[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2911 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2911

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make improvements in 
  the medicare competitive acquisition programs for certain items and 
                               services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 7, 2004

  Mr. Graham of Florida 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 make improvements in 
  the medicare competitive acquisition programs for certain items and 
                               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 Competitive Acquisition 
Improvement Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEDICARE COMPETITIVE ACQUISITION PROGRAMS 
              FOR CERTAIN ITEMS AND SERVICES.

    (a) Phased-In Implementation.--Section 1847(a)(1)(B)(i) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-3(a)(1)(B)(i)), as amended by 
section 302(b) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173; 117 Stat. 2224), is 
amended to read as follows:
                            ``(i) shall be phased in among competitive 
                        acquisition areas in a manner so that the 
                        competition under the programs occurs in--
                                    ``(I) 10 of the largest 
                                metropolitan statistical areas in 2005;
                                    ``(II) 50 of the largest 
                                metropolitan statistical areas in 2006;
                                    ``(III) 80 of the largest 
                                metropolitan statistical areas in 2007; 
                                and
                                    ``(IV) additional areas after 2007; 
                                and''.
    (b) Conditions for Awarding Contract.--Section 1847(b)(2)(A) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-3(b)(2)(A)), as amended by such 
section 302(b), is amended by adding at the end the following new 
clauses:
                            ``(v) The entity has an agreement in effect 
                        under section 1866 and has an active National 
                        Supplier Clearinghouse identification number.
                            ``(vi) The entity complies with all Federal 
                        and State licensure and regulatory 
                        requirements.
                            ``(vii) The entity is in compliance with 
                        all the provisions of title XI, this title, and 
                        title XIX, and any regulations relating 
                        thereto.
                            ``(viii) The entity has not been suspended 
                        within the 12 months preceding the date on 
                        which a bid is submitted by any DMERC antifraud 
                        unit for billing for items or services not 
                        furnished.''.
    (c) Report.--Section 1847(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395w-3(d)), as amended by such section 302(b), is amended by striking 
``July 1, 2009'' and inserting ``December 31, 2006''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect as if included in the enactment of such section 302(b).
                                 <all>