I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 521
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make certain changes
to hospice care under the medicare program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 4, 1997
Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. PORTMAN, Mrs. KENNELLY of Connecticut, Ms.
FURSE, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mr. STARK, Mr. SOLOMON,
Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. TOWNS,
Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. LAFALCE, Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mr. EVANS, Mr.
FROST, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mrs.
THURMAN, Mr. POSHARD, Mr. QUINN, Mr. WYNN, Mr. GRAHAM, Ms.
PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. MASCARA, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. NEY, Mr. LAZIO of New
York, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. STENHOLM,
Mr. GILLMOR, Mr. CONDIT, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. SKAGGS, Ms. CHRIS-
TIAN-GREEN, Mr. WATT of North Carolina, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin,
Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. RUSH, Mr. GREENWOOD, Ms. DUNN, Mrs.
MALONEY of New York, Mr. FAZIO of California, Mr. LEWIS of Ken-
tucky, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. FOGLIETTA, Mr. OLVER, Mr.
DELAHUNT, Mr. BURR of North Carolina, Mr. BUNNING, Mr. YATES,
Mr. RAHALL, Mr. WISE, Mr. TORRES, and Mr. SANDERS) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means,
and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subse-
quently 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 make
certain changes to hospice care 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 Hospice Ben-
efit Amendments of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. HOSPICE CARE BENEFIT PERIODS.
(a) RESTRUCTURING OF BENEFIT PERIOD.—Section
1812 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395d) is
amended in subsections (a)(4) and (d)(1), by striking ‘‘,
a subsequent period of 30 days, and a subsequent exten-
sion period’’ and inserting ‘‘and an unlimited number of
subsequent periods of 60 days each’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—(1) Section 1812
of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395d) is amended in subsection
(d)(2)(B) by striking ‘‘90- or 30-day period or a subse-
quent extension period’’ and inserting ‘‘90-day period or
a subsequent 60-day period’’.
(2) Section 1814(a)(7)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1395f(a)(7)(A)) is amended—
(A) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(B) in clause (ii)—
(i) by striking ‘‘30-day’’ and inserting ‘‘60-
day’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘, and’’ at the end and in-
serting a period; and
(C) by striking clause (iii).
SEC. 3. OTHER ITEMS AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN HOS-
PICE CARE.
Section 1861(dd)(1) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(1)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (G), by striking ‘‘and’’ at
the end;
(2) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(I) any other item or service which is specified
in the plan and for which payment may otherwise be
made under this title.’’.
SEC. 4. CONTRACTING WITH INDEPENDENT PHYSICIANS
OR PHYSICIAN GROUPS FOR HOSPICE CARE
SERVICES PERMITTED.
Section 1861(dd)(2) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(2)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I), by striking
‘‘(F),’’; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting ‘‘or
under contract with’’ after ‘‘employed by’’.