-month continuous eligibility under Medicaid and CHIP</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDB9431003CB24DA18E94A9BA8B4FC17D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In the case of a State described in subparagraph (B), the State may elect through a State plan amendment to have this section and sections 408(a)(11)(A), 1902(a)(52), 1902(e)(1), and 1931(c)(2) not apply to the State.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3A8C77613C7640EEAFED5821CF009555"><enum>(B)</enum><header>State described</header><text>A State is described in this subparagraph if the State is one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia and—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8E83E622C7E64E3EB7F856D10942B326"><enum>(i)</enum><text>has elected to provide medical assistance to individuals under subclause (VIII) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i);</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id720C1B5242A34FEDAE75BF37B5E62032"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>has elected under section 1902(e)(12)(A) the option to provide continuous eligibility for a 12-month period for individuals under 19 years of age;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H05CCB902B7494270B23D8B5FC6C32311"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>has elected under section 1902(e)(12)(B) the option to provide continuous eligibility for a 12-month period for all categories of individuals described in that section; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6D15449531B04CF091937423DF160685"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>has elected to apply section 1902(e)(12)(A) to the State child health plan under title XXI.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H14B567E5CE0B48A284AADCE48637C87B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (b)(1), by striking <quote>subsection (a)(5)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraphs (5) and (6) of subsection (a)</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD759FD3C9E63436AAB0569EFE215FA7F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming amendment to 4-month requirement</header><text>Section 1902(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396a">42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(1)</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF91A43CE265B40ACA8555F3A1CCD4DA5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>Subparagraph (A)</quote> and inserting <quote>Subject to subparagraph (C), subparagraph (A)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA4F6985D23014F38BCC214DD3386767F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF5DACC28C4544911BA42A8BC56856C35" style="OLC"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3D5FD220F5DA48119C928A50A14AE0BD" indent="up2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>If a State has made an election under section 1925(a)(6), subparagraph (A) and section 1925 shall not apply to the State.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDCD860BF09744C4D9BFC35E66ED7FFF1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Extension of 12-month continuous eligibility option to certain adult enrollees under Medicaid; clarification of application to CHIP</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8C1F11A35B204A8EA7D2073CF2F4380A"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1902(e)(12) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396a">42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(12)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7F6226FA46964A2CA6CCDFE9F6630987"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFC8611153CAA459BB5236C198323D2E6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(A)</quote> after <quote>(12)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H25566AF814424B9CBE7959E744C3DAEA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8BA5F9794D4847978C35EEC1AB762CE2" style="OLC"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFBE050E0BA0F4308998E8FC5EE1EB047" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>At the option of the State, the plan may provide that an individual who is determined to be eligible for benefits under a State plan approved under this title under any of the following eligibility categories, or who is redetermined to be eligible for such benefits under any of such categories, shall be considered to meet the eligibility requirements met on the date of application and shall remain eligible for those benefits until the end of the 12–month period following the date of the determination or redetermination of eligibility:</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA3A54CF9CD44452883836200A1607E20"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII).</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEC1F7908324F4957815153B3858E0E0B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Section 1931.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H58202241CB844A098F56A248A3D830FA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Application to CHIP</header><text>Section 2107(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1397gg">42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="H8941D28E9E40428599A7D44F8D8EE574"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (O) as subparagraphs (F) through (P), respectively; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5FAF54E4E992469AB59C506F1BE09657"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (D), the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6C16B30CC42A4F85993E7E082B023152" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="H8FCD1E078C0644699422ACD50A4842D9"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Section 1902(e)(12)(A) (relating to the State option for 12-month continuous eligibility and enrollment).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id84CA49DCE0394DF9BB3F9D2D71DC7193"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Conforming and technical amendments relating to section 1931 transitional coverage requirements</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id599B1F7ECBFB4D57A583AE72ACC9739B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1931(c) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396u-1">42 U.S.C. 1396u–1(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6EE98505454B4237AD3E99BC12E71E04"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1B6E12F27A444FF5B178E73C1F0E871E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the paragraph heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">child</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">spousal</header-in-text></quote>;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBD2D7FD99EF14121A101C95908104589"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The provisions</quote> and inserting <quote>Subject to paragraph (3), the provisions</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46C5C146B41C4B84A2478E0831D61689"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>child or</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id62329109169A49F7BD2A33661AD290CF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>For continued</quote> and inserting <quote>Subject to paragraph (3), for continued</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfbeeca927b4c41d09cc54f2991f44302"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE53FCD584AF54796ADA5B87C19A81AE4" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id9404241C52474E4689EB0BF5AFC84269"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Opt-out option for States that expand adult coverage and provide 12-month continuous eligibility under Medicaid and CHIP</header><subparagraph id="id26C87419C19A4FC2AC9285C02CC73A31"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In the case of a State described in subparagraph (B), the State may elect through a State plan amendment to have paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection and sections 408(a)(11), 1902(a)(52), 1902(e)(1), and 1925 not apply to the State.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id14F522B5977C471BAC813A400DCC34DE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>State described</header><text>A State is described in this subparagraph if the State is one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia and—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE6465D14EEDD46FD8C48EE5260340EB0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>has elected to provide medical assistance to individuals under subclause (VIII) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i);</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB5937EF3BADF49EDAA43269E35DCD991"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>has elected under section 1902(e)(12)(A) the option to provide continuous eligibility for a 12-month period for individuals under 19 years of age;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id89D80C7C2082406D8F309C6F9E6F73FE"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>has elected under section 1902(e)(12)(B) the option to provide continuous eligibility for a 12-month period for all categories of individuals described in that section; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDD82B06D19DA49E3B38B34783F224A94"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>has elected to apply section 1902(e)(12)(A) to the State child health plan under title XXI.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF24EA52E37614B39B666D4D480C335ED"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming amendment to section 408</header><text>Section 408(a)(11) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/608">42 U.S.C. 608(a)(11)</external-xref> is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id2A9DB418204647FD91E66863AE7C81A4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the paragraph heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">child</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">spousal</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idC53187A55B1A4D979A76FB13FFBC627A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)—</text><clause id="id0BBF00E7177D4E94B8EEBE3BDAF72D11"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the subparagraph heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">Child</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subparagraph" style="OLC">Spousal</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id847B44ACAE5144EA9256936BFAE1FE52"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>child or</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3E46FAE2B7CA4B54BA5FBD12033D51D7"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Conforming amendment relating to maintenance of effort for children</header><text>Section 1902(gg)(4) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396a">42 U.S.C. 1396a(gg)(4)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B47D781F8FF40E8BB2C02D7ED8F6AA6" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id61CEBFF300E04736AE04B7ED8336362C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>States that expand adult coverage and elect to opt-out of transitional coverage</header><clause id="idAFBFF7BDC89746C49E05CA3D4F4E64E0"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For purposes of determining compliance with the requirements of paragraph (2), a State which exercises the option under sections 1925(a)(6) and 1931(c)(3) to provide no transitional medical assistance or other extended eligibility (as applicable) shall not, as a result of exercising such option, be considered to have in effect eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures described in clause (ii) that are more restrictive than the standards, methodologies, or procedures in effect under the State plan or under a waiver of the plan on the date of enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.</text></clause><clause id="id41614E502DA84A86AE54B117C4338495"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Standards, methodologies, or procedures described</header><text>The eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures described in this clause are those standards, methodologies, or procedures applicable to determining the eligibility for medical assistance of any child under 19 years of age (or such higher age as the State may have elected).</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5FF0E3DB78E049DABE7B4276941AEBDC"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2014.</text></subsection></section><section id="HC4C11CC67BE64223979A4DF15E76A7D0"><enum>213.</enum><header>Express lane eligibility</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1902(e)(13)(I) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396a">42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(13)(I)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>September 30, 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>September 30, 2015</quote>.</text></section><section id="idCFDE90797DC94A0DBA4A88E98EE8431E"><enum>214.</enum><header>Pediatric quality measures</header><subsection id="idE1975FD17F494A7BA06F9725F329FCAC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Continuation of funding for pediatric quality measures for improving the quality of children's health care</header><text>Section 1139B(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–9b(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>Of the funds appropriated under this subsection, not less than $15,000,000 shall be used to carry out section 1139A(b).</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="idECBF189149F34973904B5D43D5FE0C01"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elimination of restriction on medicaid quality measurement program</header><text>Section 1139B(b)(5)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–9b(b)(5)(A)) is amended by striking <quote>The aggregate amount awarded by the Secretary for grants and contracts for the development, testing, and validation of emerging and innovative evidence-based measures under such program shall equal the aggregate amount awarded by the Secretary for grants under section 1139A(b)(4)(A)</quote> .</text></subsection></section><section id="id124030d7128b4c2aa631011c84920278"><enum>215.</enum><header>Special diabetes programs</header><subsection id="idecafc087260b43bfb0033bb8bcfc3831"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Special diabetes programs for type <enum-in-header>I</enum-in-header> diabetes</header><text>Section 330B(b)(2)(C) of the Public Health Service Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/254c-2">42 U.S.C. 254c–2(b)(2)(C)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2019</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfe57fbb326d745f28087f59666fff092"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Special diabetes programs for indians</header><text>Section 330C(c)(2)(C) of the Public Health Service Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/254c-3">42 U.S.C. 254c–3(c)(2)(C)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2019</quote>.</text></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id4ED958FC444E46C98EBD7918F9CF5FEA" style="OLC"><enum>C</enum><header>Human Services Extensions</header><section id="id1013EA43ACB64C3D8CD7FB85F227B36F"><enum>221.</enum><header>Abstinence education grants</header><subsection id="idF2943FB739D6432A8D83295358BE635B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 510 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/710">42 U.S.C. 710</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="ide3d9118c8a174718b21927d0169824de"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>2010 through 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2015 through 2019</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf7d69a5fd79f47a581cf502d2965f7e0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text><subparagraph id="id813EC267ACFD42F3BD0DDC7A31E47477"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2010 through 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2015 through 2019</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idF4C4F388BF144403A311C44F98270D24"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking the second sentence.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1F8F8F00066B419295206EC041061242"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2014.</text></subsection></section><section id="id6FDAA90E06C64DB3B1D40046373C8FFC"><enum>222.</enum><header>Personal responsibility education program</header><subsection id="idEEF7DC9B14DE4236A438E866749C3234"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 513 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/713">42 U.S.C. 713</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idCC15A379AED841D68142967A50C0E7A6"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="id0FF6146A363F49AEA23F44C2749D1D1C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)(A), by striking <quote>2010 through 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2015 through 2019</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCD1485B364AC4F8280DBC4C5563DA13B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text><clause id="id38144B73A6F34BB9BAC4EA97F910A9D4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text><subclause id="id8105E198425B4610A32D5119B37458DA"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2010 or 2011</quote> and inserting <quote>2015 or 2016</quote>;</text></subclause><subclause id="id907A239CF10F4482A026DD0932A7ED7F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2010 through 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2015 through 2019</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idA4FB88FD4AEA48BDA3D60F13E153B482"><enum>(III)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2012 through 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2017 through 2019</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idF870032527514F128F51E037D3F7AB5F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)(i)—</text><subclause id="id9B5CACACD7E140559293D4B3E382787A"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2012, 2013, and 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2017, 2018, and 2019</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id986FCF6CFA1746A292F83F20874C0C8E"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by striking <quote>2010 or 2011</quote> and inserting <quote>2015 or 2016</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id99685B6B77B44197829BF06EF1385A6C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), by striking <quote>2009</quote> and inserting <quote>2014</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0337A5E7DED34EC2BD2CCCE99AD83B29"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)(2)(A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting <quote>and youth at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking
(as defined in section 103(10) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/7102">22 U.S.C. 7102(10)</external-xref>)) or victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons described
in paragraph (9)(A) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/7102">22 U.S.C. 7102(9)(A)</external-xref></quote> after <quote>adolescents</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA7F0875DCDD04E18B212F115489BAFE1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection(c)(1), by inserting <quote>youth at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking
(as defined in section 103(10) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/7102">22 U.S.C. 7102(10)</external-xref>)) or victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons described
in paragraph (9)(A) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/7102">22 U.S.C. 7102(9)(A)</external-xref>,</quote> after <quote>youth in foster care,</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idA6D3BBB9BF08496CABD2C2F8CB220938"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (f), by striking <quote>2010 through 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2015 through 2019</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idEE741BEB562C42748C2026D6DCF57661"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2014.</text></subsection></section><section id="idae303a2b12114aeb8c54403e61062d90"><enum>223.</enum><header>Family-to-family health information centers</header><subsection id="id19D49549102C4B58BF4B302A116EEF99"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 501(c) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/701">42 U.S.C. 701(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idC95D9F080AB444F2AB9230F3C9DC7A44"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)(A)—</text><subparagraph id="id4346E128EBEA4FFC95E7D61210CE2C5A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id35BB3DE846654B4A9F1EA5CB3F5514FD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (iii), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id34834D0F42444C639C1BCE2FB767635E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD3CA795A95704FC790EA85375E39A718" style="OLC"><clause id="idF7C496A566B349CBACC950A77B0F8993"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id50E1A36D4C4C49B7A473709008F76BC5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (5).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idDC080D2C500B4C7B9B1AEB4DA74E1968"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect as if enacted on October 1, 2013.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFE7B31160FB543B0A7FEE06754ED550F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>224.</enum><header>Health workforce demonstration project for low-income individuals</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2008(c)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1397g">42 U.S.C. 1397g(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote> through 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>2012, and only to carry out subsection (a), $85,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016</quote>.</text></section></subtitle><subtitle id="idCBB5FD5629B340D29513D23E649D7399" style="OLC"><enum>D</enum><header>Program Integrity</header><section id="idEF96BDFCCFDF4331AA0CE04A01DC6E48"><enum>231.</enum><header>Reducing improper Medicare payments</header><subsection id="id0ACEB476DE53461B80DA7BB2425E85F3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Medicare administrative contractor improper payment outreach and education program</header><paragraph id="id9BCF0416CD354AC4B98AFFC07016D67B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1874A of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395kk-1">42 U.S.C. 1395kk–1</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id6F1700D594F449CDB4320F5935E1E6EB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(4)—</text><clause id="id06663856AB2546BCA5B218356973F1C6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (H); and</text></clause><clause id="idC20FD4F104EE453D8081BC6448E7A529"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAC40C49DEB5941419FDD56FD0507A9B7" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="idAD4148E19A0E4B7CAFA0FACAB7382382"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Improper payment outreach and education program</header><text>Having in place an improper payment outreach and education program described in subsection (h).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7384BA1D75154C7A85C6F18E5330E50F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDFFF4F366C734955B7B8F9B3CD608508" style="OLC"><subsection id="idDC852804FEF8486CA9BFD501250706D3"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Improper payment outreach and education program</header><paragraph id="id972B6BF56A664864A56A255B0278B1B7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to reduce improper payments under this title, each medicare administrative contractor shall establish and have in place an improper payment outreach and education program under which the contractor, through outreach, education, training, and technical assistance activities, shall provide providers of services and suppliers located in the region covered by the contract under this section with the information described in paragraph (3). The activities described in the preceding sentence shall be conducted on a regular basis.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1C45D064703340E1A8EFE166E197D0EA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Forms of outreach, education, training, and technical assistance activities</header><text>The outreach, education, training, and technical assistance activities under a payment outreach and education program shall be carried out through any of the following:</text><subparagraph id="idF76271FCE67948E3891473E216370FD7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Emails and other electronic communications.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id556742B50CEB457D93480F8A6EEA8385"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Webinars.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6925EEDE92AB4EB9BAA656A9755B718E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Telephone calls.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9C668AB8FA3A4FBD935EEA09B6819FE2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>In-person training.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEAC5254CD3954BA5985609D768D294B4"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Other forms of communications determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA35253EFBEFA4B8B8A6E8A3A4CC484A1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Information to be provided through activities</header><text>The information to be provided to providers of services and suppliers under a payment outreach and education program shall include all of the following information:</text><subparagraph id="id4146D5F7BCB74B0AAD60B96483593731"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A list of the provider’s or supplier's most frequent and expensive payment errors over the last quarter.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD37960B645334377B05B69E29CBF6648"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Specific instructions regarding how to correct or avoid such errors in the future.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2DF894147B2B491B86D3685D81A381E4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A notice of all new topics that have been approved by the Secretary for audits conducted by recovery audit contractors under section 1893(h).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id7AF19C968D61403895104BA357EFF46C"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Specific instructions to prevent future issues related to such new audits.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id54A7969CEC864B6599A10A76746F8532"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Other information determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idD3EB724454EB4C01BDCD41C41ABC43A5"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Error rate reduction training</header><subparagraph id="id67E35CE288FE4F378B35653A1C0277AB"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The activities under a payment outreach and education program shall include error rate reduction training.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8EBAC31142ED497687C43306E58C62EC"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirements</header><clause id="id856A0D1E166741AB9298456DFB78EC36"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The training described in subparagraph (A) shall—</text><subclause id="idA56A7E7A5C2B4241995C42C68817CB08"><enum>(I)</enum><text>be provided at least annually; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idB74037AF0F2B4F47904D744811C3FDFA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>focus on reducing the improper payments described in paragraph (5).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00D59BF7E10C4F0E83EFCE0F4BB80AD8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Invitation</header><text>A medicare administrative contractor shall ensure that all providers of services and suppliers located in the region covered by the contract under this section are invited to attend the training described in subparagraph (A) either in person or online.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA0575FD6E0B5444E82A52275339863E7"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>A medicare administrative contractor shall give priority to activities under the improper payment outreach and education program that will reduce improper payments for items and services that—</text><subparagraph id="id4AB30DBDAC0E4EF3973A6D0DD04D011F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>have the highest rate of improper payment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA46E86771A34466FA6111EC3D18E2B02"><enum>(B)</enum><text>have the greatest total dollar amount of improper payments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCADAFD1627784810A0AEF4E2F866D2DF"><enum>(C)</enum><text>are due to clear misapplication or misinterpretation of Medicare policies;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5B62384826174A00ACFF93DDFCFF0D79"><enum>(D)</enum><text>are clearly due to common and inadvertent clerical or administrative errors; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE7C3F53E9A2642EFBF2A43454C5254A8"><enum>(E)</enum><text>are due to other types of errors that the Secretary determines could be prevented through activities under the program.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0BB7132F4CF842DBB5DE9A30B4A24EAC"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Information on improper payments from recovery audit contractors</header><subparagraph id="id9BCAC8C477C04BA7A76E01E10E66DCAF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In order to assist medicare administrative contractors in carrying out improper payment outreach and education programs, the Secretary shall provide each contractor with a complete list of improper payments identified by recovery audit contractors under section 1893(h) with respect to providers of services and suppliers located in the region covered by the contract under this section. Such information shall be provided on a quarterly basis.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1FC4538B4EC94BCEAF19FA9DB0DE4DE5"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Information</header><text>The information described in subparagraph (A) shall include the following information:</text><clause id="idEE0BFD9240BB41008EA7EE3FF651A9A4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The providers of services and suppliers that have the highest rate of improper payments.</text></clause><clause id="idD4790A4CBE9541949C1EEFE816B9D2F7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The providers of services and suppliers that have the greatest total dollar amounts of improper payments.</text></clause><clause id="id91A49175CDAF41FC96B2480EB7C30FDC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The items and services furnished in the region that have the highest rates of improper payments.</text></clause><clause id="idE78237EA72294869AD931C0767CC45FD"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>The items and services furnished in the region that are responsible for the greatest total dollar amount of improper payments.</text></clause><clause id="idB3DFDF12508A410EA5F6713FFBF2B5A5"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Other information the Secretary determines would assist the contractor in carrying out the improper payment outreach and education program.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7BC03539600542A89F4A58C7C17CFC0E"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Format of information</header><text>The information furnished to medicare administrative contractors by the Secretary under this paragraph shall be transmitted in a manner that permits the contractor to easily identify the areas of the Medicare program in which targeted outreach, education, training, and technical assistance would be most effective. In carrying out the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall ensure that—</text><clause id="id689ED07585CB43B993BC64C69CCDD682"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the information with respect to improper payments made to a provider of services or supplier clearly displays the name and address of the provider or supplier, the amount of the improper payment, and any other information the Secretary determines appropriate; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3E4AACE98E2B483CA9E94AB7E0E87EB0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the information is in an electronic, easily searchable database.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEDA656D5410D47DB8B8AA532D8D954E7"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Communications</header><text>All communications with providers of services and suppliers under a payment outreach and education program are subject to the standards and requirements of subsection (g).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7D82A88DE9B54BBAA6B5642DB433DF0F"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>After application of paragraph (1)(C) of section 1893(h), the Secretary shall retain a portion of the amounts recovered by recovery audit contractors under such section which shall be available to the program management account of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for purposes of carrying out this subsection and to implement corrective actions to help reduce the error rate of payments under this title. The amount retained under the preceding sentence shall not exceed an amount equal to 25 percent of the amounts recovered under section 1893(h).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF28BF1ADAE3145ED84B327D6715259FC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Funding conforming amendment</header><text>Section 1893(h)(2) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ddd">42 U.S.C. 1395ddd(h)(2)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>or section 1874(h)(8)</quote> after <quote>paragraph (1)(C)</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idBE2AAF36027E466F98C15CDFED99773A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by this subsection take effect on January 1, 2015.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7F61E7E2BCF447FDA1C65A766F7FE8C1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Transparency</header><text>Section 1893(h)(8) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ddd">42 U.S.C. 1395ddd(h)(8)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idAB2686F3BFC141808CD740997FAF93FD"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">report</header-in-text>.—The Secretary</quote> and inserting “<header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">report</header-in-text>.—</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3F3588F6369E4C348C2E91475CE13A84" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id7FCBBA7B8E154E4FA20A76DB1952E433"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id0615A6866CB741BA8044F3DEBD9A1B3D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2FDD352DAC8840159FBDCFCB42D4CAE6" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id97F6B0724CD74DBB8A3EA8216FE00889"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Inclusion of certain information</header><clause id="id4F0DF81C4775464EB7D1458524E13A21"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>For reports submitted under this paragraph for 2015 or a subsequent year, each such report shall include the information described in clause (ii) with respect to each of the following categories of audits carried out by recovery audit contractors under this subsection:</text><subclause id="id7AE2E1B4568F403D8380B277B092F120"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Automated.</text></subclause><subclause id="idFAE153CFA92C473A90837EBD53118ABC"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Complex.</text></subclause><subclause id="id44FF9B55021E4C889DF1AC7426240EB1"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Medical necessity review.</text></subclause><subclause id="idB6AC44076BAF44E1A281855443AE29F1"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>Part A.</text></subclause><subclause id="id55ECAB11A6004921BF6599C2BE4CED67"><enum>(V)</enum><text>Part B.</text></subclause><subclause id="id60FC1B2DD3944CDD9A25108AED19E9FE"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>Durable medical equipment.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idF6E33C3315B64B41B629A915776A5599"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Information described</header><text>For purposes of clause (i), the information described in this clause, with respect to a category of audit described in clause (i), is the result of all appeals for each individual level of appeals in such category.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1DF503950D6D463FB4AAD7DD7A5A661B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Recovery Audit Contractor Demonstration Project</header><paragraph id="idC1CC70D9DF4D45C0B8A48F11077DA55C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall conduct a demonstration project under title XVIII of the Social Security Act that—</text><subparagraph id="id7CF898958C1F4DA6BBFA9B8A2232EC1F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>targets audits by recovery audit contractors under section 1893(h) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ddd">42 U.S.C. 1395ddd(h)</external-xref>) with respect to high error providers of services and suppliers identified under paragraph (3); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDCCD205240E549CD99B6F400B9E39DDD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>rewards low error providers of services and suppliers identified under such paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idE88A598F747D43F7A733D0275F3CA144"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Scope</header><subparagraph id="idD5264ADB3754416B9C714AC8DAA0830D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>The demonstration project shall be implemented not later than January 1, 2015, and shall be conducted for a period of three years.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4839D21498734992B8A197A0838297C0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Demonstration area</header><text>In determining the geographic area of the demonstration project, the Secretary shall consider the following:</text><clause id="id1FF19A72906143DE802698C4F24A0012"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The total number of providers of services and suppliers in the region.</text></clause><clause id="id0E6E7548BB834B828C4EFB036ED48FE6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The diversity of types of providers of services and suppliers in the region.</text></clause><clause id="idAB904F1A67954543B90FBA5FFAC7C8C5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The level and variation of improper payment rates of and among individual providers of services and suppliers in the region.</text></clause><clause id="idEDE3D9DB6D0746A2A639149789860626"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>The inclusion of a mix of both urban and rural areas.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idF99C617D79A3424094403BCDCDE30121"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Identification of low error and high error providers of services and suppliers</header><subparagraph id="id3B91F4336E1044B9A690BA266DA1B83F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In conducting the demonstration project, the Secretary shall identify the following two groups of providers in accordance with this paragraph:</text><clause id="id6AD14F9F86514581A3964741FD5EF774"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Low error providers of services and suppliers.</text></clause><clause id="id23A49FD0FEF54A7791230E26F2007D3C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>High error providers of services and suppliers.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idCEC6C4FE901F42DCAEE2CD6CBB31CB75"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Analysis</header><text>For purposes of identifying the groups under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall analyze the following as they relate to the total number and amount of claims submitted in the area and by each provider:</text><clause id="idBC9936D4CD5249A9A2F73E23B323FA83"><enum>(i)</enum><text>The improper payment rates of individual providers of services and suppliers.</text></clause><clause id="idD3CA4CB78B1B4F64A02E117022780170"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The amount of improper payments made to individual providers of services and suppliers.</text></clause><clause id="id535739555A8B4CBD9738E4625F38023E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The frequency of errors made by the provider of services or supplier over time.</text></clause><clause id="idC935BA9570284ABE9F6CC121A3CAAE4D"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Other information determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA760D3A641964AB5B3F79379C00813F2"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Assignment based on composite score</header><text>The Secretary shall assign selected providers of services and suppliers under the demonstration program based on a composite score determined using the analysis under subparagraph (B) as follows:</text><clause id="idCB771A2739D345338A4B9F085C892680"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Providers of services and suppliers with high, expensive, and frequent errors shall receive a high score and be identified as high error providers of services and suppliers under subparagraph (A).</text></clause><clause id="idB35471B4B58E4E439C2AF28FFA71A255"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Providers of services and suppliers with few, inexpensive, and infrequent errors shall receive a low score and be identified as low error providers of services and suppliers under such subparagraph.</text></clause><clause id="id808BD7BE0A34409481A01F63D5EBBE38"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Only a small proportion of the total providers of services and suppliers and individual types of providers of services and suppliers in the geographic area of the demonstration project shall be assigned to either group identified under such subparagraph.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idEDC3E6BC9B8B4AE8B4969C7BAB9BD38B"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Timeframe of identification</header><clause id="idF3A6B772E1474176BDE291A039778BC8"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Any identification of a provider of services or a supplier under subparagraph (A) shall be for a period of 12 months.</text></clause><clause id="id6C169DB5F9F74C898BC7623292168EB8"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Reevaluation</header><text>The Secretary shall reevaluate each such identification at the end of such period.</text></clause><clause id="idFC20AE9D9AC04D299BC91E139F88DED6"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Use of most current information</header><text>In carrying out the reevaluation under clause (ii) with respect to a provider of services or supplier, the Secretary shall—</text><subclause id="id813E4BA111E545FAB5D5FDB0E32E41FF"><enum>(I)</enum><text>consider the most current information available with respect to the provider of services or supplier under the analysis under subparagraph (B); and</text></subclause><subclause id="id4C261AF6E58044E1A8F1FB3FDB3AB71F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>take into account improvement or regression of the provider of services or supplier.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id70A20313C01A41EF9494E08C021E748B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Adjustment of record request maximum</header><text>Under the demonstration project, the Secretary shall establish procedures to—</text><subparagraph id="idEF671E9C4C574BEAB03CF8473E72B0A8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>increase the maximum record request made by recovery audit contractors to providers of services and suppliers identified as high error providers of services and suppliers under paragraph (3); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4430FF510251441285C437A290B1B20D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>decrease the maximum record request made by recovery audit contractors to providers of services and suppliers identified as low error providers of services and supplier under such paragraph.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id281226CA86BA40078D463CD82FE73457"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Additional adjustments</header><subparagraph id="id896CE873D39F4D0780584CAFDE06CD6D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Under the demonstration project, the Secretary may make additional adjustments to requirements for recovery audit contractors under section 1893(h) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ddd">42 U.S.C. 1395ddd(h)</external-xref>) and the conduct of audits with respect to low error providers of services and suppliers identified under paragraph (3) and high error providers of services and suppliers identified under such paragraph as the Secretary determines necessary in order to incentivize reductions in improper payment rates under title XVIII of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395">42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9E53DF193A4441F89BA073F4B5236E9B"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The Secretary shall not exempt any group of providers of services or suppliers in the demonstration project from being subject to audit by a recovery audit contractor under such section 1893(h).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA1D58862682848A2A4ADDA3BEF5FB3ED"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Evaluation and report</header><subparagraph id="id8946A41284594BF0B580F7F4D2E55A7C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Evaluation</header><text>The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall conduct an evaluation of the demonstration project under this subsection. The evaluation shall include an analysis of—</text><clause id="idCA273A3091104865892B0813359895C9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the error rates of providers of services and suppliers—</text><subclause id="id08E7F496454548838558F709242327FD"><enum>(I)</enum><text>identified under paragraph (3) as low error providers of services and suppliers;</text></subclause><subclause id="id407A56012A0440CD888F5E4B3270000F"><enum>(II)</enum><text>identified under such paragraph as high error providers of services and suppliers; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id8A0D6A425B0F4E99BF4DB6A0CD61759E"><enum>(III)</enum><text>that are located in the geographic area of the demonstration project and are not identified as either a low error or high error provider of services or supplier under such paragraph; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id0E7D427319064A0A9CFFB0F863C76781"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any improvements in the error rates of those high error providers of services and suppliers identified under such paragraph.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id93E071C96DE4429FB8AE29BC3958497D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 12 months after completion of the demonstration project, the Inspector General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the evaluation conducted under subparagraph (A), together with recommendations on whether the demonstration project should be continued or expanded, including on a permanent or nationwide basis.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7FEAEAF9B07949CFA3D93EA62F75B582"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Funding</header><subparagraph id="idD03A0538C379410D82A2482AAF4EADB7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Funding for implementation</header><text>For purposes of carrying out the demonstration project under this subsection (other than the evaluation and report under paragraph (6)), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395i">42 U.S.C. 1395i</external-xref>) and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395t">42 U.S.C. 1395t</external-xref>), in such proportion as the Secretary determines appropriate, of $10,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2A4EB61C61AE4EA68C6688D972AF44EF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding for Inspector General evaluation and report</header><text>For purposes of carrying out the evaluation and report under paragraph (6), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under such section 1817 and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under such section 1841, in such proportion as the Secretary determines appropriate, of $245,000 to the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id6BA10FE235C544ABB180F78ACB82C0CF"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Availability</header><text>Amounts transferred under subparagraph (A) or (B) shall remain available until expended.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id57018D2DF35B499FB19729605D351709"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idDEBA2C0517A847438537264D313E1C68"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Demonstration project</header><text>The term <quote>demonstration project</quote> means the demonstration project under this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idCFAA9F9B238E4902AD6A81DD1FEEAF2E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Provider of services</header><text>The term <quote>provider of services</quote> has the meaning given that term in section 1861(u).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id551FBFCCB4BB4313A5136812E45A10E8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Recovery audit contractor</header><text>The term <term>recovery audit contractor</term> means an entity with a contract under section 1893(h) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ddd">42 U.S.C. 1395ddd(h)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id7848A5B858EB4AFA94A4B4851E9DBABA"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD707FC8D178E4126BE0E30CA2CDF7AB5"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Supplier</header><text>The term <term>supplier</term> has the meaning given that term in section 1861(d).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9E237160FDC448F395B382AA30FF2A09"><enum>232.</enum><header>Authority for
Medicaid fraud control units to investigate and prosecute complaints of abuse
and neglect of Medicaid patients in home and community-based settings</header><subsection id="idBC5E1EC654654BB29CC239B8DAAFB9D1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1903(q)(4)(A)
of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396b">42 U.S.C. 1396b(q)(4)(A)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id65A68DC4092E4DD087A4EAE6258716C7" style="OLC"><paragraph id="idf0b96613ef6c4c0fb944b7bebc913900"><enum>(4)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idE5AA570EADE04F4ABAE118FB2C3BFF1B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The
entity’s function includes a statewide program for the—</text><clause id="idbc57a080f1b4491196fa976ed0932053" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>investigation and prosecution, or
referral for prosecution or other action, of complaints of abuse or neglect of
patients in health care facilities which receive payments under the State plan
under this title or under a waiver of such plan;</text></clause><clause id="id664ad3bacc1740178e4db6c75551883e" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>at the option of the entity,
investigation and prosecution, or referral for prosecution or other action, of
complaints of abuse or neglect of individuals in connection with any aspect of
the provision of medical assistance and the activities of providers of such
assistance in a home or community based setting that is paid for under the
State plan under this title or under a waiver of such plan; and</text></clause><clause id="idce3573badc204e7c83f1ad2d159dc33a" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>at the option of the entity,
investigation and prosecution, or referral for prosecution or other action, of
complaints of abuse or neglect of patients residing in board and care
facilities.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idF03C1CB0F2A34DDFAA4EBE866CACC4ED"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on
January 1, 2015.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAF486918EDDD4C23A077B56CC1108BFF"><enum>233.</enum><header>Improved use of
funds received by the HHS Inspector General from oversight and investigative
activities</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2598AA53D96F4AC0A330F72CEC918BCC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1128C(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1320a–7c(b)) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8796E27EB912415EBFAA0A03F6E0483B" style="OLC"><subsection id="id37d6703079ba4f0fb1028fee8d3f48d9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Additional use
of funds by Inspector General</header><paragraph id="idb0e9651c6941429385474e78a5e9d122"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Collections
from Medicare and Medicaid recovery actions</header><text>Notwithstanding
<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/31/3302">section 3302</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code, or any other provision of law
affecting the crediting of collections, the Inspector General of the Department
of Health and Human Services may receive and retain three percent of all
amounts collected pursuant to civil debt collection actions related to false
claims or frauds involving the Medicare program under title XVIII or the
Medicaid program under title XIX.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf66097b470874afaab7c97ba41218581"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Crediting</header><text>Funds
received by the Inspector General under paragraph (1) shall be deposited to the
credit of any appropriation available for oversight and enforcement activities
of the Inspector General permitted under subsection (a), and shall remain
available until
expended.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE983B2848B164645A366CE407DB40665"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to funds
received from settlements finalized, or judgements entered, on or after the
date of the enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9F7E02BBB9AB41C4BBB3C703041645A5"><enum>234.</enum><header>Preventing and reducing improper Medicare and Medicaid expenditures</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCC36D701CC8B4DAC995C9650718B0447"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requiring
valid prescriber National Provider Identifiers on pharmacy claims</header><text>Section 1860D–4(c) of the Social Security
Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-104">42 U.S.C. 1395w–104(c)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA9151E24317F4FFDA0083E6A31FCDC89" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id8F042A1ED04C4FBEA32FD8E4782EE7D3"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Requiring valid
prescriber National Provider Identifiers on pharmacy claims</header><subparagraph id="id6B664D64D83F44EC9A15D101BB1FB0A8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For plan year 2015
and subsequent plan years, subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall
prohibit PDP sponsors of prescription drug plans from paying claims for
prescription drugs under this part that do not include a valid prescriber
National Provider Identifier.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFDA23967E08641138B1C2471FCD1C38E"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall establish procedures for determining the validity of
prescriber National Provider Identifiers under subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idDEC2B9FA731848969A78888B919326E7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than January 1, 2017, the
Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit
to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the procedures established under
subparagraph
(B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id68D4D500D9F94054B95FCFEF52F868E1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reforming how
CMS tracks and corrects the vulnerabilities identified by Recovery Audit
Contractors</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1893(h) of
the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ddd">42 U.S.C. 1395ddd(h)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idA45F87261B0D407F919288B962A703E6"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (8), as amended by section 231, by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id50E0794369CB4AAB8024162DF09C72AE" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="ID3b032bbf25ee4338b82dc017a17eed02"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Inclusion of
improper payment vulnerabilities identified</header><text>For reports submitted under this paragraph for 2015 or a subsequent year, each such report shall include—</text><clause id="id4D94941D25A34C75B29DEC6095804BB2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a
description of—</text><subclause id="id497436A998A549D18F21C3D09AFAA6A6"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the types and
financial cost to the program under this title of improper payment
vulnerabilities identified by recovery audit contractors under this subsection;
and</text></subclause><subclause id="id96BC243619084FF1B363CF25F6E87C1C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>how the
Secretary is addressing such improper payment vulnerabilities; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id65CF3D11415249B9B3BEE36320C63106"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an assessment of
the effectiveness of changes made to payment policies and procedures under this
title in order to address the vulnerabilities so identified.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id63AB8851BAE2485A86762AF13F0F9FB4"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The
Secretary shall ensure that each report submitted under subparagraph (A) does
not include information that the Secretary determines would be sensitive or
would otherwise negatively impact program
integrity.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id39137A7A5A3B47518A8A24BF6E7C2B7A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id25E554A0AE5A4374896505DF4241C852" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id09F3C7A27F92479B85E18D4D6CB74E8B"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Addressing
improper payment vulnerabilities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall address improper
payment vulnerabilities identified by recovery audit contractors under this
subsection in a timely manner, prioritized based on the risk to the program
under this
title.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6D8AAEC60B3149A4981781252CC1B449"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Strengthening Medicaid program integrity through flexibility</header><text>Section 1936 of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396u–6) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id95ED6F4FDB954BDC876A13CCA4178971"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection
(a), by inserting <quote>, or otherwise,</quote> after <quote>entities</quote>;
and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE02B766D47024D7ABF8053EB41924B6F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection
(e)—</text><subparagraph id="id92329B276517460293B1194D11CC6DAB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>(including the
costs of equipment, salaries and benefits, and travel and training)</quote>
after <quote>Program under this section</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3877FFAA519945AA8CEF2AB479FE4B98"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3),
by striking <quote>by 100</quote> and inserting <quote>by 100, or such number
as determined necessary by the Secretary to carry out the
Program under this section,</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCE4B03151A58465FB1BA90C3EB4C1617"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Access to the National Directory of New Hires</header><text>Section 453(j) of the Social Security Act
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/653">42 U.S.C. 653(j)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id500A96A3D0BE4CF1991F5E9CCF41D7AB" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id6d38379c18d24b98879eae714618e306"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Information
comparisons and disclosures to assist in administration of the Medicare program
and State health subsidy programs</header><subparagraph id="id54912b00b53944baa5c187ff19787815"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Disclosure to
the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services</header><text>The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid shall have access to the information in the National Directory of New
Hires for purposes of determining the eligibility of an applicant for, or
enrollee in, the Medicare program under title XVIII or an applicable State
health subsidy program (as defined in section 1413(e) of the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18083">42 U.S.C. 18083(e)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idecfd27b5fcba43b38e663728970e47df"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Disclosure to
the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services</header><clause id="id2f9f7ae734694e33b34d4b3c314a7260"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If the Inspector General of the Department of Health and
Human Services transmits to the Secretary the names and social security account
numbers of individuals, the Secretary shall disclose to the Inspector General
information on such individuals and their employers maintained in the National
Directory of New Hires.</text></clause><clause id="id7c9926b96e7a457ab93ed150a588896b"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Use of
information</header><text>The Inspector General of the Department of Health and
Human Services may use information provided under clause (i) only for purposes
of —</text><subclause id="id4d2badf0c84641a699e1126eec5f4a79"><enum>(I)</enum><text>determining the
eligibility of an applicant for, or enrollee in, the Medicare program under
title XVIII or an applicable State health subsidy program (as defined in
section 1413(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C.
18083(e)); or</text></subclause><subclause id="id8a1d016310cf4c7e8a80b0e7f2704082"><enum>(II)</enum><text>evaluating the
integrity of the Medicare program or an applicable State health subsidy program
(as so defined).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1ff42b7c308344e2814d989be8fbc59d"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Disclosure to
State agencies</header><clause id="id125fc79aa61e41d2ae0d38966f828036"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>If, for purposes of determining the eligibility of an applicant for, or an enrollee in, an applicable State
health subsidy program (as defined in section 1413(e) of the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18083">42 U.S.C. 18083(e)</external-xref>), a State agency responsible for
administering such program transmits to the Secretary the names, dates of birth, and social
security account numbers of individuals, the Secretary shall disclose to such
State agency information on such individuals and their employers maintained in
the National Directory of New Hires, subject to this subparagraph.</text></clause><clause id="id0272d730546a4fa2915ad250feaa2663"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Condition on
disclosure by the Secretary</header><text>The Secretary shall make a disclosure
under clause (i) only to the extent that the Secretary determines that the
disclosure would not interfere with the effective operation of the program
under this part.</text></clause><clause id="id79045c98c383462eb9467440b0a87a9c"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Use and
disclosure of information by State agencies</header><subclause id="id35c6a65f64f440dea30ed44c7c2c061f"><enum>(I)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A State agency may not use or disclose information
provided under clause (i) except for purposes of determining the eligibility of an applicant for, or an enrollee in, a program
referred to in clause (i).</text></subclause><subclause id="idce675c1450fd4164b4e9fb1bc0156aef"><enum>(II)</enum><header>Information
security</header><text>The State agency shall have in effect data security and
control policies that the Secretary finds adequate to ensure the security of
information obtained under clause (i) and to ensure that access to such
information is restricted to authorized persons for purposes of authorized uses
and disclosures.</text></subclause><subclause id="id07430cccda6f4201a080dc82162991ec"><enum>(III)</enum><header>Penalty for
misuse of information</header><text>An officer or employee of the State agency
who fails to comply with this clause shall be subject to the sanctions under
subsection (l)(2) to the same extent as if such officer or employee were an
officer or employee of the United States.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idb41549c1da404c62bd9fa3afb7765f40"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Procedural
requirements</header><text>State agencies requesting information under clause
(i) shall adhere to uniform procedures established by the Secretary governing
information requests and data matching under this paragraph.</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3b3a5758e169432296b3089f3cd5b2c4"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Reimbursement
of costs</header><text>The State agency shall reimburse the Secretary, in
accordance with subsection (k)(3), for the costs incurred by the Secretary in
furnishing the information requested under this
subparagraph.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id493E0E8C7A2D4675B8516DE9937397A4"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Improving the sharing of data between the Federal Government and State Medicaid programs</header><paragraph id="id4C60B766B69343C9B6A4C00D16823A19"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this
subsection referred to as the <quote>Secretary</quote>) shall establish a plan to
encourage and facilitate the participation of States in the Medicare-Medicaid
Data Match Program (commonly referred to as the <quote>Medi-Medi
Program</quote>) under section 1893(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395ddd(g)).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ID591495a440b64d0baa1180232a3ce9b8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Program
revisions To improve Medi-Medi Data Match Program participation by
States</header><text>Section 1893(g)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395ddd(g)(1)(A)) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="ID5c81c108deb241639897e6e17f1b2ada"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter
preceding clause (i), by inserting <quote>or otherwise</quote> after
<quote>eligible entities</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID67e123ec5fda444091dca778165a10bb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause
(i)—</text><clause id="ID3abbd50b18774d559f4ae13d0f065f78"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>to review claims data</quote> after <quote>algorithms</quote>;
and</text></clause><clause id="IDa46e4d39e5f7492980e24e8e8b793183"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>service, time, or patient</quote> and inserting <quote>provider,
service, time, or patient</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID458aa588377443e39dffe3c757d44dfa"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in clause
(ii)—</text><clause id="idEDC463C1764C4EB5B4293F91799A7077"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>to investigate and recover amounts with respect to suspect
claims</quote> after <quote>appropriate actions</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id0AB0724F5DC846029683BF958468A40F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0C90D9FC540E41B18F2A6912F6EB59B4"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in clause (iii),
by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID7bcc8f4037a1421a822fd96d487c0bf7"><enum>(E)</enum><text>by adding at end
the following new clause:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3FE8E2918C0549CEA9EABDBA5B66541A" style="OLC"><clause id="idDA363B59088445F09A3766E4622A0AAD"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>furthering the
Secretary’s design, development, installation, or enhancement of an automated
data system architecture—</text><subclause id="id338D443F179547EFB9F46069C7859011"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to collect,
integrate, and assess data for purposes of program integrity, program
oversight, and administration, including the Medi-Medi Program; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idC4ACAAC1A04D4B7B98E08616ECDAFDCD"><enum>(II)</enum><text>that improves
the coordination of requests for data from
States.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idDCEC8807BB754352A971215A8DEC6576"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Providing
states with data on improper payments made for items or services provided to
dual eligible individuals</header><subparagraph id="id52FD31D98EE54E8D9E6975BA28602D02"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary shall develop and implement a plan that
allows each State agency responsible for administering a State plan for medical
assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act access to relevant data
on improper or fraudulent payments made under the Medicare program under title
XVIII of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395">42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.</external-xref>) for health care items
or services provided to dual eligible individuals.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4D5D9F5AD402439E8D8BD2DE8336D753"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Dual eligible
individual defined</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>dual eligible
individual</term> means an individual who is entitled to, or enrolled for,
benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395c et seq.), or enrolled for benefits under part B of title XVIII of such
Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395j">42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.</external-xref>), and is eligible for medical assistance under a
State plan under title XIX of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396">42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.</external-xref>) or under a
waiver of such plan.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id1761BA7796A04EAF8968DABB3AD0F22A" style="OLC"><enum>E</enum><header>Other Provisions</header><section id="id2716bce8590244bc832a1fe5da31bc09"><enum>241.</enum><header>Commission on Improving Patient Directed Health Care</header><subsection id="id056c1ba4f5884f92aa26001bd6ab60e3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Findings</header><text>Congress finds the following:</text><paragraph id="id5eacc753cd2c4dd39a138130e0754ee2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>In order to elevate the role of patient choices in the health care system, the American public must engage in an informed, national, public debate on how the current health care system empowers and informs health care decision-making, and what can be done to improve the likelihood patients receive the care they want and need.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id089cfd9b953f47668208bf4ce1ae39ca"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Research suggests that patients often do not receive the care they want. As a result, the end of life is associated with a substantial burden of suffering by the patient and negative health and financial consequences that extend to family members and society.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id23ae11c1ac3f42c7b8467b8ebcd125a1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Patients face a complex and fragmented health care system that may decrease the likelihood that health care choices are known and carried out. The health care system should embed principles that take into account patient wishes.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id64fc515ace664aeeb4ff2cd2c25809eb"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Decisions concerning health care, including end-of-life issues, affect an increasing number of Americans.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6bb15f1392ae492bbcbbd44e8b28f4ee"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Medical advances are prolonging life expectancy in the United States both in acute life-threatening situations and protracted battles with illness. These advances raise new challenges surrounding health care decision-making.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfc6065678a3a42feba24bbf7057955e3"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The United States health care system should promote consideration of a person’s preference in health care decision-making and end-of-life choices.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idDEA3E468182E4EABB134F78BCE08222E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Commission</header><text>The Social Security Act is amended by inserting after section 1150B (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1320b-24">42 U.S.C. 1320b–24</external-xref>) the following new section:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1202AFDDBE3240ED9D9C489DD6B13476" style="OLC"><section id="id1D8EA6A200F34EA5A9C2B2C12AEB1054"><enum>1150C.</enum><header>Commission on Improving Patient Directed Health Care</header><subsection id="id096570ffae584ce199c6ae8fa686c7d7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The purposes of this section are to—</text><paragraph id="id44a3275927314f5e915245ac53286da6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>provide a forum for a nationwide public debate on improving patient self-determination in health care decision-making;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id93fc4ac49983491aa43f583b3ba6c2c8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify strategies that ensure every American has the health care they want; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida48408be1cd3404eaa64661c5c8a26bc"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide recommendations to Congress that result from the debate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id915d2090c9b6474ebf1c52f9919f53ba"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary shall establish an entity to be known as the Commission on Improving Patient Directed Health Care (referred to in this section as the <quote>Commission</quote>).</text></subsection><subsection id="id870dda1b27764bb5a94661af2be5a22f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Membership</header><paragraph id="id46c8b98a7ebf4fbf92175520e2d4cf13"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Number and appointment</header><text>The Commission shall be composed of 15 members. One member shall be the Secretary. The Comptroller General of the United States shall appoint 14 members.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5b0cd9faf8e448c3a39b31ae44028d14"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Qualifications</header><text>The membership of the Commission shall include—</text><subparagraph id="id567cef073cea431d9ddffbbbd3d0d62a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>health care consumers impacted by decision-making in advance of a health care crisis, such as individuals of advanced age, individuals with chronic, terminal and mental illnesses, family care givers, and individuals with disabilities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id501dd6e735804a9b9b6c6cea20118f2b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>providers in settings where crucial health care decision-making occurs, such as those working in intensive care settings, emergency room departments, primary care settings, nursing homes, hospice, or palliative care settings;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc1de5ef7c4994415a5a7074bef4953c1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>payors ensuring patients get the level of care they want;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf712f26c69854682be28fcc7994b1777"><enum>(D)</enum><text>experts in advance care planning, hospice, palliative care, information technology, bioethics, aging policy, disability policy, pediatric ethics, cultural sensitivity, psychology, and health care financing;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id10d8ec77aaa04e8cb93357e2e3988430"><enum>(E)</enum><text>individuals who represent culturally diverse perspectives on patient self-determination and end-of-life issues; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id64351e1bfa6040069dd043e859dfdbf6"><enum>(F)</enum><text>members of the faith community.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida744d56a64de4b9ca382d62a87188da6"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Period of appointment</header><text>Members of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any vacancies shall not affect the power and duties of the Commission but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.</text></subsection><subsection id="id9c8f4c4f0d4f478eafab8d4f5d25caaa"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Designation of the chairperson</header><text>Not later than 15 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Comptroller General shall designate the chairperson of the Commission.</text></subsection><subsection id="ide1b29be6050041cabc6f0ba8300b720e"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Subcommittees</header><text>The Commission may establish subcommittees if doing so increases the efficiency of the Commission in completing tasks.</text></subsection><subsection id="idba04fdd813a644a3ab089b587bf5a471"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Duties</header><paragraph id="id6786758ad541405dbdca4fbafd0ad894"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Hearings</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of designation of the chairperson under subsection (e), the Commission shall hold no fewer than 8 hearings to examine—</text><subparagraph id="id020c885b510b4f0fb39082ee2baab1d5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the current state of health care decision-making and advance care planning laws in the United States at the Federal level and across the States, as well as options for improving advance care planning tools, especially with regard to use, portability, and storage;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide60f64a15eb5475d83f56183d42ecc99"><enum>(B)</enum><text>consumer-focused approaches that educate the American public about patient choices, care planning, and other end-of-life issues;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id91a39b00e2e647969873c20b432cce98"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the use of comprehensive, patient-centered care plans by providers, the impact care plans have on health care delivery, and methods to expand the use of high quality care planning tools in both public and private health care systems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide74950d6531f43c9b02143d20b42a828"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the role of electronic medical records and other technologies in improving patient-directed health care;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id61195a8ecfab42bab1b61f5dc00b7834"><enum>(E)</enum><text>innovative tools for improving patient experience with advanced illness, such as palliative care, hospice, and other models;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id045ba0aa54204733a9863d5d9a0756fd"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the role social determinants of health, such as socio-economic status, play in patient self-direction in health care;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idecab4aaa7db346a0bf8155edb8326034"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the use of culturally-competent tools for health care decision-making;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida631648875f84316a4e95d94a0f90ac7"><enum>(H)</enum><text>strategies for educating providers on care planning, palliative care, hospice care, and other issues surrounding honoring patient choices;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id46719b63cc504304b685ade555b70c1c"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the sociological and psychological factors that influence health care decision-making and end-of-life choices; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id24278116d80f4bb997bfaa49405ee5bf"><enum>(J)</enum><text>the role of spirituality and religion in patient self-determination in health care.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idba4b6c01e7aa4ceba34817b1216b52c6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional hearings</header><text>The Commission may hold additional hearings on subjects other than those listed in paragraph (1) so long as such hearings are determined necessary by the Commission in carrying out the purposes of this section. Such additional hearings do not have to be completed within the time period specified but shall not delay the other activities of the Commission under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0d580b77cdd14de281ea4a2f9de7509f"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Number and location of hearings and additional hearings</header><text>The Commission shall hold no fewer than 8 hearings as indicated in paragraph (1) and in sufficient number in order to receive information that reflects—</text><subparagraph id="idfaef2aee4ab84bf3bb78edc987a8f985"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the geographic differences throughout the United States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id812543a1b9564629bd60ff119c6f0c0e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>diverse populations; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf54c5a1400454462a3ff83e08a8d4df4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a balance among urban and rural populations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide94679aeeca946ab8e0c8ea48f4a897a"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Interactive technology</header><text>The Commission may encourage public participation in hearings through interactive technology and other means as determined appropriate by the Commission.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8df3a8f8744144989c6e4849f0ee66ec"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Report to the american people on patient directed health care</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the hearings described in paragraphs (1) and (2) are completed, the Commission shall prepare and make available to health care consumers through the Internet and other appropriate public channels, a report to be entitled, <quote>Report to the American People on Patient Directed Health Care</quote>. Such a report shall be understandable to the general public and include—</text><subparagraph id="id05ad16c0dbb3423b9d28895df0e163b4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a summary of—</text><clause id="id683ee22f39494132994517e0bcf9b574"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the hearings described in such paragraphs;</text></clause><clause id="idBD954018535F4EB39DF91AAC9C6E4BFD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>how the current health care system empowers and informs decision-making in advance of a health care crisis;</text></clause><clause id="idcc00b0068bbd4e109541559fcb90305a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>factors that contribute to the provision of health care that does not adhere to patient wishes;</text></clause><clause id="id895dc5ab95a343048ab3ff8539a21bbf"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the impact of care that does not follow patient choices, particularly at the end-of-life, on patients, families, providers, and the health care system;</text></clause><clause id="id4d2d5e2d4dbf41bf820b91d80fbf3f6b"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the laws surrounding advance care planning and health care decision-making including issues of portability, use, and storage;</text></clause><clause id="idbac59082e59f4d1081c03eb26be1949a"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>consumer-focused approaches to education of the American public about patient choices, care planning, and other end-of-life issues;</text></clause><clause id="idfa9bf10d267b411a95db77ff336a94da"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the role of care plans in health care decision-making;</text></clause><clause id="idd1b22c0d1cf741049a0bf5e92af7beee"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>the role of providers in ensuring patients receive the care they want;</text></clause><clause id="id2618e4eddce94d3f9c26fb7abc493ee8"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>the role of electronic medical records and other technologies in improving patient directed health care;</text></clause><clause id="id42d3eadaa9be482db0dda90a80bb7c4a"><enum>(x)</enum><text>the impact of social determinants on patient self-direction in health care services;</text></clause><clause id="id90d5600480fe4c659c604ca1f792e388"><enum>(xi)</enum><text>the use of culturally competent methods for health care decision-making;</text></clause><clause id="id55b6507e342648e69192dcf5531557d0"><enum>(xii)</enum><text>the sociological and psychological factors that influence patient self-determination; and</text></clause><clause id="idd532eb4db49b413498f2a86c4c348589"><enum>(xiii)</enum><text>the role of spirituality and religion in health care decision-making and end-of-life care;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3e260f4c19db4487b44003b24ff01793"><enum>(B)</enum><text>best practices from communities, providers, and payors that document patient wishes and provide health care that adheres to those wishes; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id80aef4c88c5a48a9ab45b98cbb44d883"><enum>(C)</enum><text>information on educating providers about health care decision-making and end-of-life issues.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0eaa080923714b59ad4b09f37b467be3"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Interim requirements</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of completion of the hearings, the Commission shall prepare and make available to the public through the Internet and other appropriate public channels, an interim set of recommendations on patient self-determination in health care and ways to improve and strengthen the health care system based on the information and preferences expressed at the community meetings. There shall be a 90-day public comment period on such recommendations.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6fdff6265dfa4e44b26437e5529c811c"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the expiration of the public comment period described in subsection (g)(6), the Commission shall submit to Congress and the President a final set of recommendations. The recommendations must be comprehensive and detailed. The recommendations must contain recommendations or proposals for legislative or administrative action as the Commission deems appropriate, including proposed legislative language to carry out the recommendations or proposals.</text></subsection><subsection id="id8b56465d9e8e47bbbb07fa0d8e7048dc"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Administration</header><paragraph id="id2e2141f5d816485e88915ba9eea650d6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Executive director</header><text>There shall be an Executive Director of the Commission who shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Commission in consultation with the members of the Commission.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id695577c0fced45dcae6abf7185a6df1b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Compensation</header><text>While serving on the business of the Commission (including travel time), a member of the Commission shall be entitled to compensation at the per diem equivalent of the rate provided for level IV of the Executive Schedule under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/5315">section 5315</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, and while so serving away from home and the member’s regular place of business, a member may be allowed travel expenses, as authorized by the chairperson of the Commission. For purposes of pay and employment benefits, rights, and privileges, all personnel of the Commission shall be treated as if they were employees of the Senate.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id65e6ad36c10047f9a2956cc5e7ebe3e3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Information from federal agencies</header><text>The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this section. Upon request of the Commission the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9b76d605767b4a298cac528b690619bd"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Postal services</header><text>The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4a933ffaadd54767bf146f7eeca8cab1"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Detail</header><text>Not more than 5 Federal Government employees employed by the Department of Labor, 5 Federal Government employees employed by the Social Security Administration, and 10 Federal Government employees employed by the Department of Health and Human Services may be detailed to the Commission under this section without further reimbursement. Any detail of an employee shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.</text></subsection><subsection id="idda4f78dd97314abcb7e9fb94f4395f00"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Temporary and intermittent services</header><text>The chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/3109">section 3109(b)</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.</text></subsection><subsection id="idc04e6a5491fe47f187517fb2a16048e7"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter during the existence of the Commission, the Commission shall report to Congress and make public a detailed description of the expenditures of the Commission used to carry out its duties under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id91f5daf8f3f648a59d1495cb659d3118"><enum>(m)</enum><header>Sunset of commission</header><text>The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 4 years after the date on which all the members of the Commission have been appointed under subsection (c)(1) and appropriations are first made available to carry out this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id89bcbf60ec514a8085f50e9ada349511"><enum>(n)</enum><header>Administration review and comments</header><text>Not later than 45 days after receiving the final recommendations of the Commission under subsection (h), the President shall submit a report to Congress which shall contain—</text><paragraph id="id5b9a28a01b7c46d5ba802b363bf80dc3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>additional views and comments on such recommendations; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf3d688ea61be4fad97dea879f1e11e30"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the President considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd7a800994ccc4d2197326a50da41727f"><enum>(o)</enum><header>Required congressional action</header><text>Not later than 45 days after receiving the report submitted by the President under subsection (n), each committee of jurisdiction of Congress, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, shall hold at least 1 hearing on such report and on the final recommendations of the Commission submitted under subsection (h).</text></subsection><subsection id="idf7e870fff5ba46b9aafc895f3595f6dc"><enum>(p)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><paragraph id="id02c9dc268af743eab5be5ec018fdf187"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 and 2015.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id79885c0c6f674ac9acd7877487e2c0ba"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report to the American people on patient directed health care</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated for the preparation and dissemination of the Report to the American People on Patient Directed Health Care described in subsection (g)(5), such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal year in which the report is required to be submitted.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="idA9DA1D0B86784ED0BA623139460F84F7"><enum>242.</enum><header>Expansion of the definition of inpatient hospital services for certain cancer hospitals</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1861(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395x">42 U.S.C. 1395x(b)(3)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idAC81AE498E3748748E5D6E8A2285AA7A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>(A)</quote> after <quote>(3)</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0AA56DBA13824C9DA9B21ECCC8A40B03"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon at the end; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8F28D84A4D144D64B091C27750E969E6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFC0EF45F60DE4BE2BDF63F74A4F31F0D" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="idB1C73DEE8B404410BF86AE69F2106878" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to a hospital that is described in section 1886(d)(1)(B)(v) and that, as of the date of the enactment of the <short-title>SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013</short-title>, is located in the same building, or on the same campus, as another hospital, items and services described in paragraphs (1) and (2) furnished on or after such date of enactment by the hospital described in such section or by others under arrangements with them made by the hospital;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id0560bf1e53c1486c998ea48e71082a7e"><enum>243.</enum><header>Quality measures for certain post-acute care providers relating to notice and transfer of patient health information and patient care preferences</header><subsection id="id6d688b7a09d3422d9fd3d10ea38d798b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Development</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the <quote>Secretary</quote>) shall provide for the development of one or more quality measures under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395">42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.</external-xref>) to accurately communicate the existence and provide for the transfer of patient health information and patient care preferences when an individual transitions from a hospital to return home or move to other post-acute care settings.</text></subsection><subsection id="id1c87344cc609422eb3e792a9896a1c40"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of measure developers</header><text>The Secretary shall arrange for the development of such measures by appropriate measure developers.</text></subsection><subsection id="ide86fc6ca400e448f9ddf6cdbfab77d47"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Endorsement</header><text>The Secretary shall arrange for such developed measures to be submitted for endorsement to a consensus-based entity as described in section 1890(a) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395aaa">42 U.S.C. 1395aaa(a)</external-xref>), as amended by section 208.</text></subsection><subsection id="idc7f16ad98d1d4b59a6e153b8bf5de44d"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Use of measures</header><text>The Secretary shall, through notice and comment rulemaking, use such measures under the quality reporting programs with respect to—</text><paragraph id="idF2DDFB4AF1274368A3A1FF84C4294293"><enum>(1)</enum><text>inpatient hospitals under section 1886(b)(3)(B)(viii) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ww">42 U.S.C. 1395ww(b)(3)(B)(viii)</external-xref>);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD769EF45F9D9482B86F6B0BFF3D5E5B0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>skilled nursing facilities under section 1888(e) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395yy">42 U.S.C. 1395yy(e)</external-xref>);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idAF440C686E5846FB8E07621B109F815C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>home health services under section 1895(b)(3)(B)(v) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395fff">42 U.S.C. 1395fff(b)(3)(B)(v)</external-xref>); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8C12B7CB46334488A41F0CB1253EDE6F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>other providers of services (as defined in section 1861(u) of such Act) and suppliers (as defined in section 1861(d) of such Act) that the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9F2538E84F734F4D8C757DB4DAB8FB1E"><enum>244.</enum><header>Criteria for medically necessary, short inpatient hospital stays</header><subsection id="id01BDBAB4BC8A4572ACACD1BC0E3DC14E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consult with, and seek input from, interested stakeholders to determine appropriate criteria for payment under the Medicare program under title VIII of the Social Security Act of an inpatient hospital admission that—</text><paragraph id="idF704C36A617144C3AA02C9EC2924A326"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is medically necessary; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8BD3FB390427497E9724B9B39205B116"><enum>(2)</enum><text>is an inpatient hospital stay that is less than two midnights, as described in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/412">section 412.3</external-xref> of title 42, Code of Federal Regulation, as finalized in the final rule published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in the Federal Register on August 19, 2013 (78 Federal Register 50496) entitled <quote>Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Fiscal Year 2014 Rates; Quality Reporting Requirements for Specific Providers; Hospital Conditions of Participation; Payment Policies Related to Patient Status</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idB02725917BDC4A578420B7302BC80C31"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Interested stakeholders</header><text>In subsection (a), the term <quote>interested stakeholders</quote> means the following:</text><paragraph id="idAB2291F815E947C4ACF9289647BAE4C1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Hospitals.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB3341173E50E40F2A4D8F9B77B069646"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Physicians</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id171CD3E1D5E14443AEB8A43D0A994A26"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Medicare administrative contractors under section 1874A of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395kk-1">42 U.S.C. 1395kk–1</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id467a7f0e95544c7fb3922c782e1cb9ea"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Recovery audit contractors under section 1893(h) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395ddd">42 U.S.C. 1395ddd(h)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3C50F99FB4964BE394D824D761F4EB64"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Other parties determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H4F35D371D9454CD698FFD68A5364AEC2"><enum>245.</enum><header>Transparency of reasons for
excluding additional procedures from the Medicare ambulatory surgical center (ASC) approved list</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1833(i)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395l">42 U.S.C. 1395l(i)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>In updating such lists for application in years beginning after December 31, 2014, for each procedure that was requested to be included on such lists during the public comment period but which the Secretary does not propose (in the final rule updating such lists) to so include, the Secretary shall describe in such final rule the specific safety criteria for not including such procedure on such lists.</quote>.</text></section><section id="id4EDFEC715BBA42F88EF5239FE3C2F2C8"><enum>246.</enum><header>Supervision in critical access hospitals</header><subsection id="id271CE2947F6E488899F1B32E4D81BD9F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>General supervision in critical access hospitals</header><text>Section 1834(g) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395m">42 U.S.C. 1395m(g)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1DE4905757814F01B9717A63382C0EFC" style="OLC"><paragraph id="id6648607001DD48F6845D600A677ADE0F"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Supervision</header><text>In the case of services furnished on or after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the level of supervision with respect to outpatient critical access hospital services shall be general supervision (as defined by the Secretary).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF5F242DDBA014C049486AC7269EE466A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Supervision of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs in critical access hospitals</header><text>Section 1861(eee)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395x">42 U.S.C. 1395x(eee)(2)(B)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>, or in the case of a critical access hospital, a physician, or (beginning on the date of enactment of the <short-title>SGR Repeal and Medicare Beneficiary Access Act of 2013</short-title>) a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or physician assistant (as such terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5)),</quote> after <quote>a physician</quote>.</text></subsection></section><section id="id673CBAC135B04B5BA16145EA93107B33"><enum>247.</enum><header>Requiring State licensure of bidding entities under the competitive acquisition program for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS)</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1847(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-3">42 U.S.C. 1395w–3(a)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3391ED359C2A4EE7B994AE6EC7E001BF" style="OLC"><subparagraph id="id70CBCED906D84549B7ACC6B06A8193E1"><enum>(G)</enum><header>Requiring State licensure of bidding entities</header><text>With respect to rounds of competitions beginning on or after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary may only accept a bid from an entity for an area if the entity meets applicable State licensure requirements for such area for all items in such bid.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="H21D5F23E3BFB4E1B875BCAB9B63645C2"><enum>248.</enum><header>Recognition of
attending physician assistants as attending physicians To serve hospice
patients</header><subsection id="HA26FA7684F554B6CB80C4F1D880C5C42"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Recognition of
attending physician assistants as attending physicians To serve hospice
patients</header><paragraph id="H1ED8335BCA9B4CFC8B69838FE8894C4C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 1861(dd)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(3)(B)) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="H7393D39566B1420B94438E80007A31C8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>or nurse</quote> and inserting <quote>, the nurse</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9CA44CB56A2548C7B0837AFEF61DF520"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>, or the physician assistant (as defined in such subsection)</quote>
after <quote>subsection (aa)(5))</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H992A7731E94148FCB0ABD1BBADC5AA2D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clarification of
hospice role of physician assistants</header><text>Section 1814(a)(7)(A)(i)(I)
of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395f">42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(A)(i)(I)</external-xref>) is amended by
inserting <quote>or a physician assistant</quote> after <quote>a nurse
practitioner</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H96CEB8AA2CEB4456811619E00D70F871"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and
services furnished on or after January 1, 2015.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id03E900F6A5FC4B7F8C862D418CC5F99A" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>249.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Remote patient monitoring pilot
projects</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id805017BFD3A849C9ADD0CEFFAA1194F1"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pilot projects</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9A1456A6307840E7B84E61E85151D6E5"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 9 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct pilot
projects under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for the purpose of
providing incentives to home health agencies to furnish remote patient
monitoring services that reduce expenditures under such title.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFAB7FCDBC10245EB807F7C024AED1FD6"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Site requirements</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3C9E1D20F21B41C5B31DFC1773D355A5"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Urban and Rural</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall conduct the pilot
projects under this section in both urban and rural areas.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0401A61F3F1D4CC481B7ED10302C197E"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Site in a small state</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall conduct at least 1 of
the pilot projects in a State with a population of less than 1,000,000.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA105E433343347AE86B07DD8681C3F03"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Medicare beneficiaries within the scope of
projects</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD7926394DCB64B858DEEEB28D4415E24"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
specify the criteria for identifying those Medicare beneficiaries who shall be
considered within the scope of the pilot projects under this section for
purposes of the application of subsection (c) and for the assessment of the
effectiveness of the home health agency in achieving the objectives of this
section.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9F0DC742D9304C9FAF54F668D308DE95"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The criteria specified under paragraph
(1)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id50756EA3313542E1A66B7CB69AD55912"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall include conditions and clinical
circumstances, including congestive heart failure, diabetes, and chronic
pulmonary obstructive disease, and other conditions determined appropriate by
the Secretary; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDFF53295CCED44FC88BD783A45804DE8"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may provide for the inclusion in the
projects of Medicare beneficiaries who begin receiving home health services
under title XVIII of the Social Security Act after the date of the
implementation of the projects.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id56BF0662E8E64096A5B0DBE223B868BA"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Incentives</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id55520AD800DA4F40A79206E6B0AD2649"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Performance targets</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall establish for each home
health agency participating in a pilot project under this section a performance
target using one of the following methodologies, as determined appropriate by
the Secretary:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5553D221C57E4DF1A09E086B21534C52"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Adjusted historical performance
target</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
establish for the agency—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id647D33FD0C944815BE2F855080AA2FFE"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a base expenditure amount equal to the
average total payments made under parts A, B, and D of title XVIII of the
Social Security Act for Medicare beneficiaries determined to be within the
scope of the pilot project in a base period determined by the Secretary;
and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6FBE2E4BA1454C858EA4E59E6750B350"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an annual per capita expenditure target for
such beneficiaries, reflecting the base expenditure amount adjusted for risk,
changes in costs, and growth rates.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF6F67BB1C66240CDA4D5A12AF797A96E"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Comparative performance
target</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall
establish for the agency a comparative performance target equal to the average
total payments made under such parts A, B, and D during the pilot project for
comparable individuals in the same geographic area that are not determined to
be within the scope of the pilot project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDA60E2E2B917452F83AE2EBB449D10AA"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Payment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary
shall pay to each home health agency participating in a pilot project a payment for each year under
the pilot project equal to a 75 percent share of the total Medicare cost
savings realized for such year relative to the performance target under
paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6E6456B4406D44C8889E63F06522B390"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation on expenditures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall limit payments under
this section in order to ensure that the aggregate expenditures under title
XVIII of the Social Security Act (including payments under this subsection) do
not exceed the amount that the Secretary estimates would have been expended if
the pilot projects under this section had not been implemented, including any
reasonable costs incurred by the Secretary in the administration of the pilot
projects.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2f2b91d6c40d44f4979923f0c30b00a9"><enum>(4)</enum><header>No duplication
in participation in shared savings programs</header><text>A home health agency
that participates in any of the following shall not be eligible to participate
in the pilot projects under this section:</text><subparagraph id="ida30dcdca4b9744cfa99ac945771ddfad"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A model tested or
expanded under section 1115A of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1315a">42 U.S.C. 1315a</external-xref>) that involves shared savings under title XVIII of such Act or
any other program or demonstration project that involves such shared
savings.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id474039eb4cdd463d8346449f0c6439f5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The independence
at home medical practice demonstration program under section 1866E of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395cc-5">42 U.S.C. 1395cc–5</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id65EFC3C335464EF6901FC7BEEA738D7A"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Waiver authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary may waive such provisions of
titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act as the Secretary determines to
be appropriate for the conduct of the pilot projects under this section.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA7A3DEF684374C498B4C283FE7E4A4E4"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date that
the first pilot project under this section is implemented, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report on the projects. Such report shall contain—</text><paragraph id="id5635bf6bc09f41178592b1fbca70ebce"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a detailed
description of the projects, including any changes in clinical outcomes for
Medicare beneficiaries under the projects, Medicare beneficiary satisfaction
under the projects, utilization of items and services under parts A,
B, and D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act by Medicare beneficiaries under the projects, and Medicare
per-beneficiary and Medicare aggregate spending under the projects;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC1E980ABBF92428083EA24AB6BAB87F2"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a detailed description of issues related to
the expansion of the projects under subsection (f);</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1D7233D438F74C538B25F0781716F01D"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recommendations for such legislation and
administrative actions as the Secretary considers appropriate; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0AC6930A1C4E4A3F8C1C0098DD983A0B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>other items
considered appropriate by the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2A127837C9314CD294CB084D5BD06714"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expansion</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary determines that any of the
pilot projects under this section enhance health outcomes for Medicare
beneficiaries and reduce expenditures under title XVIII of the Social Security
Act, the Secretary shall initiate comparable projects in additional
areas.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id239E24C11A2F4CC49D34C26570F5C76E"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Payments have no effect on other Medicare
payments to home health agencies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A
payment under this section shall have no effect on the amount of payments that
a home health agency would otherwise receive under title XVIII of the Social
Security Act for the provision of home health services.</text></subsection><subsection id="id574adc90acfb44918bbca6bb51bfb341"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Study and report on the appropriate valuation for remote patient monitoring services under the Medicare physician fee schedule</header><paragraph id="id98ADC6CB47154DCD84D7BFF4DCD2B837"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Study</header><text>The Secretary shall conduct a study on the appropriate valuation for remote patient monitoring services under the Medicare physician fee schedule under section 1848 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-4">42 U.S.C. 1395w–4</external-xref>) in order to accurately reflect the resources involved in furnishing such services.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id11C170752EDD43D9B38C2D5939172CC8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with such recommendations as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD2D6845DB3C7446480CE3CAB9E299A7D"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1AEAFD4C75EF4A5796749404D356F050"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Home health agency</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>home health agency</quote>
has the meaning given that term in section 1861(o) of the Social Security Act
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395x">42 U.S.C. 1395x(o)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfc4eecb359444c9e894e1642d1fc0dd9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Remote patient
monitoring services</header><subparagraph id="id7A2D4292A8884F19BC1F4CE5EF913D82"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The term <term>remote patient monitoring services</term>
means services furnished in the home using remote patient monitoring
technology which—</text><clause id="idC2B9EAA6F49D44489AD61A9CAF6EBDC2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall include patient monitoring or patient assessment; and</text></clause><clause id="id5D17285EBA914164B2E7EB7B79B2FE2C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may include in-home technology-based professional consultations,
patient training services, clinical observation,
treatment, and any additional services that utilize technologies
specified by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE508D3F2802F4A1BB4C21BEE88258CE7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>The
term <quote>remote patient monitoring services</quote> shall not include a
telecommunication that consists solely of a telephone audio conversation,
facsimile, or electronic text mail between a health care professional and a
patient.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb97b402d7c3d4c18a26211a76c47b6d3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Remote patient
monitoring technology</header><text>The term <term>remote patient monitoring
technology</term> means a coordinated system that uses one or more home-based
or mobile monitoring devices that automatically
transmit vital sign data or information on activities of daily living and may include responses to assessment questions collected on the
devices wirelessly or through a telecommunications connection to a server that
complies with the Federal regulations (concerning the privacy of individually
identifiable health information) promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as part of an established
plan of care for that patient that includes the review and interpretation of
that data by a health care professional.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idC22AF1B3021A4B26AB3F7BEAF801E4BF"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <quote>Secretary</quote> means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC5D9604FD5314CAD836F6131CCD3BA65"><enum>250.</enum><header>Community-Based Institutional Special Needs Plan Demonstration Program</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id59FD5F9AB4F540E88B8908EB710F1BF3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the <quote>Secretary</quote>) shall establish a Community-Based Institutional Special Needs Plan (CBI-SNP) demonstration program to prevent and delay institutionalization under Medicaid among targeted low-income Medicare beneficiaries.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC75EB09B40C344A4BB9B191DB05BB9C4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary shall enter into agreements with not more than 5 specialized MA plans for special needs individuals, as defined in section 1859(b)(6)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-28">42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(b)(6)(B)(i)</external-xref>), to conduct the CBI-SNP demonstration program. Under the CBI-SNP demonstration program, a targeted low-income Medicare beneficiary shall receive, as supplemental benefits under section 1852(a)(3) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-22">42 U.S.C. 1395w-22(a)(3)</external-xref>), long-term care services or supports that—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id98424B74FA844DDD9F5CE91E18780F5D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Secretary determines appropriate for the purposes of the CBI-SNP demonstration program; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id27CB9FF157E04641913CA7D60FA722EF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for which payment may be made under the State plan under title XIX of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396">42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.</external-xref>) of the State in which the targeted low-income Medicare beneficiary is located.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDDDF8F9E9F9B4FB2BA1104B9F280035F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligible plans</header><text>To be eligible to participate in the CBI-SNP demonstration program, a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals must—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id93D93CF2C48C40C0AEA72D04CA21976E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>serve special needs individuals (as defined in section 1859(b)(6)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-28">42 U.S.C. 1395w–28(b)(6)(B)(i)</external-xref>);</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id17804322DF3E4B8B84FBB07400BFB537"><enum>(2)</enum><text>have experience in offering special needs plans for nursing home-eligible, non-institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries who live in the community;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEB726638493F4DAAA8EA11E7A17D6858"><enum>(3)</enum><text>be located in a State that the Secretary has determined will participate in the CBI-SNP demonstration program by agreeing to make available data necessary for purposes of conducting the independent evaluation required under subsection (f); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFD27374422BB400FAC645C1FD723FA14"><enum>(4)</enum><text>meet such other criteria as the Secretary may require.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC227A419A0B84EB4A9A74BD9E1446298"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Targeted low-income Medicare beneficiary defined</header><text>In this section, the term <term>targeted low-income Medicare beneficiary</term> means a Medicare beneficiary who—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2422C6BA717E485DB40B452C839AE574"><enum>(1)</enum><text>is enrolled in a specialized MA plan for special needs individuals that has been selected to participate in the CBI-SNP demonstration program;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCD56133FFB6045F8B6984D4E875C9881"><enum>(2)</enum><text>is a subsidy eligible individual (as defined in section 1860D–14(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-114">42 U.S.C. 1395w-114(a)(3)(A)</external-xref>); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA2F6214D32DD4E0892E2BC33E770288D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>is unable to perform 2 or more activities of daily living (as defined in <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/26/7702B">section 7702B(c)(2)(B)</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9B8D9B616C1D41179C8FE7EFAA73ABEA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Implementation deadline; duration</header><text>The CBI-SNP demonstration program shall be implemented not later than January 1, 2016, and shall be conducted for a period of 3 years.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id71DF812CA83A42DD8DE630C22FE1024F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Independent evaluation and reports</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF94C32949CA241DCB07634024D55CC1E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Independent evaluation</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the completion of the CBI-SNP demonstration program, the Secretary shall provide for the evaluation of the CBI-SNP demonstration program by an independent third party. The evaluation shall determine whether the CBI-SNP demonstration program has improved patient care and quality of life for the targeted low-income Medicare beneficiaries participating in the CBI-SNP demonstration program. Specifically, the evaluation shall determine if the CBI-SNP demonstration program has—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id49FBCA1844314684BCE754178108A572"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reduced hospitalizations or re-hospitalizations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDB96461D7E5C4CCF8471259C905628B6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>reduced Medicaid nursing home facility stays; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAC8236FA0F1948F79D7B356CF74CC550"><enum>(C)</enum><text>reduced spenddown of income and assets for purposes of becoming eligible for Medicaid.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id77FA7333E4404CA3A6519048FC26D52B"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Not later than 3 years after the completion of the CBI-SNP demonstration program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1), together with such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDFD0755A96474581A05731230862DE89"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Funding</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idABF6ADAF3C0B4FD5A12F19E840E29BFC"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Funding for implementation</header><text>For purposes of carrying out the demonstration program under this section (other than the evaluation and report under subsection (f)), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395i">42 U.S.C. 1395i</external-xref>) and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395t">42 U.S.C. 1395t</external-xref>), in such proportion as the Secretary determines appropriate, of $3,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4AEF8F26C6874B3BB7C547C1D0A04050"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Funding for evaluation and report</header><text>For purposes of carrying out the evaluation and report under subsection (f), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under such section 1817 and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under such section 1841, in such proportion as the Secretary determines appropriate, of $500,000.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idEC3A7107558847DB931617968A3D4785"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Availability</header><text>Amounts transferred under paragraph (1) or (2) shall remain available until expended.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8BAD7A4E4B184E48BE704BB26AA31D0B"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Budget neutrality</header><text>In conducting the CBI-SNP demonstration program, the Secretary shall ensure that the aggregate payments made by the Secretary do not exceed the amount which the Secretary estimates would have been expended under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq., 1396 et seq.) if the CBI-SNP demonstration program had not been implemented.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id29C05AFE6C074D4496E410FDDE8B0BB8"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Paperwork Reduction Act</header><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">Chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to the testing and evaluation of the CBI-SNP demonstration program under this section.</text></subsection></section><section id="idde4b618246f0481e83ed2b32e1c6f112"><enum>251.</enum><header>Applying CMMI
waiver authority to PACE in order to foster
innovations</header><subsection id="id2e834c949c4c427bb63d39cb9a8bb9c0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>CMMI waiver
authority</header><text>Subsection (d)(1) of section 1115A of the Social
Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1315a">42 U.S.C. 1315a</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id83C40B8FF2BA453293D98D7B61535440"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(other than subsections (b)(1)(A) and (c)(5) of section 1894)</quote> after <quote>XVIII</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4F599D0870D94424A0FBE73F374FC5A5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and
1903(m)(2)(A)(iii)</quote> and inserting <quote>1903(m)(2)(A)(iii), and
1934 (other than subsections (b)(1)(A) and (c)(5) of such section)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0C7E1B58EC864D2DA51A16F02F960F6F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sense of the Senate</header><text>It is the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Health and Human Services should use the waiver authority provided under the amendments made by this section to provide, in a budget neutral manner, programs of all-inclusive care for the elderly
(PACE programs) with increased operational flexibility to support the ability of such programs to improve and innovate and to reduce technical and administrative barriers that have hindered enrollment in such programs.</text></subsection></section><section id="id46964085FDBE420593174A8FD63948C6"><enum>252.</enum><header>Improve and modernize Medicaid data systems and reporting</header><subsection id="id6F32C64695974D10A625AC15AD218FDC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement a strategic plan to increase the usefulness of data about State Medicaid programs reported by States to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The strategic plan shall address redundancies and gaps in Medicaid data systems and reporting through improvements to, and modernization of, computer and data systems. Areas for improvement under the plan shall include (but not be limited to) the following:</text><paragraph id="id9986EA9E42C044B3A8FEB2491A163F98"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The reporting of encounter data by managed care plans.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idB2EEB012488C4E35B613231C108C086F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The timeliness and quality of reported data, including enrollment data.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id18FD8AE532BF4ACE9B8F8E1A46248F24"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The consistency of data reported from multiple sources.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idCCAACABA99B14A9FA855B6C70C62BFDB"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Information about State program policies.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5E7186E9C86A4AE7AF93E140E67A83A7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Implementation status report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to Congress on the status of the implementation of the strategic plan required under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="ida8d85fb462ea4d3289a0344050f49c60"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the period of fiscal years 2015 through 2109, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection></section><section id="HCD0CB11CD6C244D49ECA5C656328A143"><enum>253.</enum><header>Fairness in
Medicaid supplemental needs trusts</header><subsection id="HD8F509FBCF954EC5A36EA26C1F1A5065"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1917(d)(4)(A)
of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396p">42 U.S.C. 1396p(d)(4)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting
<quote>the individual,</quote> after <quote>for the benefit of such individual
by</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3364C16FCD4A46D891B6472EEB30A7B7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall apply to trusts established on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6054582926664E47A3A005459191FA98"><enum>254.</enum><header>Helping Ensure Life- and Limb-Saving
Access to Podiatric Physicians</header><subsection id="HDFA36556D3BD4D8286BAC02CDE0BE2D4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Including
podiatrists as physicians under the Medicaid program</header><paragraph id="idF143C497D1F54DE68545BF750EA037AE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1905(a)(5)(A)
of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)(5)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by striking
<quote>section 1861(r)(1)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraphs (1) and (3)
of section 1861(r)</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3F49029B33824F308A11766AE89D40BC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF2814D0011A54921BA0EBE9572F4B3A4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to services
furnished on or after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H38A328E5379F48B3BBA6CF3A6167281F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Extension of
effective date for State law amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a State plan under title XIX
of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396">42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.</external-xref>) which the Secretary of
Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation in order for
the plan to meet the additional requirement imposed by the amendment made by
paragraph (1), the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with
the requirements of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet these
additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter
beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature
that begins after the date of enactment of this Act. For purposes of the
previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative
session, each year of the session is considered to be a separate regular
session of the State legislature.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H450F67777FFE4F9A940468DE908601A1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Modifications to
requirements for diabetic shoes to be included under medical and other health
services under Medicare</header><paragraph id="idB133AC53EF754FA7A1396F67059D360F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1861(s)(12)
of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395x">42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(12)</external-xref>) is amended to read as
follows:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H014E395A466C445B822A4772F46785B8" style="OLC"><paragraph id="HBC14C4AC085E49C38596A76C2A5BBE3A"><enum>(12)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">subject to section 4072(e) of the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, extra-depth shoes with inserts or custom
molded shoes (in this paragraph referred to as <quote>therapeutic
shoes</quote>) with inserts for an individual with diabetes, if—</text><subparagraph id="HEECA302A15234102B8AA81ECBE80D503"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the physician who
is managing the individual’s diabetic condition—</text><clause id="H44EBCE349B6E4B94B7D1D61ECA4F2F1D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>documents that the
individual has diabetes;</text></clause><clause id="HD3E7066CD3EF4506B300E20EB903AF55"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>certifies that
the individual is under a comprehensive plan of care related to the
individual’s diabetic condition; and</text></clause><clause id="H53CB3FE088B442EB99BF330BCA237D3C"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>documents
agreement with the prescribing podiatrist or other qualified physician (as
established by the Secretary) that it is medically necessary for the individual
to have such extra-depth shoes with inserts or custom molded shoes with
inserts;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB9E8C4F203144E9FB9236FD22B2D3AA0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the therapeutic
shoes are prescribed by a podiatrist or other qualified physician (as
established by the Secretary) who—</text><clause id="H5D33152EA6214C538CCE347CEE9F6F50"><enum>(i)</enum><text>examines the
individual and determines the medical necessity for the individual to receive
the therapeutic shoes; and</text></clause><clause id="H1B8CB1E036DB46C680BD16476A662CE1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>communicates in
writing the medical necessity to the physician described in subparagraph (A) for the individual to have therapeutic shoes along with findings that the
individual has peripheral neuropathy with evidence of callus formation, a
history of pre-ulcerative calluses, a history of previous ulceration, foot
deformity, previous amputation, or poor circulation; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H43AE764BBD3B4C11943A32836930D88B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the therapeutic
shoes are fitted and furnished by a podiatrist or other qualified supplier
(as established by the Secretary), such as a pedorthist or
orthotist, who is not the physician described in subparagraph (A) (unless the
Secretary finds that the physician is the only such qualified individual in the
area);</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDCCB378A088F436EA42B838BBF980E1D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with
respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2015.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HF8DA14A5EA0A4163820EC026902D01E1"><enum>255.</enum><header>Demonstration
program to improve community mental health services</header><subsection id="idD8B46B754881489CA2C91CE5B872DE82"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not
later than January 1, 2016, the Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this section as the <quote>Secretary</quote>), in coordination
with the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, shall award planning grants to not to exceed 10 States to
enable such States to carry out 5-year demonstration programs to improve the
provision of behavioral health services provided by certified community
behavioral health clinics in the State.</text></subsection><subsection id="id13B0116EA10A41BA84C15DA011145E55"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligibility</header><paragraph id="id4CF1EB66709B4EF39B490ED08AE0F6A5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Application</header><text>To
be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a State shall—</text><subparagraph id="id87825A2A295A4363BC69DB1E622CC001"><enum>(A)</enum><text>submit to the
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7C5CD6EE706F4095938DDAFD4C84BC1E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>certify to the
Secretary that behavioral health providers that are provided assistance under
the demonstration program meet the criteria for certified community behavioral
health clinics under subsection (c);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb3ed686b5e37422093b346f727320353"><enum>(C)</enum><text>conduct a financial assessment of the demonstration program to be carried out under the
grant by providing a detailed estimate of eligible clinics and Medicaid
expenditures over the entire projected period of the demonstration program;
and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id60FDC5E51B224846ABDE043E1EE27F3B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>comply with any
other requirement determined appropriate by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id686b0c83019e47e78114d8da72cde8ce"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Waiver of
Medicaid requirement</header><text>In approving States to conduct
demonstration programs under this section, the Secretary shall waive section 1902(a)(1) of the Social
Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396a">42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(1)</external-xref>) (relating to statewideness) as
may be necessary to conduct the demonstration program in accordance with the
requirements of this section</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6455DD712C6247AC885857FCC499474D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Criteria</header><paragraph id="idD878B4DEAC0A48B5866C0D6C9ADF2B7C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Criteria for certified community behavioral health clinics</header><text>The
criteria referred to in subsection (b)(1)(B) are that the center performs each of
the following:</text><subparagraph id="id813970D98B364F9EBD3B633E4D0EA635"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Provide services
in locations that ensure services will be available and accessible promptly and
in a manner which preserves human dignity and assures continuity of
care.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id16EC26EACA2741AAAA4701CC68E754E5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Provide services
in a mode of service delivery appropriate for the target population.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id532A037A283A4999A5252BBBA1E315FB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Provide
individuals with a choice of service options, including developmentally
appropriate evidence based interventions, where there is more than one
efficacious treatment.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5FD976D31CAB48E29026D5190301FCA2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Employ a core
clinical staff that is trained to provide evidence-based practices and is
multidisciplinary and culturally and linguistically competent, including the
availability of translation or similar services and arrangements if the clinic
is located in a geographic area of limited English-speaking ability.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id60CA6E387CCC405F8F17576C4D87BDE5"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Establish an
emergency plan to support continuity of services for individuals during an
emergency or disaster.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id67904DE08A72413C9468449518B7AEFE"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Demonstrate the
capacity to comply with behavioral health and related health care quality
measures promulgated by such entities as the National Quality Forum, the
National Committee for Quality Assurance, or other nationally recognized
accrediting bodies.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idD0B532CFD3434D5D92F466BF9B70B8C0"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Provide services
to any individual residing or employed in the service area of the clinic and
ensure that no patient or consumer will be denied mental health or other health
care services due to an individual’s inability to pay for such services.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFC99FC12548C4CADBD7A66C04697BC31"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Ensure that any
fees or payments required by the clinic for such services will be imposed for individuals eligible for medical assistance under the State Medicaid plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act in accordance with the requirements of such State plan and for any other individuals will be reduced or
waived to enable the clinic to comply with subparagraph (G), including
preparing a schedule of fees or payments for the provision of services that is
consistent with locally prevailing rates or charges designed to cover the
reasonable costs to the clinic of operation along with a corresponding schedule
of discounts to be applied to the payment of such fees or payments, such
discounts to be adjusted on the basis of the patient’s ability to pay.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3EE0A088636E43119ED2A030F4F64A0D"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Report required
encounter data, clinical outcomes data, and quality data.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0F25FCFA7E324A33BBF507711633D177"><enum>(J)</enum><text>Provide, directly
or through contract, to the extent covered for adults in the State Medicaid
plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act and for children in accordance
with section 1905(r) of such Act regarding early and periodic screening,
diagnosis, and treatment, each of the following services:</text><clause id="idC8271F75E2244623BA45D0E451F9AE50"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Screening,
assessment, and diagnosis, including risk assessment.</text></clause><clause id="idC27837556E0C4A8EA5E4D49C32ECFB9C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Person-centered
treatment planning or similar processes, including risk assessment and crisis
planning.</text></clause><clause id="idAC198B70E16A486E87DFF172DAFF33DA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Outpatient
mental health and substance use services, including screening, assessment,
diagnosis, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, applied behavioral
analysis, medication management, and integrated treatment for trauma, mental
illness, and substance abuse which shall be evidence-based (including cognitive
behavioral therapy, long acting injectable medications, and other such
therapies which are evidence-based).</text></clause><clause id="id931E89D0327C4C9DBC0FE42CC9E4D228"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Outpatient
clinic primary care screening and monitoring of key health indicators and
health risk (including screening for diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular
disease and monitoring of weight, height, body mass index (BMI), blood
pressure, blood glucose or HbA1C, and lipid profile).</text></clause><clause id="idF9A02FF73B4F46BE9400E91E5AC6A36E"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Crisis mental
health services, including 24-hour mobile crisis teams, emergency crisis
intervention services, and crisis stabilization.</text></clause><clause id="id86E1A8443A8945F988632DA7BCE3E2F7"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Targeted case
management (services to assist individuals gaining access to needed medical,
social, educational, and other services and applying for income security and
other benefits to which they may be entitled), and care coordination.</text></clause><clause id="idAFD0AFC1CA7743489BFB5E2EB0AA728D"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>Psychiatric
rehabilitation services including skills training, assertive community
treatment, family psychoeducation, disability self-management, supported
employment, supported housing services, therapeutic foster care services, and
such other evidence-based practices as the Secretary may require.</text></clause><clause id="id69410E07795F4870BEC10711C93A4C91"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>Peer support
and counselor services and family supports.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id62FF989B68224526BBF4ED0B1E51D0EC"><enum>(K)</enum><text>Maintain
linkages, and where possible enter into formal contracts, agreements, or
partnerships with at least one federally qualified health center, unless there
is no such center serving the service area, in order to ensure that the
delivery of behavioral health care is integrated with primary and preventive
care services, so long as such linkages, contract, agreement, or partnership
meets requirements as prescribed by the Secretary;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id73CBDA4098534554BDACB4D65DF6A2CB"><enum>(L)</enum><text>Maintain
additional linkages and where possible enter into formal contracts with the
following:</text><clause id="id94AC818EBBB64139AC48B17D52136AA5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Inpatient
psychiatric facilities and substance use detoxification, post-detoxification
step-down services, and residential programs.</text></clause><clause id="id93E3809EAE5E47399680C4AD9402DD90"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Adult and youth
peer support and counselor services.</text></clause><clause id="idE3BA4D95AED4423DAB2B2ABDD267BB92"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Family support
services for families of children with serious mental or substance use
disorders.</text></clause><clause id="idAA47A84A02C4454CB19CA724DE88464E"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Other community
or regional services, supports, and providers, including schools, child welfare
agencies, juvenile and criminal justice agencies and facilities, Indian Health
Service youth regional treatment centers, housing agencies and programs,
employers, State licensed and nationally accredited child placing agencies for
therapeutic foster care service, and other social and human services.</text></clause><clause id="id5486CA180AA54C15B75E9E7F76343959"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Onsite or offsite
access to primary care services.</text></clause><clause id="id7FC457EB99BB4919ABF9EA5108277D50"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>Enabling
services, including outreach, transportation, and translation.</text></clause><clause id="idA837E27B811445EF9EEB254B3A55C164"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>Health and
wellness services, including services for tobacco cessation.</text></clause><clause id="id23C364C54F284822989CF9D4E34C9945"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>Department of
Veterans Affairs medical centers, independent outpatient clinics, drop-in
centers, and other facilities of the Department as defined in section 1801 of
title 38, United States Code.</text></clause><clause id="id4407445715D04860B60968995E5C22EF"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>Inpatient acute
care hospitals and hospital outpatient clinics.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE00FE0391FCD4C0A89EAF2B34AF27C9C"><enum>(M)</enum><text>Where feasible,
provide outreach and engagement to encourage individuals who could benefit from
mental health care to freely participate in receiving the administrative
services described in this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAB0D5FC20C7C441B8341EAA179AA9A81"><enum>(N)</enum><text>Where feasible,
provide intensive, community-based mental health care for members of the armed
forces and veterans, particularly those members and veterans located in rural
areas, such care to be consistent with minimum clinical mental health
guidelines promulgated by the Veterans Health Administration including clinical
guidelines contained in the Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook of such
Administration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC0EF9B044D8543C8AAB689B3B1CA754C"><enum>(O)</enum><text>Where feasible,
require certified community behavioral health clinics to provide valid and
reliable trauma screening and functional or developmental assessment to
determine need, match services to needs, and to measure progress over
time.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id76D79FA6AA1F4B49AF134D771DD8F912"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prior to the selection of participating States, and not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the State Mental Health and Substance Abuse Authorities, shall issue final regulations for certifying non-profit and local government behavioral health authorities and Indian Health Service tribal facilities as community behavioral health clinics.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id6B8042A858AD41FA95CF08706C783885"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>In
awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id6A8162A4CB354486BFD55C1358C833B5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>ensure the
geographic diversity of grantee States;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id5B3362A449E84FCFADC48808567E34C2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>ensure that
certified community behavioral health clinics in such States that are located
in rural areas, as defined by the Secretary, and other mental health
professional shortage areas are fairly and appropriately considered with the
objective of facilitating access to mental health services in such
areas;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id1219694A34754540AE99BA7953353E6F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>take into account
the ability of clinics in such States to provide required services, and the
ability of such clinics to report required data as required under this section;
and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id1534EE28E4014678B557108D0C84B684"><enum>(4)</enum><text>take into account
the ability of such States to provide such required services on a statewide
basis.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6892871eb72649f6b9cceeb64df37394"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Exemption</header><text>For
purposes of this section, certified community behavioral health clinics that
receive payments under section 1902(bb) of the Social Security Act which are
located in rural areas, as defined by the Secretary, shall be exempt from the
requirements contained in subparagraphs (A) and (J)(v) of subsection (c)(1).</text></subsection><subsection id="id1C47A046E1644E5DAA7EDEF863C4B4C9"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Treatment of
certain services provided by community behavioral health clinics as medical
assistance</header><paragraph id="idC84F974C281B4F9F8AD1A7D4D3DFA948"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>For purposes of the demonstration program under this
section, community behavioral health clinic services (as defined in subsection
(h)(1)) that are provided by certified community behavioral health clinics
receiving assistance under this section shall be considered medical assistance
for purposes of payments to States under paragraph (3)(C).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE70FF05A2CF04B56AC6AA0D1F77FF1D9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Grant
condition</header><text>As a condition of receiving a grant under this section,
a State shall agree to provide for payment for community behavioral health
clinic services in accordance with the prospective payment system established
by the Secretary under paragraph (3).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id359842CE660142C79191B1D95AB3B8D8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Prospective
payment system</header><subparagraph id="id78855BD0DB7E491F9A8A3E14D6F4FFF6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall establish a prospective payment system for
community behavioral health clinic services furnished by a community behavioral
health clinic receiving assistance under this section in the same manner as
payments are required to be made under section 1902(bb) of the Social Security
Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396a">42 U.S.C. 1396a(bb)</external-xref>) for services described in section 1905(a)(2)(C) of
such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d(a)(2)(C)</external-xref>) furnished by a Federally-qualified health
center and services described in section 1905(a)(2)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1396d(a)(2)(B)) furnished by a rural health clinic.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE0B3D62BA7604D049957B97080E15117"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The
prospective payment system established by the Secretary under subparagraph (A)
shall provide that—</text><clause id="idAA371961B64145339CDC91FF2BBD1EBE"><enum>(i)</enum><text>no
payment shall be made for inpatient care, residential treatment, room and board
expenses, or any other non-ambulatory services, as determined by the Secretary;
and</text></clause><clause id="id2321B1671E874F388FB2DB3FB7AC665D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>no
payment shall be made to satellite facilities of community behavioral health
clinics if such facilities are established after the date of enactment of this
Act.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idFE18238A56AE47A9B30AB33707CA919F"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Payments to
states</header><text>The Secretary shall pay each State awarded a grant under
this section an amount each quarter equal to the enhanced FMAP (as defined in
section 2105(b) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1397dd">42 U.S.C. 1397dd(b)</external-xref>) but without
regard to the second and third sentences of that section) of the State's
expenditures in the quarter for medical assistance for community behavioral
health clinic services provided by certified community behavioral health
clinics in the State that receive assistance under this section. Payments to
States made under this subparagraph shall be considered to have been under, and
are subject to the requirements of, section 1903 of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396b).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8257976e0674480a8d5d362e0e767b61"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Annual
report</header><paragraph id="id76C6FA92A2FD4A51A38FA7ED6FF95FBA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date on which the first
grants are awarded under this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress an annual report on the use of funds provided under
the demonstration program. Each such report shall include—</text><subparagraph id="id7ad5b24d39af4c0a885d80df58ab294e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an assessment of
access to community-based mental health services under the Medicaid program in
the States awarded such grants;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id068ed2344a894b1880b0018cfbee8edf"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an assessment of
the quality and scope of services provided by certified community behavioral
health clinics under the grants as compared against community-based mental
health services provided in States that are not receiving such grants;
and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide1f005b1b6c04269b245317fef7c30ca"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an assessment of
the impact of the demonstration programs on the costs of a full range of mental
health services (including inpatient, emergency and ambulatory
services).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd4a8c987cc6d4f0a82f9b445d5dc3b7c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>Not
later than December 31, 2019, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
recommendations concerning whether the demonstration programs under this
section should be continued and expanded on a national basis.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id866A4BF416AA479D867ED4409CFA9146"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In
this section:</text><paragraph id="idF3E372F4C3FA484E80CF7FB3AC284E90"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Community
behavioral health clinic services</header><text>The term <term>community
behavioral health clinic services</term> means ambulatory behavioral health
services of the type described in subparagraphs (J), (M), (N), and (O) of
subsection (c)(1) that are provided by certified community behavioral
health clinics receiving assistance under this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id68102517E9CA426B83A2F70B54ED2C91"><enum>(2)</enum><header>State</header><text>The
term <term>State</term> has the meaning given such term for purposes of title
XIX of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396">42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE3EC177471064DCAA98BDEC4BCD12A08"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section,
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2016, to remain available until expended.</text></subsection></section><section id="id17260AB068F149119A382D7A499F9E17"><enum>256.</enum><header>Annual Medicaid DSH report</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1923 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396r-4">42 U.S.C. 1396r–4</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0C38097629A047F3A0333C6F1D028FB4" style="OLC"><subsection id="idBB99E1E05237408A8CA37662CE796644"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Annual report to Congress</header><paragraph id="idfd1698006d174f03a1036b007d82d767"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning January 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the program established under this section for making payment adjustments to disproportionate share hospitals for the purpose of providing Congress with information relevant to determining an appropriate level of overall funding for such payment adjustments during and after the period in which aggregate reductions in the DSH allotments to States are required under paragraphs (7) and (8) of subsection (f).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id923f6a9f47e04b5391932beb712c9d54"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Required report information</header><text>Except as otherwise provided, each report submitted under this subsection shall include the following:</text><subparagraph id="idc1d9b601e2eb4d5680c7cf5f2720e65f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Information and data relating to changes in the number of uninsured individuals for the most recent year for which such data are available as compared to 2013 and as compared to the Congressional Budget Office estimates of uninsured individuals made at the time of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/148">Public Law 111–148</external-xref>) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/111/152">Public Law 111–152</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id70e1457229fa45539a18f1f79d2a7a35"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Information and data relating to the extent to which hospitals continue to incur uncompensated care costs from providing unreimbursed or under-reimbursed services to individuals who either are eligible for medical assistance under the State plan under this title or under a waiver of such plan or who have no health insurance (or other source of third party coverage) for such services.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0012163cc7314cdc919029bb6e486c32"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Information and data relating to the extent to which hospitals continue to provide charity care and unreimbursed or under-reimbursed services, or otherwise incur bad debt, under the program established under this title, the State Children's Health Insurance Program established under title XXI, and State or local indigent care programs, as reported on cost reports submitted under title XVIII or such other data as the Secretary determines appropriate.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id365FBD7B60114C4498EA894171AB414A"><enum>(D)</enum><text>In the first report submitted under this section, a methodology for estimating the amount of unpaid patient deductibles, copayments and coinsurance incurred by hospitals for patients enrolled in qualified health plans through an American Health Benefits Exchange, using existing data and minimizing the administrative burden on hospitals to the extent possible, and in subsequent reports, data regarding such uncompensated care costs collected pursuant to such methodology.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1333c5c7027b476cbc0c62ca21c715a1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>For each State, information and data relating to the difference between the DSH allotment for the State for the fiscal year that began on October 1 of the year preceding the year in which the report is submitted and the aggregate amount of uncompensated care costs for all disproportionate share hospitals in the State.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id21FF4D5C488B497180FBA224EA4DC788"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Information and data relating to the extent to which there are certain vital hospital systems that are disproportionately experiencing high levels of uncompensated care and that have multiple other missions, such as a commitment to graduate medical education, the provision of tertiary and trauma care services, providing public health and essential community services, and providing comprehensive, coordinated care.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4255677F542B44B5B54DB5A8FC40CCCE"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Such other information and data relevant to the determination of the level of funding for, and amount of, State DSH allotments as the Secretary determines appropriate</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id19EEC770EADA45DFA9AED1003B9818C0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the period of fiscal years 2015 through 2109, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section id="idBE23A4B0859147B68E08CC3D01BE96AC"><enum>257.</enum><header>Implementation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">To the extent the Secretary of Health and Human Services issues a regulation to carry out the provisions of this Act, the Secretary shall, unless otherwise specified in this Act—</text><paragraph id="idA7E2CD9854484C6D939BC56377EFF408"><enum>(1)</enum><text>issue a notice of proposed rulemaking that includes the proposed regulation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idD436E90A279F44DBBFAAFD72E723BC3A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide a period of not less than 60 calendar days for comments on the proposed regulation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id856A2C2DE92046E493B252CBBF2EDA34"><enum>(3)</enum><text>not more than 24 months following the date of publication of the proposed rule, publish the final regulation or take alternative action (such as withdrawing the rule or proposing a revised rule with a new comment period) on the proposed regulation; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id73F0AE6EE1B14C33BDAEC5FCB86ACE9F"><enum>(4)</enum><text>not less than 30 days before the effective date of the final regulation, publish the final regulation or take alternative action (such as withdrawing the rule or proposing a revised rule with a new comment period) on the proposed regulation.</text></paragraph></section></subtitle>December 19, 2013Read twice and placed on the calendar