Parity in application of certain limits to mental health benefits

(a)

Amendment to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986

Section 9812(f)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 2007 and inserting 2008. (b)

Amendment to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974

Section 712(f) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1185a(f)) is amended by striking 2007 and inserting 2008. (c)

Amendment to the Public Health Service Act

Section 2705(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–5(f)) is amended by striking 2007 and inserting 2008.

Inclusion of Medicare Providers and Suppliers in Federal Payment Levy and Administrative Offset Program

(a)

In general

Section 1874 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395kk) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d)

Inclusion of Medicare provider and supplier payments in Federal Payment Levy Program

(1)

In general

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall take all necessary steps to participate in the Federal Payment Levy Program under section 6331(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as soon as possible and shall ensure that— (A)at least 50 percent of all payments under parts A and B are processed through such program beginning within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section; (B)at least 75 percent of all payments under parts A and B are processed through such program beginning within 2 years after such date; and (C)all payments under parts A and B are processed through such program beginning not later than September 30, 2011. (2)

Assistance

The Financial Management Service and the Internal Revenue Service shall provide assistance to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ensure that all payments described in paragraph (1) are included in the Federal Payment Levy Program by the deadlines specified in that subsection.

(b)

Application of administrative offset provisions to Medicare provider or supplier payments

Section 3716 of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1)by inserting the Department of Health and Human Services, after United States Postal Service, in subsection (c)(1)(A); and (2)by adding at the end of subsection (c)(3) the following new subparagraph:

(D)This section shall apply to payments made after the date which is 90 days after the enactment of this subparagraph (or such earlier date as designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services) with respect to claims or debts, and to amounts payable, under title XVIII of the Social Security Act.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Deposit of excess savings in PAQI Fund

(a)

In general

In addition to any amounts otherwise made available to the Physician Assistance and Quality Initiative Fund under section 1848(l)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(l)(2)), there shall be made available to such Fund— (1)$93,000,000 for expenditures during or after 2009; (2)$212,000,000 for expenditures during or after 2014; and (3)$44,000,000 for expenditures during or after 2018. (b)

Obligation

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for expenditures from the Fund specified in subsection (a) in a manner designed to provide (to the maximum extent feasible) for the obligation of the entire amount specified in— (1)subsection (a)(1) for payment with respect to physicians’ services furnished during or after January 1, 2009; (2)subsection (a)(2) for payment with respect to physicians’ services furnished on or after January 1, 2014; and (3)subsection (a)(3) for payment with respect to physicians’ services furnished on or after January 1, 2018.

Protection of Social Security

To ensure that the assets of the trust funds established under section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401) are not reduced as a result of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer from the general revenues of the Federal Government to those trust funds the following amounts: (1)For fiscal year 2008, $1,000,000. (2)For fiscal year 2009, $5,000,000. (3)For fiscal year 2010, $1,000,000.