I

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 421

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit separate payment

under part B of the medicare program for the interpretation of electrocardiograms provided by a physician during a visit, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 5, 1993

Mr. TORRICELLI introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to

the Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit

separate payment under part B of the medicare program

for the interpretation of electrocardiograms provided by

a physician during a visit, 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 EKG Pay5 ment Restoration Act of 1993’’.
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1 SEC. 2. PERMITTING SEPARATE PAYMENT FOR INTERPRE2 TATION OF EKGS PROVIDED DURING OFFICE

3 VISITS.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1848(b) of the Social Se5 curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(b)) is amended by striking

6 paragraph (3).

7 (b) DEVELOPMENT OF SEPARATE FEE SCHEDULE

8 AMOUNTS FOR EKG INTERPRETATIONS.—

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and

10 Human Services shall establish separate fee schedule

11 amounts under section 1848(b) of the Social Secu12 rity Act for the interpretation of electrocardiograms

13 performed or ordered to be performed as part of or

14 in conjunction with a visit to or consultation with a

15 physician.

16 (2) ADJUSTMENT OF FEE SCHEDULES FOR OF17 FICE VISITS.—With respect to physicians’ services

18 consisting of visits to or consultations with a physi19 cian, the Secretary shall adjust the relative values

20 established for such services under section 1848(b)

21 of the Social Security Act to reflect the establish22 ment of separate fee schedule amounts under para23 graph (1).

24 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by

25 subsection (a) and the provisions of subsection (b) shall

26 apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 1993.
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1 SEC. 3. GUIDELINES AND STUDIES RELATING TO UTILIZA2 TION OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS.

3 (a) DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICE GUIDELINES.—Not

4 later than 6 months after the date of the enactment, the

5 Secretary of Health and Human Services (acting through

6 the Administrator of the Agency for Health Care Policy

7 and Research) shall—

8 (1) establish practice guidelines for electro9 cardiograms for the use of physicians, and shall dis10 seminate the guidelines and other educational infor11 mation relating to the use of electrocardiograms to

12 physicians; and

13 (2) develop a profile of the use of electrocardio14 grams by physicians.

15 (b) STUDY OF UTILIZATION AND COSTS OF EKGS.—

16 (1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Health and

17 Human Services (acting through the Administrator

18 of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research)

19 shall conduct a study of the utilization and costs of

20 electrocardiograms, and shall include in the study an

21 analysis of the effects of the amendment made by

22 section 2(a) and the provisions of section 2(b) on

23 such utilization and costs.

24 (2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2

25 years after the effective date of the final regulations

26 promulgated by the Secretary of Health and Human
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1 Services to carry out the amendment made by sec2 tion 2(a) and the provisions of section 2(b), the Sec3 retary shall submit a report on the study conducted

4 under paragraph (1) to Congress.

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