[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3024 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3024

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
  of glaucoma detection services under part B of the medicare program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 11, 2000

  Mr. Robb (for himself, Mr. Chafee, and Mr. Moynihan) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                                Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
  of glaucoma detection services under part B of the medicare program.

    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 Glaucoma Detection Act of 
2000''.

SEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF GLAUCOMA DETECTION TESTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (s)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (S), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (T), by inserting ``and'' at 
                the end; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
            ``(U) glaucoma detection tests (as defined in subsection 
        (uu));''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

                       ``Glaucoma Detection Tests

    ``(uu) The term `glaucoma detection test' means all of the 
following conducted for the purpose of early detection of glaucoma:
            ``(1) A dilated eye examination with an intraocular 
        pressure measurement.
            ``(2) Direct ophthalmoscopy or slit-lamp biomicroscopic 
        examination.''.
    (b) Limitation on Eligibility and Frequency.--Section 1834 of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection:
    ``(m) Limitation on Coverage of Glaucoma Detection Tests.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        this part, with respect to expenses incurred for glaucoma 
        detection tests (as defined in section 1861(uu)), payment may 
        be made only for glaucoma detection tests conducted--
                    ``(A) for individuals described in paragraph (2); 
                and
                    ``(B) consistent with the frequency permitted under 
                paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Individuals eligible for benefit.--Individuals 
        described in this paragraph are as follows:
                    ``(A) Individuals who are 60 years of age or older 
                and who have a family history of glaucoma.
                    ``(B) Other individuals who are at high risk (as 
                determined by the Secretary) of developing glaucoma.
            ``(3) Frequency limit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), 
                payment may not be made under this part for a glaucoma 
                detection test performed for an individual within 23 
                months following the month in which a glaucoma 
                detection test was performed under this part for the 
                individual.
                    ``(B) Exception.--The Secretary may permit a 
                glaucoma detection test to be covered on a more 
                frequent basis than that provided under subparagraph 
                (A) under such circumstances as the Secretary 
                determines to be appropriate.''.
    (c) No Application of Deductible.--Section 1833(b)(5) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)(5)) is amended by inserting ``or with 
respect to glaucoma detection tests (as defined in section 1861(uu))'' 
after ``1861(jj))''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--Section 1862(a) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (I), by striking the semicolon 
                at the end and inserting ``, and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
            ``(J) in the case of glaucoma detection tests (as defined 
        in section 1861(uu)), which are furnished to an individual not 
        described in paragraph (2) of section 1834(m) or which are 
        performed more frequently than is covered under paragraph (3) 
        of such section;''; and
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``or (H)'' and inserting 
        ``(H), or (I)''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section apply to 
tests provided on or after January 1, 2001.
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