I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2330 

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide comprehensive 

audiology services to Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 12, 2013 

Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. GUTHRIE, 

Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mr. GERLACH, Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan, and Mr. MEEHAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined 

by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 

within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 

comprehensive audiology services to Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare Audiology 

5 Services Enhancement Act of 2013’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE AUDIOLOGY SERVICES FOR MEDI2 CARE BENEFICIARIES. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861 of the Social Secu4 rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended— 

5 (1) in subsection (s)(2)— 

6 (A) in subparagraph (EE), by striking 

7 ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

8 (B) in subparagraph (FF), by adding 

9 ‘‘and’’ at the end; and 

10 (C) by adding at the end the following new 

11 subparagraph: 

12 ‘‘(GG) audiology services (as defined in 

13 subsection (ll)(3));’’; and 

14 (2) by amending paragraph (3) of subsection 

15 (ll) to read as follows: 

16 ‘‘(3) The term ‘audiology services’ means only the fol17 lowing services furnished by a qualified audiologist as the 

18 audiologist is legally authorized to perform under State 

19 law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State 

20 law), pursuant to an order or referral by a physician, as 

21 would otherwise be covered if furnished by a physician: 

22 ‘‘(A) Hearing and balance assessment services. 

23 ‘‘(B) Auditory treatment services, including au24 ditory processing and auditory rehabilitation treat25 ment. 

26 ‘‘(C) Vestibular treatment services. 

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1 ‘‘(D) Intraoperative neurophysiologic moni2 toring services.’’. 

3 (b) PAYMENT UNDER PART B UNDER PHYSICIAN

4 FEE SCHEDULE FOR COMPREHENSIVE AUDIOLOGY SERV5 ICES.—Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 

6 U.S.C. 1395w–4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting 

7 ‘‘(2)(GG),’’ before ‘‘(3),’’. 

8 (c) AUDIOLOGY SERVICES PERFORMED IN HOS9 PITALS EXCLUDED FROM INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERV10 ICES.—Section 1861(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 

11 U.S.C. 1395x(b)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘and services 

12 of a certified registered nurse anesthetist’’ and inserting 

13 ‘‘services of a certified registered nurse anesthetist, and 

14 inter-operative neurophysiological monitoring provided by 

15 a physician or qualified audiologist (as defined in sub16 section (ll)(4)(B))’’. 

17 (d) REQUIREMENTS OF SERVICE.—Section 

18 1835(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

19 1395n(a)(2)) is amended— 

20 (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and (D)’’ 

21 and inserting ‘‘(D), and (GG)’’; 

22 (2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara23 graph (E); 

24 (3) by striking the period at the end of sub25 paragraph (F) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

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1 (4) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the fol2 lowing new subparagraph: 

3 ‘‘(G) in the case of outpatient audiology 

4 services, (i) such services are or were required 

5 because the individual needed the specialized 

6 services of a physician or qualified audiologist 

7 to furnish such audiology services, (ii) a plan of 

8 care for furnishing such services has been es9 tablished by the physician or qualified audiol10 ogist and is submitted to and periodically re11 viewed by the referring or ordering physician, 

12 and (iii) such services are or were furnished 

13 while the individual is or was under the care of 

14 a physician.’’. 

15 (e) AUDIOLOGY SERVICES INCLUDED AS DES16 IGNATED HEALTH SERVICES FOR PURPOSES OF LIMITA17 TION ON CERTAIN PHYSICIAN REFERRALS.—Section 

18 1877(h)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

19 1395nn(h)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the fol20 lowing new subparagraph: 

21 ‘‘(M) Audiology services (as defined in sec22 tion 1861(ll)(3)).’’. 

23 (f) PARTICIPATION IN MEDICARE.—Nothing in this 

24 section shall be construed to require a qualified audiologist 

25 (as defined in section 1861(ll)(4)(B) of the Social Security 

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1 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(4)(B))) to participate in the 

2 Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security 

3 Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). 

4 (g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

5 this section shall apply to services furnished on or after 

6 January 1, 2014. 

Æ 

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