[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5017 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5017

  To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand 
 coverage of durable medical equipment to include physician prescribed 
  equipment necessary so unpaid caregivers can effectively and safely 
                           care for patients.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2000

    Mr. Brown of Ohio (for himself and Mr. Bilbray) 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 amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand 
 coverage of durable medical equipment to include physician prescribed 
  equipment necessary so unpaid caregivers can effectively and safely 
                           care for patients.

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

SECTION 1. EXPANDING MEDICARE COVERAGE OF DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO 
              INCLUDE PHYSICIAN PRESCRIBED EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO 
              ENSURE UNPAID CAREGIVERS CAN EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY CARE 
              FOR PATIENTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1861(n) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395x(n)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Such 
term includes equipment that is prescribed by a physician who is 
primarily reponsible for the ongoing care of the patient and that 
ensures that an unpaid caregiver can effectively and safely care for 
the patient.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies 
to equipment furnished on or after January 1, 2001.
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