[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2553 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2553

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
of screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms under part B of 
                         the medicare program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 21, 2004

Mr. Daschle (for Mr. Dodd (for himself and Mr. Bunning)) 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 screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms 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 ``Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms 
Very Efficiently Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF SCREENING ULTRASOUND FOR ABDOMINAL AORTIC 
              ANEURYSMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x), as amended by sections 611, 612, 613, 642, and 706 of the 
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 
(Public Law 108-173), is amended--
            (1) in subsection (s)(2)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (Y);
                    (B) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (Z); and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
            ``(AA) screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm 
        (as defined in subsection (bbb)) for an individual who has not 
        been previously furnished such a screening ultrasound and who--
                    ``(i) has a family history of abdominal aortic 
                aneurysm;
                    ``(ii) manifests risk factors for cardiovascular 
                disease (such as smoking or hypertension);
                    ``(iii) evidences arthrosclerotic vascular disease; 
                or
                    ``(iv) has other risk factors for abdominal aortic 
                aneurysm as the Secretary may specify;''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

          ``Screening Ultrasound for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

    ``(bbb) The term `screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic 
aneurysm' means--
            ``(1) a procedure using sound waves (or such other 
        procedures using alternative technologies, of commensurate 
        accuracy and cost, that the Secretary may specify) provided for 
        the early detection of abdominal aortic aneurysm, and
            ``(2) includes a physician's interpretation of the results 
        of the procedure.''.
    (b) Inclusion of Screening Ultrasound for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm 
in Screening Services for Which Education, Counseling, and Referral Is 
Provided for Under Benefits for Initial Preventive Physical 
Examination.--Section 1861(ww)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(ww)(2)), as added by section 611(b) of the Medicare Prescription 
Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173), 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(L) Screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm as 
        defined in section 1861(bbb).''.
    (c) Payment for Screening Ultrasound for Abdominal Aortic 
Aneurysm.--Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395w-4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting ``(2)(AA)'' after ``(2)(W)''.
    (d) Frequency and Quality Standards.--Section 1862(a)(1) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(1)), as amended by sections 303, 611, 612, and 
613 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization 
Act of 2003, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (L);
            (2) by striking the semicolon at the end of subparagraph 
        (M) and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(N) in the case of screening ultrasound for abdominal 
        aortic aneurysm--
                    ``(i) which is performed more frequently than is 
                provided for under section 1861(s)(2)(AA); or
                    ``(ii) which is performed by an individual or 
                diagnostic laboratory that does not meet quality 
                assurance standards established by the Secretary, 
                including with respect to individuals performing 
                screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm 
                (other than physicians) and diagnostic laboratories, 
                that the individual or laboratory is certified by the 
                appropriate State licensing or certification agency or, 
                in the case of service performed in a State that does 
                not license or certify such individuals or 
                laboratories, by a national certification or 
                accreditation organization recognized by the 
                Secretary.''.
    (e) Non-Application of Part B Deductible.--Section 1833(b) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after ``section 1861(jj)),''; and
            (2) by inserting ``, and (7) such deductible shall not 
        apply with respect to screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic 
        aneurysm (as defined in section 1861(bbb))'' after 
        ``1861(nn))''.
    (f) Consultation in Establishment of Quality Assurance Standards 
and Designation of Recognition of National Accreditation 
Organizations.--The Secretary shall consult with national medical, 
vascular technologist and sonographer societies in establishing--
            (1) risk factors under section 1861(s)(2)(A)(iv) of the 
        Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a)(1)(C), and
            (2) quality assurance standards under section 
        1862(a)(1)(N)(ii) of such Act, as added by subsection (d)(3).
    (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to screening ultrasounds for abdominal aortic aneurysm performed 
on or after January 1, 2005.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.

    (a) In General.--After consultation with national medical, vascular 
technologist, and sonographer societies, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall carry out a national education and information 
campaign to promote awareness among health care practitioners and the 
general public with respect to the importance of early detection and 
treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
    (b) Use of Funds.--The Secretary may use amounts appropriated 
pursuant to this subsection to make grants to national medical, 
vascular technologist, and sonographer societies (in accordance with 
procedures and criteria specified by the Secretary) to enable them to 
educate practitioners and providers about matters relating to such 
aneurysms.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal year 2005 and each fiscal year thereafter such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
                                 <all>