[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 314 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 314

   To express the sense of the Senate regarding the authority of the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to make adjustments to payments 
     made to skilled nursing facilities under the Medicare Program.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             October 21 (legislative day, October 2), 1998

Mr. Hatch submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                          Committee on Finance

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                               RESOLUTION


 
   To express the sense of the Senate regarding the authority of the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to make adjustments to payments 
     made to skilled nursing facilities under the Medicare Program.

    Resolved, 

SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY, 
              COLLECTION OF DATA, AND REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    (a) Authority.--It is the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, in making payments under the prospective 
payment system for skilled nursing facilities pursuant to section 
1888(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395yy(e)), has the 
authority under section 1888(e)(4)(G)(i) of such Act to provide for an 
appropriate adjustment to account for case mix which reflects a 
patient's medical needs requiring the provision of non-therapy 
ancillary services (such as respiratory therapy, pharmacy, laboratory, 
X-ray, and parenteral and enteral services, and covered durable medical 
supplies).
    (b) Data.--It is the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services should gather sufficient data on the 
provision of non-therapy ancillary services by skilled nursing 
facilities that are paid under the prospective payment system pursuant 
to section 1888(e) of the Social Security Act in order to develop the 
appropriate adjustment for case mix under section 1888(e)(4)(G)(i) of 
such Act.
    (c) Report to Congress.--It is the sense of the Senate that the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services should periodically report to 
Congress on the development of the appropriate adjustment for case mix 
under section 1888(e)(4)(G)(i) of the Social Security Act which 
reflects a patient's medical needs requiring the provision of non-
therapy ancillary services.
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