II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2007 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 3, 2007 Mr. Harkin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide a floor of 1.0 for the practice expense and for the work expense geographic practice cost indices (GPCI) under the Medicare Program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Medicare Equity and Accessibility Act of 2007.

2.

Medicare GPCI floors

(a)

Floor of 1.0 for practice expenses

Section 1848(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)) is amended by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph: (F)

Floor at 1.0 for practice expense index

After calculating the practice expense index in subparagraph (A)(ii), for purposes of payment for services furnished on or after January 1, 2008, the Secretary shall increase the practice expense geographic index to 1.00 for any locality for which such practice expense geographic index is less than 1.00. . (b)

Extension of floor of 1.0 for work expenses

Subparagraph (E) of such section is amended by striking and before January 1, 2008,.