Putting Patients and Providers Ahead of Compressed Regulatory Timelines Act of 2015

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to sunset certain penalties relating to meaningful electronic health records use by Medicare eligible professionals and hospitals, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Putting Patients and Providers Ahead of Compressed Regulatory Timelines Act of 2015 2. Sunsetting certain penalties relating to meaningful EHR use (a) Eligible professionals (1) In general Section 1848(a)(7) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(a)(7) (2) Effective date; rebate (A) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2015. (B) Rebate With respect to items and services furnished during the period beginning on January 1, 2015, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement a method to provide eligible professionals (as defined in section 1848(o)(5)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(o)(5)(C) (i) the amount of reimbursement made under section 1848 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4 (ii) the amount of reimbursement that would have been made under such section, after application of this subsection, for such items and services furnished by such professionals during such period. (b) Eligible hospitals (1) In general Section 1886(b)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(b)(3)(B) (2) Effective date; rebate (A) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after October 1, 2014. (B) Rebate With respect to items and services furnished during the period beginning on October 1, 2014, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement a method to provide eligible hospitals (as defined in section 1886(n)(6)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww(n)(6)(A) (i) the amount of reimbursement made under section 1886 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ww (ii) the amount of reimbursement that would have been made under such section, after application of this subsection, for such items and services furnished by such hospitals during such period. (c) Critical access hospitals (1) In general Section 1814(l) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(l) (2) Effective date; rebate (A) Effective date The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to items and services furnished during a reporting period beginning on or after October 1, 2014. (B) Rebate With respect to items and services furnished during the period beginning on the first day on which paragraph (1) applies, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement a method to provide critical access hospitals a reimbursement equal to the amount by which— (i) the amount of reimbursement made under section 1814 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f (ii) the amount of reimbursement that would have been made under such section, after application of this subsection, for such items and services furnished by such hospitals during such period. (d) Medicare Advantage (1) In general Section 1853 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–23 (A) in subsection (l)— (i) in paragraph (1)— (I) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) paragraph (3) (II) by striking sections 1848(o) and 1848(a)(7) section 1848(o) (III) by striking and payment adjustments under paragraph (4) shall apply to (ii) by striking paragraph (4); and (B) in subsection (m)— (i) in paragraph (1)— (I) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) paragraph (3) (II) by striking sections 1886(n) and 1886(b)(3)(B)(ix) section 1886(n) (III) by striking and payment adjustments under paragraph (4) shall apply to (ii) by striking paragraph (4). (2) Effective date; rebate (A) Effective date The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to items and services furnished during an applicable period beginning on or after October 1, 2014. (B) Rebate With respect to items and services furnished during the period beginning on the first day on which paragraph (1) applies, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement a method to provide MA organizations a reimbursement equal to the amount by which— (i) the payment amount payable under section 1853 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–23 (ii) the payment amount that would have been payable under such section for such organization, after application of this subsection, for such items and services furnished during such period.

Summary: Putting Patients and Providers Ahead of Compressed Regulatory Timelines Act of 2015 This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate provider penalties for failure to comply with electronic health records (EHR) use requirements. Under current law, certain hospitals, Medicare Advantage organizations, and professionals participating in Medicare are subject to negative payment adjustments if they fail to comply with established requirements for EHR use. The bill eliminates these penalties and requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reimburse such providers for payments that they would have received within a specified timeframe had such penalties not been applied.