[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3481 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3481

   To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate cost-
     sharing under the Medicare Program for bone mass measurements.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 7, 2003

Mr. Lewis of Georgia 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 eliminate cost-
     sharing under the Medicare Program for bone mass measurements.

    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 ``Improved Access to Osteoporosis 
Testing Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF COST-SHARING FOR BONE MASS MEASUREMENTS.

    (a) Elimination of Coinsurance.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1833(a)(1)(N) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(N)) is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``other than bone mass measurement 
                described in section 1861(s)(15)'' after ``(as defined 
                in section 1848(j)(3))''; and
                    (B) by adding after the comma at the end the 
                following: ``and in the case of such services 
                consisting of such a bone mass measurement, the amounts 
                paid shall be 100 percent of such payment basis,''.
            (2) Elimination of coinsurance in outpatient hospital 
        settings.--The third sentence of section 1866(a)(2)(A) of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a)(2)(A)) is amended by 
        inserting after ``1861(s)(10)(A)'' the following: ``, with 
        respect to bone mass measurement (as defined in section 
        1861(rr)),''.
    (b) Waiver of Deductible.--The first sentence of section 1833(b) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' before ``(6)''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period at the end the 
        following: ``, and (7) such deductible shall not apply with 
        respect to bone mass measurement (as defined in section 
        1861(rr))''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2004.
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