BREATH Act of 2017

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve Medicare beneficiary access to ventilators, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Beneficiary Respiratory Equipment Access and Transparency to Home Ventilator Care Act of 2017 BREATH Act of 2017 2. Promoting evidence-based care for certain ventilators and other items of durable medical equipment Section 1834 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m (v) Appropriate use criteria for certain ventilators (1) In general Not later than January 1, 2018, subject to paragraph (2), and in consultation with medical experts and applicable stakeholders, the Secretary shall establish and implement policies and standards for determining the appropriate use of ventilators as described in subsection (a)(3)(A). (2) Delay in implementation of appropriate use criteria for use by certain individuals The Secretary may, as the Secretary determines appropriate, delay until such date as the Secretary determines appropriate but not later than January 1, 2020, the establishment and implementation of appropriate use criteria as described in paragraph (1) (which may be the same appropriate use criteria established and implemented under such paragraph) for ventilators furnished to individuals diagnosed with neuromuscular or other thoracic restrictive diseases or cystic fibrosis. . 3. Reimbursement for home mechanical ventilators (a) In general Section 1834(a)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(3) (1) in subparagraph (B)— (A) in clause (iii), by striking and (B) in clause (iv)— (i) by inserting , except as provided in clause (v), subsequent year (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new clause: (v) for an item or device furnished on or after January 1, 2018, in the case of a ventilator described in subparagraph (A), the payment rate determined for the ventilator under subparagraph (D) for the year. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: (D) 2018 and subsequent years payment rates for ventilators For purposes of subparagraph (B)(v), the payment rate determined under this subparagraph for a ventilator described in subparagraph (A) is the following: (i) 2018 For 2018, the payment amount specified in subparagraph (B) for an item or device furnished on or after July 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2018, increased by the covered item update for 2018. (ii) 2019 For 2019, the rate determined under clause (i) for 2018— (I) increased by the covered item update for 2019; and (II) if applicable, increased by the budget neutrality adjustment under subparagraph (E). (iii) 2020 and subsequent years For 2020 and subsequent years, the rate determined under this subparagraph for an item or device furnished on December 31 of the previous year, increased by the covered item update for the year. (E) Budget neutrality adjustment of payment rates for ventilators for 2019 (i) In general Subject to the succeeding clauses of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall implement the provisions of subparagraphs (B)(v) and (D) in a budget neutral manner and any budget neutrality adjustment under this subparagraph shall be limited to payments for a ventilator described in subparagraph (A) furnished during 2019. (ii) Computation of aggregate budget neutrality adjustment The aggregate budget neutrality adjustment under this subparagraph shall be an amount equal to the difference (if any) between— (I) aggregate payments under this part for ventilators described in subparagraph (A) furnished during 2017, as adjusted under subclause (I) of clause (iii); and (II) aggregate payments under this part for such ventilators furnished during 2018, as adjusted under subclause (II) of such clause. (iii) Adjustments For purposes of clause (ii)— (I) payments described in subclause (I) of such clause shall be increased by the covered item update for 2018; and (II) payments described in subclause (II) of such clause shall be increased or decreased by the percentage change in the total number of individuals enrolled under this part (other than Medicare Advantage enrollees) from 2017 to 2018. .

Summary: Beneficiary Respiratory Equipment Access and Transparency to Home Ventilator Care Act of 2017 or the BREATH Act of 2017 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish by January 1, 2018, policies and standards for determining the appropriate use of certain ventilators under the Medicare program. The CMS may delay such establishment until January 1, 2020, for certain ventilators furnished to individuals with specified medical diagnoses. Subject to budget neutrality requirements, the bill increases the Medicare payment rate for such ventilators for 2018 and subsequent years.