110 HR 1293 IH: Access to Medicare Imaging Act of U.S. House of Representatives 2007-03-01 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1293 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Access to Medicare Imaging Act of 2007.

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.

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.