I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1116 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide comprehensive 
audiology services to Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2015 
Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself and Mr. BUTTERFIELD) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and 
in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
comprehensive audiology services to Medicare bene-
ficiaries, and for other purposes. 
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 Audiology 
Services Enhancement Act of 2015’’. 
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SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE AUDIOLOGY SERVICES FOR MEDI-
CARE BENEFICIARIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861 of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (s)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (EE), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in subparagraph (FF), by adding 
‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(GG) audiology services (as defined in 
subsection (ll)(3));’’; and 
(2) by amending paragraph (3) of subsection 
(ll) to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) The term ‘audiology services’ means only the fol-
lowing services furnished by a qualified audiologist as the 
audiologist is legally authorized to perform under State 
law (or the State regulatory mechanism provided by State 
law), pursuant to an order or referral by a physician, as 
would otherwise be covered if furnished by a physician: 
‘‘(A) Hearing and balance assessment services. 
‘‘(B) Auditory treatment services, including au-
ditory processing and auditory rehabilitation treat-
ment. 
‘‘(C) Vestibular treatment services. 
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‘‘(D) Intraoperative neurophysiologic moni-
toring services.’’. 
(b) PAYMENT UNDER PART B UNDER PHYSICIAN 
FEE SCHEDULE FOR COMPREHENSIVE AUDIOLOGY SERV-
ICES.—Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 
1395w–4(j)(3)) 
is 
amended 
by 
inserting 
‘‘(2)(GG),’’ before ‘‘(3),’’. 
(c) AUDIOLOGY SERVICES PERFORMED
IN HOS-
PITALS EXCLUDED FROM INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERV-
ICES.—Section 1861(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395x(b)(4)) is amended by striking ‘‘and services 
of a certified registered nurse anesthetist’’ and inserting 
‘‘services of a certified registered nurse anesthetist, and 
inter-operative neurophysiological monitoring provided by 
a physician or qualified audiologist (as defined in sub-
section (ll)(4)(B))’’. 
(d) 
REQUIREMENTS
OF
SERVICE.—Section 
1835(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395n(a)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and (D)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(D), and (GG)’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (E); 
(3) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (F) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
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(4) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(G) in the case of outpatient audiology 
services, (i) such services are or were required 
because the individual needed the specialized 
services of a physician or qualified audiologist 
to furnish such audiology services, (ii) a plan of 
care for furnishing such services has been es-
tablished by the physician or qualified audiol-
ogist and is submitted to and periodically re-
viewed by the referring or ordering physician, 
and (iii) such services are or were furnished 
while the individual is or was under the care of 
a physician.’’. 
(e) AUDIOLOGY
SERVICES
INCLUDED
AS
DES-
IGNATED HEALTH SERVICES FOR PURPOSES OF LIMITA-
TION
ON
CERTAIN
PHYSICIAN
REFERRALS.—Section 
1877(h)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395nn(h)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(M) Audiology services (as defined in sec-
tion 1861(ll)(3)).’’. 
(f) PARTICIPATION IN MEDICARE.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to require a qualified audiologist 
(as defined in section 1861(ll)(4)(B) of the Social Security 
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Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(4)(B))) to participate in the 
Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to services furnished on or after 
January 1, 2016. 
Æ 
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