A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the accuracy of geographic adjustment factors under the Medicare program and to permanently extend certain adjustments to such factors for certain localities, and for other purposes.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the accuracy of geographic adjustment factors under the Medicare program and to permanently extend certain adjustments to such factors for certain localities, and for other purposes. 1. Improving the accuracy of geographic adjustment factors Section 1848(e)(1)(D) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(D) (D) Use of accurate data (i) In general In establishing indices and index values under this paragraph, the Secretary shall use the most recent data available relating to practice expenses, malpractice expenses, and physician work effort in each fee schedule area. (ii) Practice expense and work indices In establishing indices and index values under clause (i) or (iii) of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall— (I) use the most recent market data available on physician wages, or if available, actual cost data for physician labor; and (II) not use nonphysician professional wage data as a proxy for physician wage data. (iii) Practice expense calculation In calculating index values under clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use the most recent office rent data available or data from Federally qualified health centers (as defined in section 1861(aa)(4)) expense reports. . 2. Floor for work and practice expense geographic indices for services furnished in Wisconsin and Iowa (a) Work geographic index Section 1848(e)(1)(E) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(D) (E) Floor at 1.0 on work geographic index (i) For 2004 through 2017 After calculating the work geographic index in subparagraph (A)(iii), for purposes of payment for services furnished on or after January 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2018, the Secretary shall increase the work geographic index to 1.00 for any locality for which such work geographic index is less than 1.00. (ii) For 2018 and subsequent years After calculating the work geographic index in subparagraph (A)(iii), for purposes of payment for services furnished in Wisconsin or Iowa on or after January 1, 2018, the Secretary shall increase any such index to 1.00 if such index would otherwise be less than 1.00. . (b) Practice expense geographic indices Section 1848(e)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1) (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking (B), (C), (E), (G), (H), and (I) (B), (C), (E), (G), (H), (I), and (J) (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (J) Floor for practice expense geographic indices for services furnished in Wisconsin or Iowa For purposes of payment for services furnished in Wisconsin or Iowa on or after January 1, 2018, after calculating the practice expense index in subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary shall increase any such index to 1.00 if such index would otherwise be less that 1.00. .

Summary: This bill alters provisions relating to the determination of geographic adjustment factors for the payment of physician services under Medicare, and makes permanent certain adjustments for services furnished in Wisconsin and Iowa.