II 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1593 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 29, 2005 Ms. Snowe (for herself and Mr. Bingaman) 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 enhance the access of Medicare beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits at Federally qualified health centers.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Medicare Payment Adjustment To Community Health Centers (PATCH) Act of 2005.

2.

Delivery of medicare-covered primary and preventive services at Federally qualified health centers

(a)

Coverage of medicare-Covered ambulatory services by FQHCs

Section 1861(aa)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(3)) is amended to read as follows: (3)The term Federally qualified health center services means— (A)services of the type described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1), and such other services furnished by a Federally qualified health center for which payment may otherwise be made under this title if such services were furnished by a health care provider or health care professional other than a Federally qualified health center; and (B)preventive primary health services that a center is required to provide under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, when furnished to an individual as a patient of a Federally qualified health center and such services when provided by a health care provider or health care professional employed by or under contract with a Federally qualified health center shall be treated as billable visits for purposes of payment to the Federally qualified health center.. (b)

Ensuring FQHC reimbursement for patients of hospitals and critical access hospitals under the hospital prospective payment system

Section 1862(a)(14) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)) is amended by inserting Federally qualified health center services, after qualified psychologist services,. (c)

Technical corrections

Clauses (i) and (ii)(II) of section 1861(aa)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(4)(A)) are each amended by striking (other than subsection (h)). (d)

Effective dates

The amendments made— (1)by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2006; and (2)by subsection (c) shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–299).