[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4016 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4016

To direct the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee to conduct a study on 
   reimbursement rates for physicians under the medicare program for 
      diagnosis, treatment, and management of Alzheimer's disease.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 2000

  Mr. Markey (for himself and Mr. Smith of New Jersey) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in 
    addition to the Committee 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 direct the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee to conduct a study on 
   reimbursement rates for physicians under the medicare program for 
      diagnosis, treatment, and management of Alzheimer's disease.

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

SECTION 1. MEDPAC STUDY ON MEDICARE PHYSICIAN REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR 
              ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

    (a) Study.--The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, established 
under section 1805 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395b-6), 
shall conduct a study of reimbursement rates under the medicare program 
(under title XVIII of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.)) to physicians 
for Alzheimer services, including a determination of the adequacy of 
such reimbursement rates. The study shall include the following 
analyses:
            (1) Comprehensive clinical assessments.--An analysis of 
        whether payment policy under the medicare program for Alzheimer 
        services encourages or discourages physicians to conduct 
        comprehensive clinical assessments for medicare beneficiaries 
        who exhibit symptoms of possible dementia.
            (2) Clinical practice guidelines.--An analysis of whether 
        payment policy under the medicare program encourages or 
        discourages physicians to provide diagnostic and management 
        services for Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia as 
        specified in generally accepted clinical practice guidelines 
        and protocols.
            (3) Ongoing physician consultation.--An analysis of whether 
        payment policy under the medicare program for Alzheimer 
        services encourages or discourages ongoing physician 
        consultation with the medicare beneficiary's caregivers, as 
        specified in generally accepted diagnosis and practice 
        guidelines.
            (4) Career choice.--An analysis of whether payment rates 
        under the medicare program for physicians encourages or 
        discourages physicians from choosing a career with a speciality 
        in the treatment and management of Alzheimer's disease and 
        related dementia.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``Alzheimer services'' means the evaluation, 
        diagnosis, and management of a medicare beneficiary with 
        Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, including ongoing 
        consultation between the physician and caregivers of the 
        beneficiary, consistent with generally accepted diagnosis and 
        practice guidelines.
            (2) The term ``medicare beneficiary'' means an individual 
        entitled to benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall submit to 
Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under this 
section, together with any recommendations for legislation that the 
Commission determines to be appropriate as a result of such study.
                                 <all>