I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3683 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 15, 2011 Ms. Buerkle introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay implementation of the Medicare hospital readmissions reduction program for 5 years, to require Congressional approval for additional applicable conditions, and to provide for a report on potential impact of such program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Hospital Admissions in Need of Study Act of 2011.

2.

5-year delay in implementation of the Medicare hospital readmissions reduction program; limitation on expansion of applicable conditions; report

(a)

5-Year delay

Subsection (q) of section 1886 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1), by striking 2012 and inserting 2017; (2)in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking 2012 and 2013 and inserting 2017 and 2018; (3)in paragraph (3)(C), by striking fiscal year 2013, fiscal year 2014, and fiscal year 2015 and inserting fiscal year 2018, fiscal year 2019, and fiscal year 2020 in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively; and (4)in paragraph (5)(B), by striking fiscal year 2015, and inserting fiscal year 2020,. (b)

Requiring Congressional approval for expansion of applicable conditions

Paragraph (5)(B) of such section is amended— (1)by striking Beginning and inserting (ii) Subject to clause (ii), beginning ; and (2)by adding at the end the following new clause: (ii)The Secretary may not expand the applicable conditions under clause (i) except to the extent specified in a subsequent law. . (c)

Report on potential impact

Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (9)

Report

The Secretary shall conduct a study that estimates the payment reductions that would have occurred under this subsection during fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015 if this subsection had been in effect during such fiscal years. Not later than April 1, 2016, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on such study, the impact that such a payment reduction would have made on hospitals. .