[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1078 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1078

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
  of beta interferons approved by the FDA for self-administration for 
  treatment of multiple sclerosis under the Medicare program, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 28, 1995

 Mr. LaFalce introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Commerce and, in addition, to the Committees on Ways and 
 Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
  of beta interferons approved by the FDA for self-administration for 
  treatment of multiple sclerosis under the Medicare program, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Multiple Sclerosis Home Treatment 
Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. COVERAGE AND PAYMENT OF SELF-ADMINISTERED BETASERON UNDER 
              MEDICARE.

    Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(s)(2)) is amended--
            (1) By striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (P);
            (2) By striking the period at the end of subparagraph (Q) 
        and adding in lieu thereof, ``; and''; and
            (3) By adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(R) beta interferons approved by the Food and Drug 
        Administration (FDA) for self-administration by patients with 
        multiple sclerosis competent to use such biological without 
        medical supervision with respect to the administration of such 
        biological, subject to methods and standards established by the 
        Secretary by regulation for the safe and effective use of beta 
        interferons.''

SEC. 3. REGULATIONS.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue final 
regulations setting forth standards and methods for safe and effective 
use of beta interferons for purposes of payments under section 2 of 
this Act. The Secretary shall issue such regulations not later than 150 
days after the date of enactment of this Act for any beta interferon 
approved by the FDA on or before the date of enactment of this Act, and 
not later than 60 days after the date of approval for any beta 
interferon approved by the FDA after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by section 2 of this Act shall apply to 
payments for items and services furnished on or after October 1, 1995.
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