II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 583 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 15, 2011 Ms. Mikulski (for herself and Mr. Inouye) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit direct payment under the Medicare program for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act of 2011.

2.

Permitting direct payment under the Medicare program for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities

(a)

In general

Section 1888(e)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395yy(e)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting clinical social worker services, after qualified psychologist services,. (b)

Conforming amendment

Section 1861(hh)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(2)) is amended by striking and other than services furnished to an inpatient of a skilled nursing facility which the facility is required to provide as a requirement for participation. (c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after the date that regulations relating to payment for physicians’ services for calendar year 2012 take effect, but in no case later than the first day of the third month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.