[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2736 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2736

   To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit direct 
payment under the Medicare Program for clinical social worker services 
          provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 26, 2005

Mr. Stark (for himself, Mr. Leach, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Hinchey, 
Mr. McNulty, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Abercrombie, and Mr. Kildee) introduced 
  the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and 
 Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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 permit direct 
payment under the Medicare Program for clinical social worker services 
          provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities.

    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 ``Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity 
Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. PERMITTING DIRECT PAYMENT UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR 
              CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER SERVICES PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS OF 
              SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 1888(e)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395yy(e)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting ``clinical 
social worker services,'' after ``qualified psychologist services,''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1861(hh)(2) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(2)) is amended by striking ``and other than services 
furnished to an inpatient of a skilled nursing facility which the 
facility is required to provide as a requirement for participation''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2006.
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