I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3806 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 14, 2009 Mr. Moran of Kansas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to extend and expand the Medicare rural community hospital demonstration program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Enhanced Rural Health Care Extension Act of 2009.

2.

Extension and expansion of the Medicare rural community hospital demonstration program

(a)

Selection of demonstration areas

Section 410A(a)(2) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–173; 42 U.S.C. 1395ww note) is amended to read as follows: (2)

Demonstration Areas

The demonstration program shall be conducted in rural areas selected by the Secretary in the 15 States with the lowest population densities, as determined by the Secretary using the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009 (published by the Bureau of the Census). . (b)

Selection of hospitals

Section 410A(a)(4) of such Act is amended by striking 15 and inserting 30. (c)

Duration

Section 410A(a)(5) of such Act is amended by striking 5-year and inserting 10-year. (d)

Reports

Section 410A(e) of such Act is amended to read as follows: (e)

Reports

The Secretary shall submit to Congress— (1)within 6 months after the date of the enactment of the Enhanced Rural Health Care Extension Act of 2009, an interim report on the operation of the demonstration program under this section; and (2)within 6 months after the completion of the demonstration program, a final report on the operation of such program. Each report under this subsection shall include recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.. (e)

Exception for certain rural community hospitals

If, on the date of the enactment of this Act, a rural community hospital (as defined in section 410A(f)(1) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–173; 42 U.S.C. 1395ww note)) is participating in the rural community hospital demonstration program established under section 410A of such Act and is located within a State that is not identified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 410A(a)(2) of such Act (as amended by this section), the Secretary shall provide for the continued participation of such hospital in such demonstration program. (f)

Technical amendments

Section 410A of such Act is amended— (1)in subsection (b)— (A)in paragraph (1)(B)(ii), by striking 2) and inserting 2)); and (B)in paragraph (2)— (i)in subparagraph (A), by inserting cost before reporting period; and (ii)in subparagraph (B), by inserting cost before reporting period the first place it appears; and (2)in subsection (f)(1)— (A)in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting subparagraph (B); and (B)in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraph (1)(B) and inserting subparagraph (A)(ii).