II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1345 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 30, 2005 Mrs. Lincoln (for herself and Mr. DeWine) 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 eliminate cost-sharing under the medicare program for bone mass measurements.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Improved Access to Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2005.

2.

Elimination of cost-sharing for bone mass measurements

(a)

Elimination of coinsurance

(1)

In general

Section 1833(a)(1)(N) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(N)) is amended— (A)by inserting other than bone mass measurement described in section 1861(s)(15) after (as defined in section 1848(j)(3)); and (B)by adding after the comma at the end the following: and in the case of such services consisting of such a bone mass measurement, the amounts paid shall be 100 percent of such payment basis,. (2)

Elimination of coinsurance in outpatient hospital settings

The third sentence of section 1866(a)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after 1861(s)(10)(A) the following: , with respect to bone mass measurement (as defined in section 1861(rr)),. (b)

Waiver of deductible

The first sentence of section 1833(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)) is amended— (1)by striking and before (6); and (2)by inserting before the period at the end the following: , and (7) such deductible shall not apply with respect to bone mass measurement (as defined in section 1861(rr)). (c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2006.