[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2741 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2741

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide a wage index 
 floor for hospitals and home health agencies located in certain areas 
                      under the Medicare Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 15, 2007

 Ms. Shea-Porter introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, 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 a wage index 
 floor for hospitals and home health agencies located in certain areas 
                      under the Medicare Program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FLOOR ON MEDICARE AREA WAGE INDEX FOR HOSPITALS AND HOME 
              HEALTH AGENCIES LOCATED IN CERTAIN AREAS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1886(d)(3)(E) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(3)(E)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new clause:
                    ``(iii) Fiscal year 2007 floor for certain areas.--
                            ``(I) In general.--Notwithstanding clause 
                        (i), in no case shall the area wage index for a 
                        hospital located in an area described in 
                        subclause (II) for discharges occurring on or 
                        after October 1, 2007, be less than the area 
                        wage index applicable to such hospital during 
                        fiscal year 2007.
                            ``(II) Area described.--An area described 
                        in this subclause is a rural area where at 
                        least 65 percent of the wages paid by all 
                        subsection (d) hospitals located in such area 
                        on October 1, 2006, not taking into account 
                        reclassifications or redesignations under 
                        paragraph (8) or (10), is attributable to wages 
                        paid by one hospital.
                            ``(III) Treatment as reclassification for 
                        budget neutrality.--Subclause (I) shall be 
                        treated as a decision of the Medicare 
                        Geographic Reclassification Review Board under 
                        paragraph (10).''.
    (b) Rural Floor for Home Health Agencies Located in Urban Areas.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1895(b)(4)(C) of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1395fff(b)(4)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following: ``In no case shall the area wage index for a home 
        health agency located in an urban area in New Hampshire be less 
        than the area wage index for a rural area in such State.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply to payment for episodes and visits ending on or 
        after January 1, 2008.
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