II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 688 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 30, 2011 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Schumer, and Mr. Bingaman) 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 apply the additional Medicare HITECH payment provisions to hospitals in Puerto Rico.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Puerto Rico Hospital HITECH Amendments of 2011.

2.

Application of Medicare HITECH payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico

(a)

In general

Subsection (n)(6)(B) of section 1886 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww) is amended by striking subsection (d) hospital and inserting hospital that is a subsection (d) hospital or a subsection (d) Puerto Rico hospital. (b)

Conforming amendments

(1)Subsection (b)(3)(B)(ix) of such section is amended— (A)in subclause (I), by striking (n)(6)(A) and inserting (n)(6)(B); and (B)in subclause (II), by striking subsection (d) hospital and inserting an eligible hospital. (2)Paragraphs (2) and (4)(A) of section 1853(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(m)) are each amended by striking 1886(n)(6)(A) and inserting 1886(n)(6)(B). (c)

Implementation

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may implement the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) by program instruction or otherwise. (d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply as if included in the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–3).