I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2674
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include coverage under
the medicare program for rehabilitation services provided by State voca-
tional rehabilitation agencies to older individuals who are blind.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 30, 2001
Mr. FROST (for himself, Mr. TOWNS, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. THOMPSON
of Mississippi, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Mr. MCNULTY, Ms. CARSON of Indiana,
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. LANTOS, Mr.
RUSH, Mr. LAFALCE, Ms. RIVERS, and Mr. KILDEE) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include
coverage under the medicare program for rehabilitation
services provided by State vocational rehabilitation agen-
cies to older individuals who are blind.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medicare Equity Act
for the Blind of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF REHABILITATION SERV-
ICES FOR OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
BLIND.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)), as amended by sec-
tions 102(a) and 105(a) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and
SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000
(as enacted into law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106–
554), is amended—
(1) in subsection (s)(2)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (U);
(B) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (V); and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
‘‘(W) rehabilitation services for older individuals
who are blind;’’; and
(1) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘Rehabilitation Services for Older Blind Individuals
‘‘(ww) The term ‘rehabilitation services for older indi-
viduals who are blind’ means independent living services
(described in section 752(e) of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973) that—
‘‘(1) are approved by the Secretary in regula-
tions; and
‘‘(2) are provided to an older individual who is
blind (as defined in section 751 of such Act); and
‘‘(3) are provided—
‘‘(A) by a State agency designated under
section 101(a)(2) of such Act; or
‘‘(B) by another entity that is acting under
the supervision of that State agency and that—
‘‘(i) is on a list of entities approved by
that State agency; or
‘‘(ii) is selected by the older individual
and is approved (through an application
process or otherwise) by that State agen-
cy.’’.
(b) PAYMENT.—Section 1833(a)(1) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)), as amended by sections 105(c) and
223(c) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits
Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (as enacted into
law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law 106–554), is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ before ‘‘(U)’’; and
(2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end
the following: ‘‘, and (V) with respect to rehabilita-
tion services for older individuals who are blind (as
defined in section 1861(ww)), the amount paid shall
be 80 percent of the lesser of the actual charge for
the services or the amount determined under the fee
schedule established for purposes of this clause’’.
(c) APPLICATION OF LIMITS ON BILLING.—Section
1842(b)(18)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C)),
as amended by section 105(d) of the Medicare, Medicaid,
and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of
2000 (as enacted into law by section 1(a)(6) of Public Law
106–554), is amended by adding at the end the following
new clause:
‘‘(vii) An individual or entity providing rehabili-
tation services for older individuals.’’.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section apply to services furnished on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2002.
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