[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3496 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3496

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study 
    and submit a report on the effects of the inclusion of quality 
increases in the determination of blended benchmark amounts under part 
                       C of the Medicare program.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 25, 2018

 Mr. Daines (for himself and Mr. King) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study 
    and submit a report on the effects of the inclusion of quality 
increases in the determination of blended benchmark amounts under part 
                       C of the Medicare program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Seniors Access to Quality 
Benefits Act''.

SEC. 2. DETERMINATION OF BLENDED BENCHMARK AMOUNT STUDY.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
inclusion of quality increases in the determination of blended 
benchmark amounts under section 1853(n)(4) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(n)(4)) undermines the goal of delivering high-
quality care under the Medicare program under title XVIII of such Act.
    (b) Study and Report.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall conduct a study and 
submit to Congress a report on the effects of the inclusion of quality 
percentage increases under section 1853(o) of such Act in the 
determination of blended benchmark amounts under section 1853(n)(4) of 
such Act. Such study and report shall include an analysis of the 
following:
            (1) The authority of the Secretary to remove such increases 
        from the determination of such amounts.
            (2) The effects of including such increases in the 
        determination of such amounts on Medicare Advantage 
        organizations (including the effects on any contracts entered 
        into by such organizations).
            (3) The financial impact of including such increases in the 
        determination of such amounts by county.
            (4) The effects of including such increases in the 
        determination of such amounts on individuals enrolled in a plan 
        under part C of title XVIII of such Act.
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