[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1568 Introduced in House (IH)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 1568

     To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 
   restriction on coverage of periodic health examinations under the 
                           Medicare Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 24, 2001

   Mr. McDermott (for himself, Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mr. Kleczka, Mr. 
  Gilchrest, Mr. Frost, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Frank, Mr. Matsui, Mr. 
Brady of Pennsylvania, Mr. Wexler, Ms. Rivers, Mr. Bonior, Mr. Hinchey, 
Mr. Moakley, Mr. Evans, Mr. Boucher, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Clay, Ms. Carson 
   of Indiana, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Rush, Mr. Stark, Mr. Baldacci, Mr. 
   Sandlin, Mrs. Thurman, Mr. LaFalce, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Stupak, Mr. 
Kildee, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Hilliard, 
  and Mr. Moran of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Energy and 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 title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 
   restriction on coverage of periodic health examinations under the 
                           Medicare Program.

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

SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF MEDICARE RESTRICTION ON COVERAGE OF PERIODIC 
              HEALTH EXAMINATIONS.

    (a) Coverage.--Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 395x(s)(2)), as amended by sections 102(a) and 105(a) of the 
Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act 
of 2000, as enacted into law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106-554, 
is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (U), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (V), by inserting ``and'' at the end; 
        and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(W) periodic health examinations (as defined in 
                subsection (vv));''.
    (b) Services Described.--Section 1861 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x), as amended by section 102(b) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and 
SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000, as enacted into 
law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106-554, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:

                     ``Periodic Health Examinations

    ``(vv) The term `periodic health examination' means a comprehensive 
examination performed by a physician conducted on a periodic basis, 
with the content and frequency determined by the physician, in 
accordance with regulations of the Secretary, with the goal of health 
promotion and disease detection. Such an examination includes--
            ``(1) a thorough history and physical examination;
            ``(2) a review of systems;
            ``(3) monitoring of chronic conditions;
            ``(4) counseling for risky behaviors;
            ``(5) appropriate referrals (including to cancer screening 
        interventions); and
            ``(6) ancillary services.''.
    (c) Payment as Physicians' Services.--Section 1848(j)(3) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting ``(2)(V),'' after 
``(2)(S),''.
    (d) Other Conforming Amendments.--Section 1862(a) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395y(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (H),
                    (B) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (I), and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
            ``(J) in the case of periodic health examinations, which 
        are performed more frequently than is covered under section 
        1861(vv);''; and
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``or (H)'' and inserting 
        ``(H), or (J)''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2002.
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