[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3464 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3464

  To amend the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under the 
        Medicare Program of audiologic rehabilitation services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 6, 2003

  Mr. Inslee 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 the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under the 
        Medicare Program of audiologic rehabilitation services.

    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 Audiologic Rehabilitation 
Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF AUDIOLOGIC REHABILITATION SERVICES.

    (a) Expansion of Audiology Services.--Section 1861(ll)(2) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(2)) is amended by inserting 
``and such rehabilitation and treatment services'' after ``hearing and 
balance assessment services''.
    (b) Conforming Coverage Amendments.--
            (1) Coverage.--Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (U), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (V) by inserting ``and'' at the 
                end; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(W) audiology services (as defined in subsection 
                (ll)(2));''.
            (2) Payment.--Section 1848(j)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1395w-4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting ``(2)(W),'' after 
        ``(2)(S),''.
            (3) Exception from current exclusion for hearing aid 
        examinations.--Section 1862(a)(7) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1395y(a)(7)) is amended by inserting after ``hearing aids or 
        examinations therefor'' the following: ``(other than 
        rehabilitation and treatment services described in section 
        1861(ll)(2) whether furnished by an audiologist or a 
        physician)''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2004.
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