[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 261 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 261

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                       October 6, 2005.
Whereas chemotherapy for cancer patients is primarily furnished in physician 
        offices and is therefore subject to the revised method for determining 
        payment amounts;
Whereas in 2005 the Medicare program instituted a demonstration project to 
        assess the quality of care for patients undergoing chemotherapy by 
        collecting data on the impact of chemotherapy on cancer patients' 
        quality of life;
Whereas the demonstration project is a strong effort to improve the quality of 
        cancer treatment by assessing pain, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue;
Whereas the demonstration project reflects a foundation to evaluate important 
        patient services moving forward;
Whereas payment amounts under the demonstration project have mitigated the 
        significant reductions in Medicare support for chemotherapy services 
        that would otherwise have gone into effect;
Whereas reports by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Medicare 
        Payment Advisory Commission regarding any adverse effects from the 
        changes in the reimbursement method for chemotherapy services are not 
        due until late 2005 and January 1, 2006;
Whereas the demonstration project achieves the concurrent objectives of 
        collecting data to improve the quality of cancer care and maintaining 
        financial support for cancer chemotherapy pending the completion and 
        review of studies on the recent reimbursement changes;
Whereas it may be possible to modify the demonstration project to collect 
        additional or different data elements that would make it even more 
        useful in enhancing the quality of cancer care; and
Whereas it is essential that the access of Medicare cancer patients to 
        chemotherapy treatment be maintained and in the strong interest of 
        patients that the quality of their care be assessed and improved: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should extend 
        through 2006 the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of 
        care for patients undergoing chemotherapy, and then thoroughly review 
        the merits of the demonstration project;
            (2) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should use the 
        results of this demonstration project to develop a system to pay for 
        chemotherapy services under Medicare based on the quality of care 
        delivered and the resources used to deliver that care, including 
        physician performance;
            (3) the demonstration project should be modified to accumulate even 
        more useful data relating to the quality of care furnished to Medicare 
        patients with cancer, such as the clinical context in which chemotherapy 
        is administered, and patient outcomes; and
            (4) payments to physicians for participation in the demonstration 
        project should facilitate continued access of Medicare patients with 
        cancer to chemotherapy treatments of the highest quality.



            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.