Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage of certain disposable medical technologies under the Medicare program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015 2. Coverage of certain disposable medical technologies under the Medicare program (a) Coverage Section 1861 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x (1) in subsection (n)— (A) by inserting substitute disposable medical technologies (as defined in subsection (iii)) and services and supplies used in conjunction with such technologies, hospital beds, (B) by inserting (unless such equipment is a substitute disposable medical technology or a service or supply used in conjunction with such a technology) rental basis (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (iii) Substitute disposable medical technology The term substitute disposable medical technology (1) is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose; (2) would otherwise be covered as durable medical equipment under this title but for the fact that such equipment is not durable (as defined by the Secretary for purposes of coverage of durable medical equipment under this title); and (3) the Secretary determines substitutes for durable medical equipment. In making the determination under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall consult with medical specialty societies, medical device manufacturers, patient groups, and other stakeholders as part of the annual rulemaking process for durable medical equipment under this title. . (b) Payment provisions Section 1834(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(a) (23) Special payment rule for substitute disposable medical technologies Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, the Secretary shall determine the payment amount under this subsection for a substitute disposable medical technology (as defined in section 1861(iii)), and for any related supplies and service fees incurred in conjunction with the use and maintenance of such technology, in accordance with the following: (A) Single payment amount The Secretary shall determine a single payment amount that shall be paid for a substitute disposable medical technology and for any related supplies and service fees incurred in conjunction with the use and maintenance of such technology. A payment for such a technology and for any such related supplies and service fees made in the amount of such single payment amount shall constitute full payment under this title for such technology and such related supplies and service fees. (B) Calculation of payment amount The single payment amount described in subparagraph (A) for a substitute disposable medical technology and for any related supplies and service fees incurred in conjunction with the use and maintenance of such technology shall be calculated by— (i) calculating the sum of the amounts of payment that otherwise would be made under this section for— (I) the item of durable medical equipment for which the Secretary determines, pursuant to section 1861(iii)(3), that such substitute disposable medical technology substitutes; and (II) all related supplies and service fees incurred in conjunction with the use and maintenance of such item of durable medical equipment; (ii) calculating the amount that is 95 percent of the sum calculated under clause (i); and (iii) calculating the single payment amount for the substitute disposable medical technology and for any related supplies and service fees incurred in conjunction with the use and maintenance of such technology such that the sum of the payments under this subsection for— (I) all substitute disposable medical technologies that the Secretary determines, pursuant to section 1861(iii)(3), will be necessary to provide a substitute for the item of durable medical equipment described in clause (i)(I); and (II) any related supplies and service fees incurred in conjunction with the use and maintenance of such technologies, and is equal to the amount calculated under clause (ii). In making such calculation, the Secretary shall consult with medical specialty societies, medical device manufacturers, patient groups, and other stakeholders to ensure that an appropriate comparison is made that captures use of the various technologies (including related supplies, if any) over an average course of therapy for a typical patient. (C) Lump-sum payment The single payment amount described in subparagraph (A) for a substitute disposable medical technology and for any related supplies and service fees incurred in conjunction with the use and maintenance of such technology shall be made in a lump-sum amount. (D) Payment for physicians' and hospital outpatient department services Nothing in this paragraph should be construed as limiting or changing payment for items or services for which payment is made under section 1848 or section 1833(t). . (c) Conforming amendment Section 1847(a)(7)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–3(a)(7)(B) (1) in clause (i), by striking and (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) that are substitute disposable medical technologies (as defined in section 1861(iii)). . (d) Effective date The provisions of, and amendments made by, this section shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2016. (e) Rule of construction; implementation (1) Rule of construction Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed as— (A) affecting the ability of a physician (or any other prescribing practitioner) to exercise their judgment in prescribing or ordering for a Medicare beneficiary appropriate durable medical equipment or other medical device or technology for the treatment of an illness, injury, or condition of the Medicare beneficiary; or (B) affecting the ability of the Medicare beneficiary to access appropriate durable medical equipment or other appropriate medical device or technology for such treatment. (2) Implementation The Secretary shall implement the provisions of, and amendments made by, this section in a manner such that the methodologies for determining coverage of an item of durable medical equipment (as defined in section 1861(n) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(n) 42 U.S.C. 1395m

Summary: Patient Access to Disposable Medical Technology Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to make a separate payment, calculated according to a specified formula, to a home health agency for an applicable disposable device when furnished on or after January 1, 2017 to an individual who receives home health services for which payment is made under Medicare. An &quot;applicable disposable device&quot; is one that is: a disposable negative pressure wound therapy device that is an integrated system composed of a non-manual vacuum pump, a receptacle for collecting exudate, and dressings for the purposes of wound therapy; and a substitute for, and used in lieu of, a negative pressure wound therapy durable medical equipment item that is an integrated system of a negative pressure vacuum pump, a separate exudate collection canister, and dressings that would otherwise be covered for individuals for such wound therapy. The Government Accountability Office shall study: the value of disposable devices to the Medicare program and Medicare beneficiaries as well as the role of disposable devices as substitutes for durable medical equipment, and the impact of the payment under this Act for applicable disposable devices.