II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 891 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 5, 2011 Mr. Grassley (for himself and Mr. Conrad) 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 provide for the recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Medicare Hospice Care Access Act of 2011.

2.

Recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians To serve hospice patients

(a)

Recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians To serve hospice patients

(1)

In general

Section 1861(dd)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(3)(B)) is amended— (A)by striking or nurse and inserting , the nurse; and (B)by inserting , or the physician assistant (as defined in such subsection) after subsection (aa)(5)). (2)

Clarification of hospice role of physician assistants

Section 1814(a)(7)(A)(i)(I) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(A)(i)(I)) is amended by inserting or a physician assistant after a nurse practitioner. (b)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2012.