[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5916 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5916

 To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
for an increase in payment for physicians' services under the Medicare 
                       Program for 2007 and 2008.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2006

 Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Markey, 
 Mr. Boucher, Mr. Towns, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Rush, Ms. Eshoo, 
     Mr. Stupak, Mr. Engel, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. 
Strickland, Ms. DeGette, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Allen, Mr. Davis of 
   Florida, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Solis, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Inslee, Ms. 
    Baldwin, and Mr. Ross) 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 part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
for an increase in payment for physicians' services under the Medicare 
                       Program for 2007 and 2008.

    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 ``Patients' Access to Physicians Act 
of 2006''.

SEC. 2. MINIMUM UPDATE FOR PHYSICIANS' SERVICES FOR 2007 AND 2008.

    (a) In General.--Section 1848(d) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w-4(d)), as amended by section 5104 of the Deficit Reduction 
Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-171), is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(7) Updates for 2007 and 2008.--
                    ``(A) For 2007.--The update to the single 
                conversion factor established in paragraph (1)(C) for 
                2007 shall not be less than 1 plus the Secretary's 
                estimate of the percentage increase in the MEI (as 
                defined in section 1842(i)(3)) for the year (divided by 
                100).
                    ``(B) For 2008.--The update to the single 
                conversion factor established in paragraph (1)(C) for 
                2008 shall not be less than 1 plus the Secretary's 
                estimate of the percentage increase in the MEI (as 
                defined in section 1842(i)(3)) for the year (divided by 
                100).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1848(d)(4)(B) of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w-4(d)(4)(B)) is amended, in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by striking ``paragraphs (5) and (6)'' and inserting ``paragraphs 
(5), (6), and (7)''.
    (c) Premium Transition Rule.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law--
            (1) Premium.--The monthly premium under section 1839 of the 
        Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r) for months in 2007 and 
        2008 shall be computed as if this section had not been enacted.
            (2) Government contribution.--The Government contribution 
        under section 1844(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1395w(a)) for months in 2007 and 2008 shall be computed taking 
        into account the provisions of this section, including 
        paragraph (1).
                                 <all>