[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3690-S3691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Ms. Stabenow, and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 687. 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; to 
the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
placed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 687

       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 ``Clinical Social Work 
     Medicare Equity Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 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

[[Page S3691]]

     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 2010 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.

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