[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4492 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4492

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the budget 
neutrality adjustment factor used in calculating the blended capitation 
                rate for Medicare+Choice organizations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 6, 1998

 Mr. Nussle (for himself, Ms. Hooley of Oregon, Mr. Poshard, Mr. Smith 
 of Oregon, Mr. Leach, Mr. Ganske, Mr. Barrett of Nebraska, Ms. Dunn, 
 Mr. McGovern, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Barrett of Wisconsin, Mr. 
Oberstar, Mr. McDermott, and Ms. Furse) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition 
     to the Committee on 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 concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the budget 
neutrality adjustment factor used in calculating the blended capitation 
                rate for Medicare+Choice organizations.

    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 ``Medicare Health Plan Fair Payment 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF BUDGET NEUTRALITY ADJUSTMENT FACTOR IN 
              CALCULATING THE BLENDED CAPITATION RATE FOR 
              MEDICARE+CHOICE ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1853(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w-23(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking the comma at the end 
        of clause (ii) and all that follows before the period at the 
        end; and
            (2) by striking paragraph (5) and redesignating paragraphs 
        (6) and (7) as paragraphs (5) and (6) respectively.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 1853(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1395w-23(c)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) in the matter proceeding 
                subparagraph (A), by striking ``(6)(C) and (7)'' and 
                inserting ``(5)(C) and (6)''; and
                    (B) in paragraphs (1)(B)(ii) and (3)(A)(i), by 
                striking ``(6)(A)'' and inserting ``(5)(A)''.
            (2) subsections (b)(3)(B)(ii) and (c)(3) of section 1859 of 
        such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-29) are each amended by striking 
        ``1853(c)(6).'' and inserting ``1853(c)(5).''
    (c) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 20 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall submit to Congress a legislative proposal that provides 
for aggregate decreases in Federal expenditures under the Medicare 
program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et 
seq.) that are equal to the aggregate increases in such expenditures 
under such program resulting from the amendments made by subsections 
(a) and (b).
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to payments made for periods beginning on or after January 1, 
1999.
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