118 HR 6860 IH: Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act U.S. House of Representatives 2023-12-19 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.

I118th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 6860IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 19, 2023Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania (for himself, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Dunn of Florida, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Ruiz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and preserve the breadth of the protections under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act.

2.

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are the following: (1)To restore the MSPA’s protections for ESRD patients by ensuring that private health plans do not discriminate against such patients or adversely classify dialysis as compared to other covered medical services. (2)To prohibit health insurance plans from shifting primary responsibility for covering the cost of health care services needed by patients with ESRD to the Medicare program. (3)To affirm Congress’ intent by clarifying that singling out dialysis services for disfavored treatment through coverage limitations as compared to other covered health services constitutes inappropriate differentiations between the benefits provided to individuals having ESRD and other individuals, but does not change a plan’s current ability to limit which renal dialysis providers it includes in the provider network it elects to offer its enrollees.

3.

Clarification and preservation of prohibition under the Medicare program

Section 1862(b)(1)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(b)(1)(C)) is amended— (1)by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following new clause: (ii)may not differentiate, directly or indirectly, in the benefits it provides between individuals obtaining renal dialysis or having end stage renal disease and other individuals covered by such plan on the basis of— (I)the diagnosis of end stage renal disease; (II)the need for renal dialysis; or (III)in any other manner;; and (2)by adding at the end of the matter following clause (ii) the following new sentences: Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as requiring a group health plan to include a particular renal dialysis provider as part of the provider network the group health plan elects to offer its enrollees. The Secretary shall enforce this subparagraph consistent with the nonconformance determination requirements set forth in part 411 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations..