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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 536 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 536

 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend and revise 
    programs to assist rural hospitals under part A of the medicare 
                                program.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 21, 1993

 Mr. Roberts 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 extend and revise 
    programs to assist rural hospitals under part A 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; REFERENCES IN ACT.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Rural 
Hospital Amendments of 1993''.
    (b) References in Act.--Except as otherwise specifically provided, 
whenever in this Act, an amendment is expressed in terms of an 
amendment to or repeal of a section or other provision, the reference 
shall be considered to be made to that section or other provision of 
the Social Security Act.

SEC. 2. ESSENTIAL ACCESS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (EACH) AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Increasing Number of Participating States.--Section 1820(a)(1) 
(42 U.S.C. 1395i4(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``7'' and inserting 
``9''.
    (b) Treatment of Inpatient Hospital Services Provided in Rural 
Primary Care Hospitals.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1820(f)(1)(F) (42 U.S.C. 
        1395i4(f)(1)(F)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(F) subject to paragraph (4), provides not more 
                than 6 inpatient beds (meeting such conditions as the 
                Secretary may establish) for providing inpatient care 
                to patients requiring stabilization before discharge or 
                transfer to a hospital, except that the facility may 
                not provide any inpatient hospital services--
                            ``(i) to any patient whose attending 
                        physician does not certify that the patient may 
                        reasonably be expected to be discharged or 
                        transferred to a hospital within 72 hours of 
                        admission to the facility; or
                            ``(ii) consisting of surgery or any other 
                        service requiring the use of general anesthesia 
                        (other than surgical procedures specified by 
                        the Secretary under section 1833(i)(1)(A)), 
                        unless the attending physician certifies that 
                        the risk associated with transferring the 
                        patient to a hospital for such services 
                        outweighs the benefits of transferring the 
                        patient to a hospital for such services.''.
            (2) Limitation on average length of stay.--Section 1820(f) 
        (42 U.S.C. 1395i4(f)) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new paragraph:
            ``(4) Limitation on average length of inpatient stays.--The 
        Secretary may terminate a designation of a rural primary care 
        hospital under paragraph (1) if the Secretary finds that the 
        average length of stay for inpatients at the facility during 
        the previous year in which the designation was in effect 
        exceeded 72 hours. In determining the compliance of a facility 
        with the requirement of the previous sentence, there shall not 
        be taken into account periods of stay of inpatients in excess 
        of 72 hours to the extent such periods exceed 72 hours because 
        transfer to a hospital is precluded because of inclement 
        weather or other emergency conditions.''.
            (3) Conforming amendment.--Section 1814(a)(8) (42 U.S.C. 
        1395f(a)(8)) is amended by striking ``such services'' and all 
        that follows and inserting ``the individual may reasonably be 
        expected to be discharged or transferred to a hospital within 
        72 hours after admission to the rural primary care hospital.''.
            (4) GAO reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit 
        reports to Congress on--
                    (A) the application of the requirements under 
                section 1820(f) of the Social Security Act (as amended 
                by this subsection) that rural primary care hospitals 
                provide inpatient care only to those individuals whose 
                attending physicians certify may reasonably be expected 
                to be discharged within 72 hours after admission and 
                maintain an average length of inpatient stay during a 
                year that does not exceed 72 hours; and
                    (B) the extent to which such requirements have 
                resulted in such hospitals providing inpatient care 
                beyond their capabilities or have limited the ability 
                of such hospitals to provide needed services.
    (c) Designation of Hospitals.--
            (1) Permitting designation of hospitals located in urban 
        areas.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 1820 (42 U.S.C. 1395i4) is 
                amended--
                            (i) by striking paragraph (1) of subsection 
                        (e) and redesignating paragraphs (2) through 
                        (6) as paragraphs (1) through (5); and
                            (ii) in subsection (e)(1)(A) (as 
                        redesignated by subparagraph (A))--
                                    (I) by striking ``is located'' and 
                                inserting ``except in the case of a 
                                hospital located in an urban area, is 
                                located'',
                                    (II) by striking ``, (ii)'' and 
                                inserting ``or (ii)'',
                                    (III) by striking ``or (iii)'' and 
                                all that follows through ``section,'', 
                                and
                                    (IV) in subsection (i)(1)(B), by 
                                striking ``paragraph (3)'' and 
                                inserting ``paragraph (2)''.
                    (B) No change in medicare prospective payment.--
                Section 1886(d)(5)(D) (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(D)) is 
                amended--
                            (i) in clause (iii)(III), by inserting 
                        ``located in a rural area and'' after ``that 
                        is'', and
                            (ii) in clause (v), by inserting ``located 
                        in a rural area and'' after ``in the case of a 
                        hospital''.
            (2) Permitting hospitals located in adjoining states to 
        participate in state program.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 1820 (42 U.S.C. 1395i4) is 
                amended--
                            (i) by redesignating subsection (k) as 
                        subsection (l); and
                            (ii) by inserting after subsection (j) the 
                        following new subsection:
    ``(k) Eligibility of Hospitals Not Located in Participating 
States.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section--
            ``(1) for purposes of including a hospital or facility as a 
        member institution of a rural health network, a State may 
        designate a hospital or facility that is not located in the 
        State as an essential access community hospital or a rural 
        primary care hospital if the hospital or facility is located in 
        an adjoining State and is otherwise eligible for designation as 
        such a hospital;
            ``(2) the Secretary may designate a hospital or facility 
        that is not located in a State receiving a grant under 
        subsection (a)(1) as an essential access community hospital or 
        a rural primary care hospital if the hospital or facility is a 
        member institution of a rural health network of a State 
        receiving a grant under such subsection; and
            ``(3) a hospital or facility designated pursuant to this 
        subsection shall be eligible to receive a grant under 
        subsection (a)(2).''.
                    (B) Conforming amendments.--(i) Section 1820(c)(1) 
                (42 U.S.C. 1395i4(c)(1)) is amended by striking 
                ``paragraph (3)'' and inserting ``paragraph (3) or 
                subsection (k)''.
                    (ii) Paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) of section 
                1820(i) (42 U.S.C. 1395i4(i)) are each amended--
                            (I) in clause (i), by striking ``(a)(1)'' 
                        and inserting ``(a)(1) (except as provided in 
                        subsection (k))'', and
                            (II) in clause (ii), by striking 
                        ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting 
                        ``subparagraph (B) or subsection (k)''.
    (d) Skilled Nursing Services in Rural Primary Care Hospitals.--
Section 1820(f)(3) (42 U.S.C. 1395i4(f)(3)) is amended by striking 
``because the facility'' and all that follows and inserting the 
following: ``because, at the time the facility applies to the State for 
designation as a rural primary care hospital, there is in effect an 
agreement between the facility and the Secretary under section 1883 
under which the facility's inpatient hospital facilities are used for 
the furnishing of extended care services, except that the number of 
beds used for the furnishing of such services may not exceed the total 
number of licensed inpatient beds at the time the facility applies to 
the State for such designation (minus the number of inpatient beds used 
for providing inpatient care pursuant to paragraph (1)(F)). For 
purposes of the previous sentence, the number of beds of the facility 
used for the furnishing of extended care services shall not include any 
beds of a unit of the facility that is licensed as a distinct-part 
skilled nursing facility at the time the facility applies to the State 
for designation as a rural primary care hospital.''.
    (e) Payment for Outpatient Rural Primary Care Hospital Services.--
Section 1834(g)(1) (42 U.S.C. 1395m(g)(1)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
        ``The amount of payment shall be determined under either method 
        without regard to the amount of the customary or other 
        charge.''.
    (f) Clarification of Physician Staffing Requirement for Rural 
Primary Care Hospitals.--Section 1820(f)(1)(H) (42 U.S.C. 
1395i4(f)(1)(H)) is amended by striking the period and inserting the 
following: ``, except that in determining whether a facility meets the 
requirements of this subparagraph, subparagraphs (E) and (F) of that 
paragraph shall be applied as if any reference to a `physician' is a 
reference to a physician as defined in section 1861(r)(1).''.
    (g) Technical Amendments Relating to Part A Deductible, 
Coinsurance, and Spell of Illness.--(1) Section 1812(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 
1395d(a)(1)) is amended--
            (A) by striking ``inpatient hospital services'' the first 
        place it appears and inserting ``inpatient hospital services or 
        inpatient rural primary care hospital services'';
            (B) by striking ``inpatient hospital services'' the second 
        place it appears and inserting ``such services''; and
            (C) by striking ``and inpatient rural primary care hospital 
        services''.
    (2) Sections 1813(a) and 1813(b)(3)(A) (42 U.S.C. 1395e(a), 
1395e(b)(3)(A)) are each amended by striking ``inpatient hospital 
services'' each place it appears and inserting ``inpatient hospital 
services or inpatient rural primary care hospital services''.
    (3) Section 1813(b)(3)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1395e(b)(3)(B)) is amended by 
striking ``inpatient hospital services'' and inserting ``inpatient 
hospital services, inpatient rural primary care hospital services''.
    (4) Section 1861(a) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(a)) is amended--
            (A) in paragraphs (1), by striking ``inpatient hospital 
        services'' and inserting ``inpatient hospital services, 
        inpatient rural primary care hospital services''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``hospital'' and 
        inserting ``hospital or rural primary care hospital''.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 1820(k) (42 U.S.C. 
1395i4(k)) is amended by striking ``1990, 1991, and 1992'' and 
inserting ``1990 through 1995''.
    (i) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF RURAL TRANSITION GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 4005(e)(9) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``1989 and'' and inserting ``1989,''; and
            (2) by striking ``1992'' and inserting ``1992 and 
        $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1993 through 1997''.

SEC. 4. REGIONAL REFERRAL CENTERS.

    (a) Extension Through Fiscal Year 1994.--Section 6003(d) of the 
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 1395ww note) is 
amended by striking ``October 1, 1992'' and inserting ``October 1, 
1994''.
    (b) Permitting Hospitals to Decline Reclassification.--If any 
hospital fails to qualify as a rural referral center under section 
1886(d)(5)(C) of the Social Security Act as a result of a decision by 
the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board under section 
1886(d)(10) of such Act to reclassify the hospital as being located in 
an urban area for fiscal year 1994, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall--
            (1) notify such hospital of such failure to qualify,
            (2) provide an opportunity for such hospital to decline 
        such reclassification, and
            (3) if the hospital declines such reclassification, 
        administer the Social Security Act (other than section 
        1886(d)(8)(D)) for fiscal year 1994 as if the decision by the 
        Review Board had not occurred.

SEC. 5. MEDICARE-DEPENDENT, SMALL RURAL HOSPITALS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1886(d)(5)(G) (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(G)) 
is amended--
            (1) by amending clause (i) to read as follows:
    ``(i) In the case of a subsection (d) hospital which is a medicare-
dependent, small rural hospital, payment under paragraph (1)(A) for 
discharges occurring before October 1, 1994, shall be equal to the sum 
of the amount determined under clause (ii) and the amount determined 
under paragraph (1)(A)(iii).'';
            (2) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses 
        (iii) and (iv); and
            (3) by inserting after clause (i) the following new clause:
    ``(ii) The amount determined under this clause is--
            ``(I) for discharges occurring during the first 3 12-month 
        cost reporting periods that begin on or after April 1, 1990, 
        the amount by which the hospital's target amount for the cost 
        reporting period (as defined in subsection (b)(3)(D)) exceeds 
        the amount determined under paragraph (1)(A)(iii); and
            ``(II) for discharges occurring during any subsequent cost 
        reporting period (or portion thereof), 50 percent of the amount 
        by which the hospital's target amount for the cost reporting 
        period (as defined in subsection (b)(3)(D)) exceeds the amount 
        determined under paragraph (1)(A)(iii).''.
    (b) Permitting Hospitals to Decline Reclassification.--If any 
hospital fails to qualify as a medicare-dependent, small rural hospital 
under section 1886(d)(5)(G)(i) of the Social Security Act as a result 
of a decision by the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board 
under section 1886(d)(10) of such Act to reclassify the hospital as 
being located in an urban area for fiscal year 1994, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall--
            (1) notify such hospital of such failure to qualify,
            (2) provide an opportunity for such hospital to decline 
        such reclassification, and
            (3) if the hospital declines such reclassification, 
        administer the Social Security Act (other than section 
        1886(d)(8)(D)) for fiscal year 1994 as if the decision by the 
        Review Board had not occurred.

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