To amend titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act to promote the use of health information technology to better coordinate health care.

Summary: Amends title XI of the Social Security Act to exclude (provide safe harbors for) the practical or other advantages resulting from health information technology or related installation, maintenance, support, or training services from the ban on hospital payments to physicians (kickbacks) to induce reduction or limitation of services, which are subject to antikickback civil penalties. Exempts related nonmonetary remunerations meeting specified requirements from criminal penalties.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assess and report to Congress on the effect of these safe harbors on the health system, especially the adoption of health information technology.

Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) to except from the limitation on certain physician referrals the provision of health information technology and training services to health care professionals.

Requires the Secretary to assess and report to Congress similarly on the impact of this exception on the health system, especially the adoption of health information technology.

SECTION 1. SAFE HARBORS TO ANTIKICKBACK CIVIL PENALTIES AND CRIMINAL 
              PENALTIES FOR PROVISION OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
              AND TRAINING SERVICES.

    (a) For Civil Penalties.--Section 1128A of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1320a-7a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(4) For purposes of this subsection, inducements to 
        reduce or limit services described in paragraph (1) shall not 
        include the practical or other advantages resulting from health 
        information technology or related installation, maintenance, 
        support, or training services.''; and
            (2) in subsection (i), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(8) The term `health information technology' means 
        hardware, software, license, right, intellectual property, 
        equipment, or other information technology (including new 
        versions, upgrades, and connectivity) designed or provided 
        primarily for the electronic creation, maintenance, or exchange 
        of health information to better coordinate care or improve 
        health care quality, efficiency, or research.''.
    (b) For Criminal Penalties.--Section 1128B of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1320a-7b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in the subparagraph (H) added by section 237(d) 
                of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 
                Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173; 117 
                Stat. 2213)--
                            (i) by moving such subparagraph 2 ems to 
                        the left; and
                            (ii) by striking the period at the end and 
                        inserting a semicolon;
                    (C) in the subparagraph (H) added by section 431(a) 
                of such Act (117 Stat. 2287)--
                            (i) by redesignating such subparagraph as 
                        subparagraph (I);
                            (ii) by moving such subparagraph 2 ems to 
                        the left; and
                            (iii) by striking the period at the end and 
                        inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(J) any nonmonetary remuneration (in the form of 
                health information technology, as defined in section 
                1128A(i)(8), or related installation, maintenance, 
                support, or training services) made to a person by a 
                specified entity (as defined in subsection (g)) if--
                            ``(i) the provision of such remuneration is 
                        without an agreement between the parties or 
                        legal condition that--
                                    ``(I) limits or restricts the use 
                                of the health information technology to 
                                services provided by the physician to 
                                individuals receiving services at the 
                                specified entity;
                                    ``(II) limits or restricts the use 
                                of the health information technology in 
                                conjunction with other health 
                                information technology; or
                                    ``(III) conditions the provision of 
                                such remuneration on the referral of 
                                patients or business to the specified 
                                entity;
                            ``(ii) such remuneration is arranged for in 
                        a written agreement that is signed by the 
                        parties involved (or their representatives) and 
                        that specifies the remuneration solicited or 
                        received (or offered or paid) and states that 
                        the provision of such remuneration is made for 
                        the primary purpose of better coordination of 
                        care or improvement of health quality, 
                        efficiency, or research; and
                            ``(iii) the specified entity providing the 
                        remuneration (or a representative of such 
                        entity) has not taken any action to disable any 
                        basic feature of any hardware or software 
                        component of such remuneration that would 
                        permit interoperability.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(g) Specified Entity Defined.--For purposes of subsection 
(b)(3)(J), the term `specified entity' means an entity that is a 
hospital, group practice, prescription drug plan sponsor, a Medicare 
Advantage organization, or any other such entity specified by the 
Secretary, considering the goals and objectives of this section, as 
well as the goals to better coordinate the delivery of health care and 
to promote the adoption and use of health information technology.''.
    (c) Effective Date and Effect on State Laws.--
            (1) Effective date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) 
        and (b) shall take effect on the date that is 120 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Preemption of state laws.--No State (as defined in 
        section 1101(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301(a)) 
        for purposes of title XI of such Act) shall have in effect a 
        State law that imposes a criminal or civil penalty for a 
        transaction described in section 1128A(b)(4) or section 
        1128B(b)(3)(J) of such Act, as added by subsections (a)(1) and 
        (b), respectively, if the conditions described in the 
        respective provision, with respect to such transaction, are 
        met.
    (d) Study and Report To Assess Effect of Safe Harbors on Health 
System.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        shall conduct a study to determine the impact of each of the 
        safe harbors described in paragraph (3). In particular, the 
        study shall examine the following:
                    (A) The effectiveness of each safe harbor in 
                increasing the adoption of health information 
                technology.
                    (B) The types of health information technology 
                provided under each safe harbor.
                    (C) The extent to which the financial or other 
                business relationships between providers under each 
                safe harbor have changed as a result of the safe harbor 
                in a way that adversely affects or benefits the health 
                care system or choices available to consumers.
                    (D) The impact of the adoption of health 
                information technology on health care quality, cost, 
                and access under each safe harbor.
            (2) Report.--Not later than three years after the effective 
        date described in subsection (c)(1), the Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the 
        study under paragraph (1).
            (3) Safe harbors described.--For purposes of paragraphs (1) 
        and (2), the safe harbors described in this paragraph are--
                    (A) the safe harbor under section 1128A(b)(4) of 
                such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7a(b)(4)), as added by 
                subsection (a)(1); and
                    (B) the safe harbor under section 1128B(b)(3)(J) of 
                such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b(b)(3)(J)), as added by 
                subsection (b).

SEC. 2. EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION ON CERTAIN PHYSICIAN REFERRALS (UNDER 
              STARK) FOR PROVISION OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND 
              TRAINING SERVICES TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1877(b) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395nn(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(6) Information technology and training services.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any nonmonetary remuneration (in 
                the form of health information technology or related 
                installation, maintenance, support or training 
                services) made by a specified entity to a physician 
                if--
                            ``(i) the provision of such remuneration is 
                        without an agreement between the parties or 
                        legal condition that--
                                    ``(I) limits or restricts the use 
                                of the health information technology to 
                                services provided by the physician to 
                                individuals receiving services at the 
                                specified entity;
                                    ``(II) limits or restricts the use 
                                of the health information technology in 
                                conjunction with other health 
                                information technology; or
                                    ``(III) conditions the provision of 
                                such remuneration on the referral of 
                                patients or business to the specified 
                                entity;
                            ``(ii) such remuneration is arranged for in 
                        a written agreement that is signed by the 
                        parties involved (or their representatives) and 
                        that specifies the remuneration made and states 
                        that the provision of such remuneration is made 
                        for the primary purpose of better coordination 
                        of care or improvement of health quality, 
                        efficiency, or research; and
                            ``(iii) the specified entity (or a 
                        representative of such entity) has not taken 
                        any action to disable any basic feature of any 
                        hardware or software component of such 
                        remuneration that would permit 
                        interoperability.
                    ``(B) Health information technology defined.--For 
                purposes of this paragraph, the term `health 
                information technology' means hardware, software, 
                license, right, intellectual property, equipment, or 
                other information technology (including new versions, 
                upgrades, and connectivity) designed or provided 
                primarily for the electronic creation, maintenance, or 
                exchange of health information to better coordinate 
                care or improve health care quality, efficiency, or 
                research.
                    ``(C) Specified entity defined.--For purposes of 
                this paragraph, the term `specified entity' means an 
                entity that is a hospital, group practice, prescription 
                drug plan sponsor, a Medicare Advantage organization, 
                or any other such entity specified by the Secretary, 
                considering the goals and objectives of this section, 
                as well as the goals to better coordinate the delivery 
                of health care and to promote the adoption and use of 
                health information technology.''.
    (b) Effective Date; Effect on State Laws.--
            (1) Effective date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
        shall take effect on the date that is 120 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Preemption of state laws.--No State (as defined in 
        section 1101(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301(a)) 
        for purposes of title XI of such Act) shall have in effect a 
        State law that imposes a criminal or civil penalty for a 
        transaction described in section 1877(b)(6) of such Act, as 
        added by subsection (a), if the conditions described in such 
        section, with respect to such transaction, are met.
    (c) Study and Report To Assess Effect of Exception on Health 
System.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        shall conduct a study to determine the impact of the exception 
        under section 1877(b)(6) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395nn(b)(6)), 
        as added by subsection (a). In particular, the study shall 
        examine the following:
                    (A) The effectiveness of the exception in 
                increasing the adoption of health information 
                technology.
                    (B) The types of health information technology 
                provided under the exception.
                    (C) The extent to which the financial or other 
                business relationships between providers under the 
                exception have changed as a result of the exception in 
                a way that adversely affects or benefits the health 
                care system or choices available to consumers.
                    (D) The impact of the adoption of health 
                information technology on health care quality, cost, 
                and access under the exception.
            (2) Report.--Not later than three years after the effective 
        date described in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the 
        study under paragraph (1).

SEC. 3. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING USE OF CONSORTIA.

    (a) Application to Safe Harbor From Criminal Penalties.--Section 
1128B(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b(b)(3)) is 
amended by adding after and below subparagraph (J), as added by section 
1(b)(1), the following: ``For purposes of subparagraph (J), nothing in 
such subparagraph shall be construed as preventing a specified entity, 
consistent with the specific requirements of such subparagraph, from 
forming a consortium composed of health care providers, payers, 
employers, and other interested entities to collectively purchase and 
donate health information technology, or from offering health care 
providers a choice of health information technology products in order 
to take into account the varying needs of such providers receiving such 
products.''.
    (b) Application to Stark Exception.--Paragraph (6) of section 
1877(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395nn(b)), as added by 
section 2(a), is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
                    ``(D) Rule of construction.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), nothing in such subparagraph shall be 
                construed as preventing a specified entity, consistent 
                with the specific requirements of such subparagraph, 
                from--
                            ``(i) forming a consortium composed of 
                        health care providers, payers, employers, and 
                        other interested entities to collectively 
                        purchase and donate health information 
                        technology; or
                            ``(ii) offering health care providers a 
                        choice of health information technology 
                        products in order to take into account the 
                        varying needs of such providers receiving such 
                        products.''.