I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2870
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage
of vision rehabilitation services under the Medicare Program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 15, 1999
Mr. CAPUANO (for himself, Mr. CLAY, Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. FROST, Mr. LA-
FALCE, Ms. LEE, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MOAKLEY, Mr.
OLVER, Mr. PASCRELL, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. TOWNS, and Mr.
WEINER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide
for coverage of vision rehabilitation services under the
Medicare Program.
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 Vision Reha-
bilitation Coverage Act of 1999’’.
‘‘(II) The Association for Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Im-
paired.
‘‘(III) National organizations representing
consumers and the elderly.
‘‘(IV) Such other organizations as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate.
‘‘(3)(A) The term ‘vision impairment’ means that an
individual is blind or partially sighted.
‘‘(B) The term ‘blind’ means blind within the mean-
ing of ‘blindness’ as that term is defined in section
216(i)(1).
‘‘(C) The term ‘partially sighted’ means functional vi-
sion impairment that constitutes a significant limitation
of visual capability resulting from disease, trauma, or con-
genital condition, that cannot be fully ameliorated by
standard refractive correction, medication, or surgery, and
that is manifested by one or more of the following:
‘‘(i) Insufficient visual resolution.
‘‘(ii) Inadequate field of vision.
‘‘(iii) Reduced peak contrast sensitivity.
‘‘(4)(A) The term ‘orientation and mobility’ means
the following services:
‘‘(i) Assessment of needs of an individual who
has a vision impairment for skills training in meth-
ods of safe movement and in strategies to gather re-
quired environmental and spatial information.
‘‘(ii) Development of appropriate integrated
service plans tailored to meet such needs identified
pursuant to an assessment under clause (i).
‘‘(iii) Provision of training in and utilization
of—
‘‘(I) equipment and adaptive devices in-
tended and designed for use by such an indi-
vidual; and
‘‘(II) specialized techniques adapted for
such individuals, including orientation, sensory
development, systems of safe movement (includ-
ing long cane techniques), resource identifica-
tion, professional referrals (as appropriate),
and, in applied settings reinforcing instruction
for the use of optical devices as prescribed by
optometrists and ophthalmologists.
‘‘(iv) Evaluation of such an individual receiving
training under clause (iii).
‘‘(B) The term ‘rehabilitation teaching’ means the
following services:
‘‘(i) Assessment of needs of an individual with
a vision impairment for skills training in inde-
pendent living and communications.
‘‘(ii) Development of appropriate integrated
service plans tailored to meet such needs identified
pursuant to an assessment under clause (i).
‘‘(iii) Provision of training in, and utilization
of—
‘‘(I) equipment and adaptive devices in-
tended and designed for use by such an indi-
vidual, including, in applied settings, reinforcing
instruction for the use of optical devices as pre-
scribed by optometrists or ophthalmologists;
and
‘‘(II) specialized techniques adapted such
an individual, including braille and other com-
munication skills, problem solving skills, re-
source management, and professional referrals
(as appropriate).
‘‘(iv) Evaluation of such an individual receiving
training under clause (iii).’’.
(c) PAYMENT.—Section 1833(a)(1) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ before ‘‘(S)’’; and
(2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end
the following: ‘‘, and (T) with respect to vision reha-
bilitation services (as defined in section 1861(uu))
furnished by a vision rehabilitation professional, the
amount paid shall be 80 percent of the lesser of the
actual charge for the services or 85 percent of the
amount determined under the fee schedule estab-
lished under section 1848(b) for the same services if
furnished by a physician’’.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to services furnished on or after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(e) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult
with the National Vision Rehabilitation Cooperative, the
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind
and Visually Impaired, and such other qualified profes-
sional organizations as the Secretary determines appro-
priate in promulgating regulations to carry out this Act.
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