I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 560 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 8, 2011 Mr. Walden (for himself, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Ross of Arkansas, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, and Mr. Matheson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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 amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure proportional representation of rural interests on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, and to provide for greater transparency in proceedings of those Commissions.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Rural Representation and Transparency Improvement Act.

2.

Ensuring proportional representation of interests of rural areas on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and greater transparency of MedPAC proceedings

(a)

Rural representation

Paragraph (2) of section 1805(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395b–6(c)) is amended— (1)in subparagraph (A), by inserting consistent with subparagraph (E) after rural representatives; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (E)

Proportional representation of interests of rural areas

In order to provide a balance between urban and rural representatives under subparagraph (A), the proportion of members of the Commission who represent the interests of health care providers and Medicare beneficiaries located in rural areas shall be no less than the proportion of the total number of Medicare beneficiaries who reside in rural areas. . (b)

Greater transparency of proceedings

Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7)

Greater transparency of proceedings

The Commission shall provide through the Internet or such easy public access to and full and timely public disclosure of its proceedings, such as through the posting of audio or video coverage of its proceedings and of transcripts of its proceedings, as may be practicable within the resources available to the Commission. . (c)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to appointments to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission made after the date of enactment of this Act and the amendment made by subsection (b) shall apply to proceedings occurring on or after the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.

3.

Ensuring proportional representation of interests of rural areas on the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) and greater transparency of MACPAC proceedings

(a)

Rural representation

Paragraph (2) of section 1900(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396(c)) is amended— (1)in subparagraph (A), by inserting consistent with subparagraph (E) after rural representation; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (E)

Proportional representation of interests of rural areas

In order to provide a balance between urban and rural representation under subparagraph (A), the proportion of members of MACPAC who represent the interests of health care providers and Medicaid beneficiaries located in rural areas shall be no less than the proportion of the total number of Medicaid beneficiaries who reside in rural areas. . (b)

Greater transparency of proceedings

Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7)

Greater transparency of proceedings

The MACPAC shall provide through the Internet for such easy public access to and full and timely public disclosure of its proceedings, such as through the posting of audio or video coverage of its proceedings and of transcripts of its proceedings, as may be practicable within the resources available to MACPAC. . (c)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to appointments to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission made after the date of enactment of this Act and the amendment made by subsection (b) shall apply to proceedings occurring on or after the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.