[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4848 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4848

 To extend for one year parity in the application of certain limits to 
            mental health benefits, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 19, 2007

Mr. Pallone (for himself and Mr. Stark) introduced the following bill; 
  which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
 addition to the Committees on Ways and Means and Education and Labor, 
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 extend for one year parity in the application of certain limits to 
            mental health benefits, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. 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''.

SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF MEDICARE PROVIDERS IN FEDERAL PAYMENT LEVY AND 
              ADMINISTRATIVE OFFSET PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Part E of title XVIII of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395x et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section:

   ``inclusion of medicare provider payments in federal payment levy 
                                program

    ``Sec. 1898.  (a) 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--
            ``(1) 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;
            ``(2) 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
            ``(3) all payments under parts A and B are processed 
        through such program beginning not later than September 30, 
        2011.
    ``(b) 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 
subsection (a) are included in the Federal Payment Levy Program by the 
deadlines specified in that subsection.''.
    (b) Application of Administrative Offset Provisions to Medicare 
Provider 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.

SEC. 3. 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) $98,000,000 for expenditures on or after October 1, 
        2008; and
            (2) $212,000,000 for expenditures during or after 2013.
    (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 on or after October 1, 2008; and
            (2) subsection (a)(2) for payment with respect to 
        physicians' services furnished on or after January 1, 2013.
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