[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1293 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1293

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a 2-year 
    moratorium on certain Medicare physician payment reductions for 
                 advanced diagnostic imaging services.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 1, 2007

 Mrs. McCarthy of New York (for herself, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Gene Green of 
 Texas, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Clay, Mr. Davis of 
   Kentucky, Mr. English of Pennsylvania, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Al Green of 
Texas, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. Gordon of Tennessee, Mr. Hall of Texas, 
 Mr. Hayes, Mr. Hinchey, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Sam Johnson of 
    Texas, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. McNulty, Mrs. Maloney of New York, Mr. 
    Marshall, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Tim Murphy of 
    Pennsylvania, Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Paul, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Price of 
Georgia, Mr. Ramstad, Mr. Reyes, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Shays, 
 Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Souder, Mr. Yarmuth, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Rothman, and Mr. 
   Becerra) 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 title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a 2-year 
    moratorium on certain Medicare physician payment reductions for 
                 advanced diagnostic imaging services.

    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 ``Access to Medicare Imaging Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. REDUCTION IN PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE TO OPD PAYMENT AMOUNT 
              LIMITED TO ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Section 1848(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w-4(b)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``imaging services,'' and 
        inserting ``advanced diagnostic imaging services''.
            (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``imaging services'' 
        and inserting ``advanced diagnostic imaging services''; and
            (3) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
                    ``(B) Advanced diagnostic imaging services 
                defined.--For purposes of subparagraph (A), advanced 
                diagnostic imaging services described in this 
                subparagraph shall be defined by the Secretary and 
                shall include only diagnostic magnetic resonance 
                imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), positron 
                emission tomography (PET), and nuclear cardiology 
                procedures.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to payment for items and services furnished on or after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. 2-YEAR MORATORIUM ON CERTAIN MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT 
              REDUCTIONS FOR ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SERVICES.

    (a) Moratorium.--No payment adjustment shall be made under 
subsections (b)(4)(A) or (c)(2)(B)(v)(II) of section 1848 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4) during the 2-year period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) GAO Study on Patient Access to Advanced Diagnostic Imaging 
Services.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall conduct a comprehensive study on patient access 
        and service issues relating to the availability and quality of 
        advanced diagnostic imaging services in physician offices and 
        freestanding clinics that would have resulted (but for 
        subsection (a)) from payment changes made by the amendments 
        made by section 5102(b) of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
            (2) Details.--Such study also shall examine--
                    (A) review application to multiple procedure 
                reductions and additional reductions associated with 
                changes in physician practice expense, with particular 
                attention to rural and medically underserved areas; and
                    (B) the appropriateness of using the hospital 
                outpatient department prospective payment system 
                methodology to set reimbursement under the Medicare 
                program for all advanced diagnostic imaging services, 
                regardless of site of service.
            (3) Report.--Not later than July 31, 2009, the Comptroller 
        General shall submit to each House of Congress and the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services a report on the study 
        under this subsection and shall include in the report such 
        recommendations regarding extending the moratorium imposed 
        under subsection (a) or such other changes in Medicare 
        reimbursement for advanced diagnostic imaging services as the 
        Comptroller General deems appropriate.
                                 <all>