Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2017

To establish a smart card pilot program to combat fraud, waste, and abuse and to protect beneficiary identity under the Medicare program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2017 2. Medicare smart card pilot program Part E of title XVIII of the Social Security Act is amended by inserting after section 1866E the following new section: 1866F. Smart card pilot program (a) Implementation (1) In general Not later than 36 months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program (in this section referred to as the pilot program (2) Smart card technology defined In this section, the term smart card technology (A) Beneficiary smart card A machine readable, fraud- and tamper-resistant card (in this section referred to as a smart card (B) Card reader technology Information technology that enables a supplier and provider to authenticate the identity of a Medicare beneficiary through presentation of such a smart card and such components, with such authentication to be reflected through the use of a modifier or in another appropriate manner, as determined by the Secretary, in the claims adjudication process. (3) Program design elements The pilot program shall be conducted for a period of 3 years consistent with the following: (A) Selection of area In consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Secretary shall select at least 3 geographic areas in which the pilot program will operate. (B) Selection of supplier and provider types In consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Secretary shall select supplier and provider types that will be required to participate in the pilot program (referred to in this section as participating suppliers and providers (i) take into account the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse (as described in section 1886(j)(2)(B) with respect to the category of provider or supplier) and other factors as determined appropriate by the Secretary; and (ii) limit the pilot program to no more than 2,000 suppliers and providers. (C) Supplier and provider hardship exemptions The Secretary shall exempt from participation in the pilot program a supplier or provider that either— (i) does not have access to card reader technology (as described in paragraph (2)(B)); (ii) does not have sufficient internet access; or (iii) has a low volume (as determined by the Secretary) of Medicare claims for which payment is made under this title. (D) Beneficiary smart card issuance The Secretary shall provide for the issuance of beneficiary smart cards described in paragraph (2)(A) to all Medicare beneficiaries residing in a geographic area in which the pilot program is conducted under subparagraph (A). Information that appears on Medicare cards used outside the pilot program may appear on the face of the beneficiary smart card. (E) Information on operation of pilot program The Secretary shall provide participating suppliers and providers and Medicare beneficiaries who are furnished items and services by such suppliers and providers, with information on the operation of the pilot program, including privacy protections described in subparagraph (H). (F) Access to services outside the pilot program (i) Beneficiaries Medicare beneficiaries who receive beneficiary smart cards may receive items and services care from suppliers and providers not participating in the pilot program. (ii) Suppliers and providers Suppliers and providers not participating in the pilot program may submit claims under this title for items and services furnished without use of smart card technology to Medicare beneficiaries who receive beneficiary smart cards. (G) Private sector implementation The Secretary shall select, by using a competitive procurement, a private sector contractor to implement and operate the pilot program. (H) Privacy protections The Secretary shall ensure that the pilot program complies with applicable Federal laws, including regulations, concerning individually identifiable health information, including the Privacy Act of 1974 and regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and such individually identifiable information shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code. (I) Mandatory participation Subject to subparagraph (C), in the case of services furnished by a provider or supplier included in a supplier or provider type selected under subparagraph (B) in a geographic area selected under subparagraph (A), payment may only be made under this title for such services during the period of the pilot program if the provider or supplier is participating in the pilot program. (4) Definitions In this section: (A) The terms supplier provider supplier provider of services (B) The term Medicare beneficiary (C) The term Medicare claim (b) Reports to Congress (1) In general The Secretary shall submit to Congress the following reports: (A) Initial design report Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, a report that outlines the plan for implementation of the pilot program. (B) Implementation report After implementation of the pilot program, a report on the initial implementation of the pilot program, including parameters for operation of such program. (C) Interim performance report Not later than 2 years after the date the pilot program is implemented, an interim report on the performance of such program. (D) Final performance report Not later than 18 months after the date of the completion of the pilot program, a final report on the performance of such program. (2) Contents of certain reports The reports under subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (1) shall include information on the performance of the pilot program in achieving its objectives and such recommendations regarding expanding the duration and scope of such program as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Funding For purposes of conducting the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841, to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Program Management Account, of $150,000,000, to be available until expended. .

Summary: Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2017 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a three-year pilot program, in at least three geographic areas, to demonstrate the feasibility of using smart-card technology to authenticate the identity of a Medicare beneficiary at points of service. The CMS shall select supplier and provider types that will be required to participate in the pilot program as a condition of Medicare payment, but must exempt from participation a supplier or provider that: (1) does not have access to card-reader technology, (2) does not have sufficient internet access, or (3) has a low volume of Medicare claims. The CMS shall select a private contractor to implement and operate the pilot program. The CMS must submit specified reports to Congress on program design, implementation, and performance. For purposes of conducting the pilot program, the CMS shall provide for the transfer of $150 million from the Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund to the CMS Program Management Account.