110 HR 2741 IH: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to U.S. House of Representatives 2007-06-15 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. 2741 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.

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.