II 
Calendar No. 836 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6331 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JUNE 24 (legislative day, JUNE 23), 2008 
Received and read the first time 
JUNE 25, 2008 
Read the second time and placed on the calendar 
AN ACT 
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act 
to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Pro-
gram, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and 
mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit 
programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, 
including pharmacy access, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act 
of 2008’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—MEDICARE 
Subtitle A—Beneficiary Improvements 
PART I—PREVENTION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND MARKETING 
Sec. 101. Improvements to coverage of preventive services. 
Sec. 102. Elimination of discriminatory copayment rates for Medicare out-
patient psychiatric services. 
Sec. 103. Prohibitions and limitations on certain sales and marketing activities 
under Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug plans. 
Sec. 104. Improvements to the Medigap program. 
PART II—LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS 
Sec. 111. Extension of qualifying individual (QI) program. 
Sec. 112. Application of full LIS subsidy assets test under Medicare Savings 
Program. 
Sec. 113. Eliminating barriers to enrollment. 
Sec. 114. Elimination of Medicare part D late enrollment penalties paid by sub-
sidy eligible individuals. 
Sec. 115. Eliminating application of estate recovery. 
Sec. 116. Exemptions from income and resources for determination of eligibility 
for low-income subsidy. 
Sec. 117. Judicial review of decisions of the Commissioner of Social Security 
under the Medicare part D low-income subsidy program. 
Sec. 118. Translation of model form. 
Sec. 119. Medicare enrollment assistance. 
Subtitle B—Provisions Relating to Part A 
Sec. 121. Expansion and extension of the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility 
Program. 
Sec. 122. Rebasing for sole community hospitals. 
Sec. 123. Demonstration project on community health integration models in 
certain rural counties. 
Sec. 124. Extension of the reclassification of certain hospitals. 
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Sec. 125. Revocation of unique deeming authority of the Joint Commission. 
Subtitle C—Provisions Relating to Part B 
PART I—PHYSICIANS’ SERVICES 
Sec. 131. Physician payment, efficiency, and quality improvements. 
Sec. 132. Incentives for electronic prescribing. 
Sec. 133. Expanding access to primary care services. 
Sec. 134. Extension of floor on Medicare work geographic adjustment under 
the Medicare physician fee schedule. 
Sec. 135. Imaging provisions. 
Sec. 136. Extension of treatment of certain physician pathology services under 
Medicare. 
Sec. 137. Accommodation of physicians ordered to active duty in the Armed 
Services. 
Sec. 138. Adjustment for Medicare mental health services. 
Sec. 139. Improvements for Medicare anesthesia teaching programs. 
PART II—OTHER PAYMENT AND COVERAGE IMPROVEMENTS 
Sec. 141. Extension of exceptions process for Medicare therapy caps. 
Sec. 142. Extension of payment rule for brachytherapy and therapeutic radio-
pharmaceuticals. 
Sec. 143. Speech-language pathology services. 
Sec. 144. Payment and coverage improvements for patients with chronic ob-
structive pulmonary disease and other conditions. 
Sec. 145. Clinical laboratory tests. 
Sec. 146. Improved access to ambulance services. 
Sec. 147. Extension and expansion of the Medicare hold harmless provision 
under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient 
department (HOPD) services for certain hospitals. 
Sec. 148. Clarification of payment for clinical laboratory tests furnished by crit-
ical access hospitals. 
Sec. 149. Adding certain entities as originating sites for payment of telehealth 
services. 
Sec. 150. MedPAC study and report on improving chronic care demonstration 
programs. 
Sec. 151. Increase of FQHC payment limits. 
Sec. 152. Kidney disease education and awareness provisions. 
Sec. 153. Renal dialysis provisions. 
Sec. 154. Delay in and reform of Medicare DMEPOS competitive acquisition 
program. 
Subtitle D—Provisions Relating to Part C 
Sec. 161. Phase-out of indirect medical education (IME). 
Sec. 162. Revisions to requirements for Medicare Advantage private fee-for- 
service plans. 
Sec. 163. Revisions to quality improvement programs. 
Sec. 164. Revisions relating to specialized Medicare Advantage plans for special 
needs individuals. 
Sec. 165. Limitation on out-of-pocket costs for dual eligibles and qualified 
medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a specialized Medicare Ad-
vantage plan for special needs individuals. 
Sec. 166. Adjustment to the Medicare Advantage stabilization fund. 
Sec. 167. Access to Medicare reasonable cost contract plans. 
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Sec. 168. MedPAC study and report on quality measures. 
Sec. 169. MedPAC study and report on Medicare Advantage payments. 
Subtitle E—Provisions Relating to Part D 
PART I—IMPROVING PHARMACY ACCESS 
Sec. 171. Prompt payment by prescription drug plans and MA–PD plans under 
part D. 
Sec. 172. Submission of claims by pharmacies located in or contracting with 
long-term care facilities. 
Sec. 173. Regular update of prescription drug pricing standard. 
PART II—OTHER PROVISIONS 
Sec. 175. Inclusion of barbiturates and benzodiazepines as covered part D 
drugs. 
Sec. 176. Formulary requirements with respect to certain categories or classes 
of drugs. 
Subtitle F—Other Provisions 
Sec. 181. Use of part D data. 
Sec. 182. Revision of definition of medically accepted indication for drugs. 
Sec. 183. Contract with a consensus-based entity regarding performance meas-
urement. 
Sec. 184. Cost-sharing for clinical trials. 
Sec. 185. Addressing health care disparities. 
Sec. 186. Demonstration to improve care to previously uninsured. 
Sec. 187. Office of the Inspector General report on compliance with and en-
forcement of national standards on culturally and linguistically 
appropriate services (CLAS) in Medicare. 
Sec. 188. Medicare Improvement Funding. 
Sec. 189. Inclusion of Medicare providers and suppliers in Federal Payment 
Levy and Administrative Offset Program. 
TITLE II—MEDICAID 
Sec. 201. Extension of transitional medical assistance (TMA) and abstinence 
education program. 
Sec. 202. Medicaid DSH extension. 
Sec. 203. Pharmacy reimbursement under Medicaid. 
Sec. 204. Review of administrative claim determinations. 
Sec. 205. County medicaid health insuring organizations. 
TITLE III—MISCELLANEOUS 
Sec. 301. Extension of TANF supplemental grants. 
Sec. 302. 70 percent federal matching for foster care and adoption assistance 
for the District of Columbia. 
Sec. 303. Extension of Special Diabetes Grant Programs. 
Sec. 304. IOM reports on best practices for conducting systematic reviews of 
clinical effectiveness research and for developing clinical proto-
cols. 
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TITLE I—MEDICARE 
Subtitle A—Beneficiary 
Improvements 
PART I—PREVENTION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND 
MARKETING 
SEC. 101. IMPROVEMENTS TO COVERAGE OF PREVENTIVE 
SERVICES. 
(a) COVERAGE OF ADDITIONAL PREVENTIVE SERV-
ICES.— 
(1) COVERAGE.—Section 1861 of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x), as amended by section 
114 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Exten-
sion Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–173), is amend-
ed— 
(A) in subsection (s)(2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (Z), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (AA), by adding 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the end; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(BB) additional preventive services (described 
in subsection (ddd)(1));’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
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‘‘Additional Preventive Services 
‘‘(ddd)(1) The term ‘additional preventive services’ 
means services not otherwise described in this title that 
identify medical conditions or risk factors and that the 
Secretary determines are— 
‘‘(A) reasonable and necessary for the preven-
tion or early detection of an illness or disability; 
‘‘(B) recommended with a grade of A or B by 
the United States Preventive Services Task Force; 
and 
‘‘(C) appropriate for individuals entitled to ben-
efits under part A or enrolled under part B. 
‘‘(2) In making determinations under paragraph (1) 
regarding the coverage of a new service, the Secretary 
shall use the process for making national coverage deter-
minations (as defined in section 1869(f)(1)(B)) under this 
title. As part of the use of such process, the Secretary 
may conduct an assessment of the relation between pre-
dicted outcomes and the expenditures for such service and 
may take into account the results of such assessment in 
making such determination.’’. 
(2) PAYMENT
AND
COINSURANCE
FOR
ADDI-
TIONAL PREVENTIVE SERVICES.—Section 1833(a)(1) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)) 
is amended— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ before ‘‘(V)’’; and 
(B) by inserting before the semicolon at 
the end the following: ‘‘, and (W) with respect 
to additional preventive services (as defined in 
section 1861(ddd)(1)), the amount paid shall be 
(i) in the case of such services which are clinical 
diagnostic laboratory tests, the amount deter-
mined under subparagraph (D), and (ii) in the 
case of all other such services, 80 percent of the 
lesser of the actual charge for the service or the 
amount determined under a fee schedule estab-
lished by the Secretary for purposes of this sub-
paragraph’’. 
(3) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
REGARDING 
COVERAGE.—Section 1862(a)(1)(A) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(1)(A)) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or additional preventive services (as 
described in section 1861(ddd)(1))’’ after ‘‘suc-
ceeding subparagraph’’. 
(4) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the 
provisions of, or amendments made by, this sub-
section shall be construed to provide coverage under 
title XVIII of the Social Security Act of items and 
services for the treatment of a medical condition 
that is not otherwise covered under such title. 
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(b) REVISIONS TO INITIAL PREVENTIVE PHYSICAL 
EXAMINATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861(ww) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ww)) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘body mass index,’’ 
after ‘‘weight’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘, and an electro-
cardiogram’’; and 
(iii) by inserting ‘‘and end-of-life plan-
ning (as defined in paragraph (3)) upon 
the agreement with the individual’’ after 
‘‘paragraph (2)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end 
the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(M) An electrocardiogram. 
‘‘(N) Additional preventive services (as defined 
in subsection (ddd)(1)).’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘end- 
of-life planning’ means verbal or written information re-
garding— 
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‘‘(A) an individual’s ability to prepare an ad-
vance directive in the case that an injury or illness 
causes the individual to be unable to make health 
care decisions; and 
‘‘(B) whether or not the physician is willing to 
follow the individual’s wishes as expressed in an ad-
vance directive.’’. 
(2) WAIVER
OF
APPLICATION
OF
DEDUCT-
IBLE.—The first sentence of section 1833(b) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)) is amend-
ed— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ before ‘‘(8)’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, and (9) such deductible 
shall not apply with respect to an initial preven-
tive physical examination (as defined in section 
1861(ww))’’ before the period at the end. 
(3) EXTENSION OF ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FROM 
SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR.—Section 1862(a)(1)(K) 
of 
the 
Social 
Security 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1395y(a)(1)(K)) is amended by striking ‘‘6 months’’ 
and inserting ‘‘1 year’’. 
(4) 
TECHNICAL
CORRECTION.—Section 
1862(a)(1)(K) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395y(a)(1)(K)) is amended by striking ‘‘not later’’ 
and inserting ‘‘more’’. 
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(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to services furnished on or after 
January 1, 2009. 
SEC. 102. ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATORY COPAYMENT 
RATES FOR MEDICARE OUTPATIENT PSY-
CHIATRIC SERVICES. 
Section 1833(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395l(c)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(c)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
part, with respect to expenses incurred in a calendar year 
in connection with the treatment of mental, psycho-
neurotic, and personality disorders of an individual who 
is not an inpatient of a hospital at the time such expenses 
are incurred, there shall be considered as incurred ex-
penses for purposes of subsections (a) and (b)— 
‘‘(A) for expenses incurred in years prior to 
2010, only 621⁄2 percent of such expenses; 
‘‘(B) for expenses incurred in 2010 or 2011, 
only 683⁄4 percent of such expenses; 
‘‘(C) for expenses incurred in 2012, only 75 
percent of such expenses; 
‘‘(D) for expenses incurred in 2013, only 811⁄4 
percent of such expenses; and 
‘‘(E) for expenses incurred in 2014 or any sub-
sequent calendar year, 100 percent of such expenses. 
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‘‘(2) For purposes of subparagraphs (A) through (D) 
of paragraph (1), the term ‘treatment’ does not include 
brief office visits (as defined by the Secretary) for the sole 
purpose of monitoring or changing drug prescriptions used 
in the treatment of such disorders or partial hospitaliza-
tion services that are not directly provided by a physi-
cian.’’. 
SEC. 103. PROHIBITIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON CERTAIN 
SALES AND MARKETING ACTIVITIES UNDER 
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS AND PRE-
SCRIPTION DRUG PLANS. 
(a) PROHIBITIONS.— 
(1) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 1851 of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–21) is 
amended— 
(i) in subsection (h)(4)— 
(I) in subparagraph (A)— 
(aa) by striking ‘‘cash or 
other monetary rebates’’ and in-
serting ‘‘, subject to subsection 
(j)(2)(C), cash, gifts, prizes, or 
other monetary rebates’’; and 
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(bb) by striking ‘‘, and’’ at 
the end and inserting a semi-
colon; 
(II) in subparagraph (B), by 
striking the period at the end and in-
serting a semicolon; and 
(III) by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) shall not permit a Medicare Advan-
tage organization (or the agents, brokers, and 
other third parties representing such organiza-
tion) to conduct the prohibited activities de-
scribed in subsection (j)(1); and’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(j) PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED AND LIMI-
TATIONS ON THE CONDUCT OF CERTAIN OTHER ACTIVI-
TIES.— 
‘‘(1) PROHIBITED
ACTIVITIES
DESCRIBED.— 
The following prohibited activities are described in 
this paragraph: 
‘‘(A) UNSOLICITED
MEANS
OF
DIRECT 
CONTACT.—Any unsolicited means of direct 
contact of prospective enrollees, including solic-
iting door-to-door or any outbound tele-
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marketing without the prospective enrollee initi-
ating contact. 
‘‘(B) CROSS-SELLING.—The sale of other 
non-health related products (such as annuities 
and life insurance) during any sales or mar-
keting activity or presentation conducted with 
respect to a Medicare Advantage plan. 
‘‘(C) MEALS.—The provision of meals of 
any sort, regardless of value, to prospective en-
rollees at promotional and sales activities. 
‘‘(D) SALES AND MARKETING IN HEALTH 
CARE
SETTINGS
AND
AT
EDUCATIONAL 
EVENTS.—Sales and marketing activities for 
the enrollment of individuals in Medicare Ad-
vantage plans that are conducted— 
‘‘(i) in health care settings in areas 
where health care is delivered to individ-
uals (such as physician offices and phar-
macies), except in the case where such ac-
tivities are conducted in common areas in 
health care settings; and 
‘‘(ii) at educational events.’’. 
(2) MEDICARE
PRESCRIPTION
DRUG
PRO-
GRAM.—Section 1860D–4 of the Social Security Act 
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(42 U.S.C. 1395w–104) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(l) REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SALES AND 
MARKETING ACTIVITIES.—The following provisions shall 
apply to a PDP sponsor (and the agents, brokers, and 
other third parties representing such sponsor) in the same 
manner as such provisions apply to a Medicare Advantage 
organization (and the agents, brokers, and other third par-
ties representing such organization): 
‘‘(1) 
The 
prohibition 
under 
section 
1851(h)(4)(C) on conducting activities described in 
section 1851(j)(1).’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply to plan years begin-
ning on or after January 1, 2009. 
(b) LIMITATIONS.— 
(1) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM.—Section 
1851 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w– 
21), as amended by subsection (a)(1), is amended— 
(A) in subsection (h)(4), by adding at the 
end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) shall only permit a Medicare Advan-
tage organization (and the agents, brokers, and 
other third parties representing such organiza-
tion) to conduct the activities described in sub-
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section (j)(2) in accordance with the limitations 
established under such subsection.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (j), by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish limitations with respect to at least the following: 
‘‘(A) SCOPE
OF
MARKETING
APPOINT-
MENTS.—The scope of any appointment with 
respect to the marketing of a Medicare Advan-
tage plan. Such limitation shall require advance 
agreement with a prospective enrollee on the 
scope of the marketing appointment and docu-
mentation of such agreement by the Medicare 
Advantage organization. In the case where the 
marketing appointment is in person, such docu-
mentation shall be in writing. 
‘‘(B) CO-BRANDING.—The use of the name 
or logo of a co-branded network provider on 
Medicare Advantage plan membership and mar-
keting materials. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION OF GIFTS TO NOMINAL 
DOLLAR
VALUE.—The offering of gifts and 
other promotional items other than those that 
are of nominal value (as determined by the Sec-
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retary) to prospective enrollees at promotional 
activities. 
‘‘(D) COMPENSATION.—The use of com-
pensation other than as provided under guide-
lines established by the Secretary. Such guide-
lines shall ensure that the use of compensation 
creates incentives for agents and brokers to en-
roll individuals in the Medicare Advantage plan 
that is intended to best meet their health care 
needs. 
‘‘(E) REQUIRED
TRAINING, ANNUAL
RE-
TRAINING, AND TESTING OF AGENTS, BROKERS, 
AND
OTHER
THIRD
PARTIES.—The use by a 
Medicare Advantage organization of any indi-
vidual as an agent, broker, or other third party 
representing the organization that has not com-
pleted an initial training and testing program 
and does not complete an annual retraining and 
testing program.’’. 
(2) MEDICARE
PRESCRIPTION
DRUG
PRO-
GRAM.—Section 1860D–4(l) of the Social Security 
Act, as added by subsection (a)(2), is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) 
The 
requirement 
under 
section 
1851(h)(4)(D) to conduct activities described in sec-
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tion 1851(j)(2) in accordance with the limitations 
established under such subsection.’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall take effect on a date speci-
fied by the Secretary (but in no case later than No-
vember 15, 2008). 
(c) REQUIRED INCLUSION OF PLAN TYPE IN PLAN 
NAME.— 
(1) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM.—Section 
1851(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395w–21(h)) is amended by adding at the end fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) REQUIRED INCLUSION OF PLAN TYPE IN 
PLAN NAME.—For plan years beginning on or after 
January 1, 2010, a Medicare Advantage organiza-
tion must ensure that the name of each Medicare 
Advantage plan offered by the Medicare Advantage 
organization includes the plan type of the plan 
(using standard terminology developed by the Sec-
retary).’’. 
(2) 
PRESCRIPTION
DRUG
PLANS.—Section 
1860D–4(l) of the Social Security Act, as added by 
subsection (a)(2) and amended by subsection (b)(2), 
is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
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‘‘(3) The inclusion of the plan type in the plan 
name under section 1851(h)(6).’’. 
(d) STRENGTHENING THE ABILITY OF STATES TO 
ACT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SECRETARY TO AD-
DRESS FRAUDULENT
OR INAPPROPRIATE MARKETING 
PRACTICES.— 
(1) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM.—Section 
1851(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395w–21(h), as amended by subsection (c)(1), is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(7) STRENGTHENING THE ABILITY OF STATES 
TO ACT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SECRETARY 
TO ADDRESS FRAUDULENT OR INAPPROPRIATE MAR-
KETING PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(A) APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS AND BRO-
KERS.—Each Medicare Advantage organization 
shall— 
‘‘(i) only use agents and brokers who 
have been licensed under State law to sell 
Medicare Advantage plans offered by the 
Medicare Advantage organization; 
‘‘(ii) in the case where a State has a 
State appointment law, abide by such law; 
and 
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‘‘(iii) report to the applicable State 
the termination of any such agent or 
broker, including the reasons for such ter-
mination (as required under applicable 
State law). 
‘‘(B) COMPLIANCE WITH STATE INFORMA-
TION
REQUESTS.—Each Medicare Advantage 
organization shall comply in a timely manner 
with any request by a State for information re-
garding the performance of a licensed agent, 
broker, or other third party representing the 
Medicare Advantage organization as part of an 
investigation by the State into the conduct of 
the agent, broker, or other third party.’’. 
(2) 
PRESCRIPTION
DRUG
PLANS.—Section 
1860D–4(l) of the Social Security Act, as amended 
by subsection (c)(2), is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) The requirements regarding the appoint-
ment of agents and brokers and compliance with 
State information requests under subparagraphs (A) 
and (B), respectively, of section 1851(h)(7).’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply to plan years begin-
ning on or after January 1, 2009. 
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SEC. 104. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MEDIGAP PROGRAM. 
(a) IMPLEMENTATION
OF
NAIC RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Secretary’’) shall provide for implementation of the 
changes in the NAIC model law and regulations ap-
proved by the National Association of Insurance 
Commissioners in its Model #651 (‘‘Model Regula-
tion to Implement the NAIC Medicare Supplement 
Insurance Minimum Standards Model Act’’) on 
March 11, 2007, as modified to reflect the changes 
made under this Act and the Genetic Information 
Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (Public Law 110– 
233). 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION DATES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The modifications to 
Model #651 required under paragraph (1) shall 
be completed by the National Association of In-
surance Commissioners not later than October 
31, 2008. Except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), each State shall have 1 year from the date 
the National Association of Insurance Commis-
sioners adopts the revised NAIC model law and 
regulations (as changed by Model #651, as so 
modified) to conform the regulatory program 
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established by the State to such revised NAIC 
model law and regulations. 
(B) EXTENSION OF EFFECTIVE DATE FOR 
STATE
LAW
AMENDMENT.—In the case of a 
State which the Secretary determines requires 
State legislation in order to conform the regu-
latory program established by the State to such 
revised NAIC model law and regulations, the 
State shall not be regarded as failing to comply 
with the requirements of this section solely on 
the basis of its failure to meet such require-
ments before the first day of the first calendar 
quarter beginning after the close of the first 
regular session of the State legislature that be-
gins after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
For purposes of the previous sentence, in the 
case of a State that has a 2-year legislative ses-
sion, each year of the session is considered to 
be a separate regular session of the State legis-
lature. 
(C) TRANSITION DATES.—No carrier may 
issue a new or revised medicare supplemental 
policy or certificate under section 1882 of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss) that 
meets the requirements of such revised NAIC 
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model law and regulations for coverage effective 
prior to June 1, 2010. A carrier may continue 
to offer or issue a medicare supplemental policy 
under such section that meets the requirements 
of the NAIC model law and regulations and 
State law (as in effect prior to the adoption of 
such revised NAIC model law and regulations) 
prior to June 1, 2010. Nothing shall preclude 
carriers from marketing new or revised medi-
care supplemental policies or certificates that 
meet the requirements of such revised NAIC 
model law and regulations on or after the date 
on which the State conforms the regulatory pro-
gram established by the State to such revised 
NAIC model law and regulations. 
(b) REQUIRED OFFERING OF A RANGE OF POLI-
CIES.—Section 1882(o) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395s(o)), as amended by section 104(b)(3) of the 
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (Pub-
lic Law 110–233), is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) In addition to the requirement under para-
graph (2), the issuer of the policy must make avail-
able to the individual at least Medicare supplemental 
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policies with benefit packages classified as ‘C’ or 
‘F’.’’. 
(c) CLARIFICATION.—Any health insurance policy 
that provides reimbursement for expenses incurred for 
items and services for which payment may be made under 
title XVIII of the Social Security Act but which are not 
reimbursable by reason of the applicability of deductibles, 
coinsurance, copayments or other limitations imposed by 
a Medicare Advantage plan (including a Medicare Advan-
tage private fee-for-service plan) under part C of such title 
shall comply with the requirements of section 1882(o) of 
the such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(o)). 
PART II—LOW-INCOME PROGRAMS 
SEC. 111. EXTENSION OF QUALIFYING INDIVIDUAL (QI) 
PROGRAM. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1902(a)(10)(E)(iv) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(E)(iv)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘June 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘Decem-
ber 2009’’. 
(b) EXTENDING TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR 
ALLOCATION.—Section 1933(g) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396u–3(g)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (H); 
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(B) in subparagraph (I)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘June 30’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘September 30’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘$200,000,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$300,000,000’’; and 
(iii) by striking the period at the end 
and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraphs: 
‘‘(J) for the period that begins on October 
1, 2008, and ends on December 31, 2008, the 
total allocation amount is $100,000,000; 
‘‘(K) for the period that begins on January 
1, 2009, and ends on September 30, 2009, the 
total allocation amount is $350,000,000; and 
‘‘(L) for the period that begins on October 
1, 2009, and ends on December 31, 2009, the 
total allocation amount is $150,000,000.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or (H)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘(H), (J), or (L)’’. 
SEC. 112. APPLICATION OF FULL LIS SUBSIDY ASSETS TEST 
UNDER MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM. 
Section 1905(p)(1)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1396d(p)(1)(C)) is amended by inserting before the period 
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at the end the following: ‘‘or, effective beginning with Jan-
uary 1, 2010, whose resources (as so determined) do not 
exceed the maximum resource level applied for the year 
under subparagraph (D) of section 1860D–14(a)(3) (de-
termined without regard to the life insurance policy exclu-
sion provided under subparagraph (G) of such section) ap-
plicable to an individual or to the individual and the indi-
vidual’s spouse (as the case may be)’’. 
SEC. 113. ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT. 
(a) SSA ASSISTANCE WITH MEDICARE SAVINGS 
PROGRAM AND LOW-INCOME SUBSIDY PROGRAM APPLI-
CATIONS.—Section 1144 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b– 
14) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(c) ASSISTANCE WITH MEDICARE SAVINGS PRO-
GRAM AND LOW-INCOME SUBSIDY PROGRAM APPLICA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) DISTRIBUTION OF APPLICATIONS AND IN-
FORMATION
TO
INDIVIDUALS
WHO
ARE
POTEN-
TIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR LOW-INCOME SUBSIDY PRO-
GRAM.—For each individual who submits an applica-
tion for low-income subsidies under section 1860D– 
14, requests an application for such subsidies, or is 
otherwise identified as an individual who is poten-
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tially eligible for such subsidies, the Commissioner 
shall do the following: 
‘‘(A) Provide information describing the 
low-income subsidy program under section 
1860D–14 and the Medicare Savings Program 
(as defined in paragraph (7)). 
‘‘(B) Provide an application for enrollment 
under such low-income subsidy program (if not 
already received by the Commissioner). 
‘‘(C) In accordance with paragraph (3), 
transmit data from such an application for pur-
poses of initiating an application for benefits 
under the Medicare Savings Program. 
‘‘(D) Provide information on how the indi-
vidual may obtain assistance in completing such 
application and an application under the Medi-
care Savings Program, including information on 
how the individual may contact the State health 
insurance assistance program (SHIP). 
‘‘(E) Make the application described in 
subparagraph (B) and the information de-
scribed in subparagraphs (A) and (D) available 
at local offices of the Social Security Adminis-
tration. 
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‘‘(2) TRAINING
PERSONNEL
IN
EXPLAINING 
BENEFIT PROGRAMS AND ASSISTING IN COMPLETING 
LIS APPLICATION.—The Commissioner shall provide 
training to those employees of the Social Security 
Administration who are involved in receiving applica-
tions for benefits described in paragraph (1)(B) in 
order that they may promote beneficiary under-
standing of the low-income subsidy program and the 
Medicare Savings Program in order to increase par-
ticipation in these programs. Such employees shall 
provide assistance in completing an application de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(B) upon request. 
‘‘(3) TRANSMITTAL OF DATA TO STATES.—Be-
ginning on January 1, 2010, with the consent of an 
individual completing an application for benefits de-
scribed in paragraph (1)(B), the Commissioner shall 
electronically transmit to the appropriate State Med-
icaid agency data from such application, as deter-
mined by the Commissioner, which transmittal shall 
initiate an application of the individual for benefits 
under the Medicare Savings Program with the State 
Medicaid agency. In order to ensure that such data 
transmittal provides effective assistance for purposes 
of State adjudication of applications for benefits 
under the Medicare Savings Program, the Commis-
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sioner shall consult with the Secretary, after the 
Secretary has consulted with the States, regarding 
the content, form, frequency, and manner in which 
data (on a uniform basis for all States) shall be 
transmitted under this subparagraph. 
‘‘(4) COORDINATION
WITH
OUTREACH.—The 
Commissioner shall coordinate outreach activities 
under this subsection in connection with the low-in-
come subsidy program and the Medicare Savings 
Program. 
‘‘(5) REIMBURSEMENT
OF
SOCIAL
SECURITY 
ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.— 
‘‘(A) INITIAL
MEDICARE
SAVINGS
PRO-
GRAM
COSTS; ADDITIONAL
LOW-INCOME
SUB-
SIDY COSTS.— 
‘‘(i) INITIAL MEDICARE SAVINGS PRO-
GRAM
COSTS.—There are hereby appro-
priated to the Commissioner to carry out 
this subsection, out of any funds in the 
Treasury 
not 
otherwise 
appropriated, 
$24,100,000. The amount appropriated 
under ths clause shall be available on Octo-
ber 1, 2008, and shall remain available 
until expended. 
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‘‘(ii) ADDITIONAL AMOUNT FOR LOW- 
INCOME SUBSIDY ACTIVITIES.—There are 
hereby appropriated to the Commissioner, 
out of any funds in the Treasury not oth-
erwise appropriated, $24,800,000 for fiscal 
year 2009 to carry out low-income subsidy 
activities under section 1860D–14 and the 
Medicare Savings Program (in accordance 
with this subsection), to remain available 
until expended. Such funds shall be in ad-
dition to the Social Security Administra-
tion’s Limitation on Administrative Ex-
penditure appropriations for such fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(B) 
SUBSEQUENT
FUNDING
UNDER 
AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Effective for fiscal 
years beginning on or after October 1, 
2010, the Commissioner and the Secretary 
shall enter into an agreement which shall 
provide funding (subject to the amount ap-
propriated under clause (ii)) to cover the 
administrative costs of the Commissioner’s 
activities under this subsection. Such 
agreement shall— 
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‘‘(I) provide funds to the Com-
missioner for the full cost of the So-
cial Security Administration’s work 
related to the Medicare Savings Pro-
gram required under this section; 
‘‘(II) provide such funding quar-
terly in advance of the applicable 
quarter based on estimating method-
ology agreed to by the Commissioner 
and the Secretary; and 
‘‘(III) require an annual account-
ing and reconciliation of the actual 
costs incurred and funds provided 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(ii) 
APPROPRIATION.—There 
are 
hereby appropriated to the Secretary solely 
for the purpose of providing payments to 
the Commissioner pursuant to an agree-
ment specified in clause (i) that is in ef-
fect, out of any funds in the Treasury not 
otherwise appropriated, not more than 
$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2011 and each 
fiscal year thereafter. 
‘‘(C) LIMITATION.—In no case shall funds 
from the Social Security Administration’s Limi-
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tation on Administrative Expenses be used to 
carry out activities related to the Medicare Sav-
ings Program. For fiscal years beginning on or 
after October 1, 2010, no such activities shall 
be undertaken by the Social Security Adminis-
tration unless the agreement specified in sub-
paragraph (B) is in effect and full funding has 
been provided to the Commissioner as specified 
in such subparagraph. 
‘‘(6) GAO ANALYSIS AND REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) ANALYSIS.—The Comptroller General 
of the United States shall prepare an analysis 
of the impact of this subsection— 
‘‘(i) in increasing participation in the 
Medicare Savings Program, and 
‘‘(ii) on States and the Social Security 
Administration. 
‘‘(B) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 
2012, the Comptroller General shall submit to 
Congress, the Commissioner, and the Secretary 
a report on the analysis conducted under sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(7) MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM DEFINED.— 
For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘Medicare 
Savings Program’ means the program of medical as-
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sistance for payment of the cost of medicare cost- 
sharing under the Medicaid program pursuant to 
sections 1902(a)(10)(E) and 1933.’’. 
(b) MEDICAID AGENCY CONSIDERATION OF DATA 
TRANSMITTAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1935(a) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1396u–5(a)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(4) CONSIDERATION OF DATA TRANSMITTED 
BY
THE
SOCIAL
SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION
FOR 
PURPOSES OF MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM.—The 
State shall accept data transmitted under section 
1144(c)(3) and act on such data in the same man-
ner and in accordance with the same deadlines as if 
the data constituted an initiation of an application 
for benefits under the Medicare Savings Program 
(as defined for purposes of such section) that had 
been submitted directly by the applicant. The date 
of the individual’s application for the low income 
subsidy program from which the data have been de-
rived shall constitute the date of filing of such appli-
cation for benefits under the Medicare Savings Pro-
gram.’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
1935(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396u–5(a)) is 
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amended in the subsection heading by striking 
‘‘AND’’ and by inserting ‘‘, AND MEDICARE COST- 
SHARING’’ after ‘‘ASSISTANCE’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided, the amendments made by this section shall take ef-
fect on January 1, 2010. 
SEC. 114. ELIMINATION OF MEDICARE PART D LATE EN-
ROLLMENT PENALTIES PAID BY SUBSIDY ELI-
GIBLE INDIVIDUALS. 
(a) WAIVER OF LATE ENROLLMENT PENALTY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1860D–13(b) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–113(b)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(8) WAIVER OF PENALTY FOR SUBSIDY-ELIGI-
BLE INDIVIDUALS.—In no case shall a part D eligi-
ble individual who is determined to be a subsidy eli-
gible individual (as defined in section 1860D– 
14(a)(3)) be subject to an increase in the monthly 
beneficiary premium established under subsection 
(a).’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
1860D–14(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w–114(a)(1)(A)) is amended by striking 
‘‘equal to’’ and all that follows through the period 
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and inserting ‘‘equal to 100 percent of the amount 
described in subsection (b)(1), but not to exceed the 
premium amount specified in subsection (b)(2)(B).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to subsidies for months beginning 
with January 2009. 
SEC. 115. ELIMINATING APPLICATION OF ESTATE RECOV-
ERY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1917(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396p(b)(1)(B)(ii)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘(but not including medical assist-
ance for medicare cost-sharing or for benefits described 
in section 1902(a)(10)(E))’’ before the period at the end. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect as of January 1, 2010. 
SEC. 116. EXEMPTIONS FROM INCOME AND RESOURCES 
FOR DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR 
LOW-INCOME SUBSIDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1860D–14(a)(3) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–114(a)(3)) is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (C)(i), by inserting ‘‘and 
except that support and maintenance furnished in 
kind shall not be counted as income’’ after ‘‘section 
1902(r)(2)’’; 
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(2) in subparagraph (D), in the matter before 
clause (i), by inserting ‘‘subject to the life insurance 
policy exclusion provided under subparagraph (G)’’ 
before ‘‘)’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (E)(i), in the matter before 
subclause (I), by inserting ‘‘subject to the life insur-
ance policy exclusion provided under subparagraph 
(G)’’ before ‘‘)’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(G) LIFE
INSURANCE
POLICY
EXCLU-
SION.—In determining the resources of an indi-
vidual (and the eligible spouse of the individual, 
if any) under section 1613 for purposes of sub-
paragraphs (D) and (E) no part of the value of 
any life insurance policy shall be taken into ac-
count.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect with respect to applications 
filed on or after January 1, 2010. 
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SEC. 117. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DECISIONS OF THE COM-
MISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY UNDER 
THE MEDICARE PART D LOW-INCOME SUB-
SIDY PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1860D–14(a)(3)(B)(iv) of 
the 
Social 
Security 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1395w– 
114(a)(3)(B)(iv)) is amended— 
(1) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in subclause (II), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
clause: 
‘‘(III) judicial review of the final 
decision of the Commissioner made 
after a hearing shall be available to 
the same extent, and with the same 
limitations, as provided in subsections 
(g) and (h) of section 205.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect as if included in the enact-
ment of section 101 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, 
Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. 
SEC. 118. TRANSLATION OF MODEL FORM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1905(p)(5)(A) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(p)(5)(A)) is amended 
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by adding at the end the following: ‘‘The Secretary shall 
provide for the translation of such application form into 
at least the 10 languages (other than English) that are 
most often used by individuals applying for hospital insur-
ance benefits under section 226 or 226A and shall make 
the translated forms available to the States and to the 
Commissioner of Social Security.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on January 1, 2010. 
SEC. 119. MEDICARE ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE. 
(a) ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR STATE HEALTH IN-
SURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.— 
(1) GRANTS.— 
(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary 
of 
Health and Human Services (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall use amounts 
made available under subparagraph (B) to 
make grants to States for State health insur-
ance assistance programs receiving assistance 
under section 4360 of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1990. 
(B) FUNDING.—For purposes of making 
grants under this subsection, the Secretary 
shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal 
Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 
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1817 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Medical 
Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t), in the same pro-
portion as the Secretary determines under sec-
tion 1853(f) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w– 
23(f)), of $7,500,000 to the Centers for Medi-
care & Medicaid Services Program Management 
Account for fiscal year 2009, to remain avail-
able until expended. 
(2) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The amount of a 
grant to a State under this subsection from the total 
amount made available under paragraph (1) shall be 
equal to the sum of the amount allocated to the 
State under paragraph (3)(A) and the amount allo-
cated to the State under subparagraph (3)(B). 
(3) ALLOCATION TO STATES.— 
(A) ALLOCATION BASED ON PERCENTAGE 
OF LOW-INCOME BENEFICIARIES.—The amount 
allocated to a State under this subparagraph 
from 2⁄3 of the total amount made available 
under paragraph (1) shall be based on the num-
ber of individuals who meet the requirement 
under 
subsection 
(a)(3)(A)(ii) 
of 
section 
1860D–14 of the Social Security Act (42 
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U.S.C. 1395w–114) but who have not enrolled 
to receive a subsidy under such section 1860D– 
14 relative to the total number of individuals 
who meet the requirement under such sub-
section (a)(3)(A)(ii) in each State, as estimated 
by the Secretary. 
(B) ALLOCATION BASED ON PERCENTAGE 
OF RURAL BENEFICIARIES.—The amount allo-
cated to a State under this subparagraph from 
1⁄3 of the total amount made available under 
paragraph (1) shall be based on the number of 
part D eligible individuals (as defined in section 
1860D–1(a)(3)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395w–101(a)(3)(A))) residing in a rural area 
relative to the total number of such individuals 
in each State, as estimated by the Secretary. 
(4) PORTION OF GRANT BASED ON PERCENT-
AGE OF LOW-INCOME BENEFICIARIES TO BE USED 
TO PROVIDE OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY 
BE
SUBSIDY
ELIGIBLE
INDIVIDUALS
OR
ELIGIBLE 
FOR
THE
MEDICARE
SAVINGS
PROGRAM.—Each 
grant awarded under this subsection with respect to 
amounts allocated under paragraph (3)(A) shall be 
used to provide outreach to individuals who may be 
subsidy eligible individuals (as defined in section 
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1860D–14(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w–114(a)(3)(A)) or eligible for the 
Medicare Savings Program (as defined in subsection 
(f)). 
(b) ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR AREA AGENCIES ON 
AGING.— 
(1) GRANTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary for Aging, shall 
make grants to States for area agencies on 
aging (as defined in section 102 of the Older 
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002)) and 
Native American programs carried out under 
the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
3001 et seq.). 
(B) FUNDING.—For purposes of making 
grants under this subsection, the Secretary 
shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal 
Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 
1817 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Medical 
Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t), in the same pro-
portion as the Secretary determines under sec-
tion 1853(f) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w– 
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23(f)), of $7,500,000 to the Administration on 
Aging for fiscal year 2009, to remain available 
until expended. 
(2) AMOUNT OF GRANT AND ALLOCATION TO 
STATES
BASED
ON
PERCENTAGE
OF
LOW-INCOME 
AND
RURAL
BENEFICIARIES.—The amount of a 
grant to a State under this subsection from the total 
amount made available under paragraph (1) shall be 
determined in the same manner as the amount of a 
grant to a State under subsection (a), from the total 
amount made available under paragraph (1) of such 
subsection, is determined under paragraph (2) and 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) of such 
subsection. 
(3) REQUIRED USE OF FUNDS.— 
(A) ALL FUNDS.—Subject to subparagraph 
(B), each grant awarded under this subsection 
shall be used to provide outreach to eligible 
Medicare beneficiaries regarding the benefits 
available under title XVIII of the Social Secu-
rity Act. 
(B) OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY 
BE SUBSIDY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS OR ELIGI-
BLE FOR THE MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM.— 
Subsection (a)(4) shall apply to each grant 
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awarded under this subsection in the same 
manner as it applies to a grant under sub-
section (a). 
(c) ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FOR AGING
AND DIS-
ABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS.— 
(1) GRANTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
make grants to Aging and Disability Resource 
Centers under the Aging and Disability Re-
source Center grant program that are estab-
lished centers under such program on the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
(B) FUNDING.—For purposes of making 
grants under this subsection, the Secretary 
shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal 
Hospital Insurance Trust Fund under section 
1817 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Medical 
Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t), in the same pro-
portion as the Secretary determines under sec-
tion 1853(f) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w– 
23(f)), of $5,000,000 to the Administration on 
Aging for fiscal year 2009, to remain available 
until expended. 
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(2) REQUIRED
USE
OF
FUNDS.—Each grant 
awarded under this subsection shall be used to pro-
vide outreach to individuals regarding the benefits 
available under the Medicare prescription drug ben-
efit under part D of title XVIII of the Social Secu-
rity Act and under the Medicare Savings Program. 
(d) COORDINATION OF EFFORTS TO INFORM OLDER 
AMERICANS ABOUT BENEFITS AVAILABLE UNDER FED-
ERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Assistant Secretary for Aging, in co-
operation with related Federal agency partners, shall 
make a grant to, or enter into a contract with, a 
qualified, experienced entity under which the entity 
shall— 
(A) maintain and update web-based deci-
sion support tools, and integrated, person-cen-
tered systems, designed to inform older individ-
uals (as defined in section 102 of the Older 
Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002)) 
about the full range of benefits for which the 
individuals may be eligible under Federal and 
State programs; 
(B) utilize cost-effective strategies to find 
older individuals with the greatest economic 
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need (as defined in such section 102) and in-
form the individuals of the programs; 
(C) develop and maintain an information 
clearinghouse on best practices and the most 
cost-effective methods for finding older individ-
uals with greatest economic need and informing 
the individuals of the programs; and 
(D) provide, in collaboration with related 
Federal agency partners administering the Fed-
eral programs, training and technical assistance 
on the most effective outreach, screening, and 
follow-up strategies for the Federal and State 
programs. 
(2) FUNDING.—For purposes of making a 
grant or entering into a contract under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, 
from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund 
under section 1817 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395i) and the Federal Supplementary Med-
ical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t), in the same proportion 
as the Secretary determines under section 1853(f) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(f)), of $5,000,000 to 
the Administration on Aging for fiscal year 2009, to 
remain available until expended. 
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(e) REPROGRAMMING
FUNDS
FROM
MEDICARE, 
MEDICAID, AND SCHIP EXTENSION ACT OF 2007.—The 
Secretary shall only use the $5,000,000 in funds allocated 
to make grants to States for Area Agencies on Aging and 
Aging Disability and Resource Centers for the period of 
fiscal years 2008 through 2009 under section 118 of the 
Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 
(Public Law 110–173) for the sole purpose of providing 
outreach to individuals regarding the benefits available 
under the Medicare prescription drug benefit under part 
D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act. The Secretary 
shall republish the request for proposals issued on April 
17, 2008, in order to comply with the preceding sentence. 
(f) MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM DEFINED.—For 
purposes of this section, the term ‘‘Medicare Savings Pro-
gram’’ means the program of medical assistance for pay-
ment of the cost of medicare cost-sharing under the Med-
icaid program pursuant to sections 1902(a)(10)(E) and 
1933 
of 
the 
Social 
Security 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1396a(a)(10)(E), 1396u–3). 
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Subtitle B—Provisions Relating to 
Part A 
SEC. 121. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF THE MEDICARE 
RURAL HOSPITAL FLEXIBILITY PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1820(g) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(g)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) PROVIDING
MENTAL
HEALTH
SERVICES 
AND OTHER HEALTH SERVICES TO VETERANS AND 
OTHER RESIDENTS OF RURAL AREAS.— 
‘‘(A) GRANTS TO STATES.—The Secretary 
may award grants to States that have sub-
mitted applications in accordance with subpara-
graph (B) for increasing the delivery of mental 
health services or other health care services 
deemed necessary to meet the needs of veterans 
of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation En-
during Freedom living in rural areas (as de-
fined for purposes of section 1886(d) and in-
cluding areas that are rural census tracks, as 
defined by the Administrator of the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration), including 
for the provision of crisis intervention services 
and the detection of post-traumatic stress dis-
order, traumatic brain injury, and other signa-
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ture injuries of veterans of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, 
and for referral of such veterans to medical fa-
cilities operated by the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and for the delivery of such services to 
other residents of such rural areas. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—An application is 
in accordance with this subparagraph if 
the State submits to the Secretary at such 
time and in such form as the Secretary 
may require an application containing the 
assurances described in subparagraphs 
(A)(ii) and (A)(iii) of subsection (b)(1). 
‘‘(ii) CONSIDERATION
OF
REGIONAL 
APPROACHES, 
NETWORKS, 
OR
TECH-
NOLOGY.—The Secretary may, as appro-
priate in awarding grants to States under 
subparagraph (A), consider whether the 
application submitted by a State under 
this subparagraph includes 1 or more pro-
posals that utilize regional approaches, 
networks, health information technology, 
telehealth, or telemedicine to deliver serv-
ices described in subparagraph (A) to indi-
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viduals described in that subparagraph. 
For purposes of this clause, a network 
may, as the Secretary determines appro-
priate, include Federally qualified health 
centers (as defined in section 1861(aa)(4)), 
rural health clinics (as defined in section 
1861(aa)(2)), home health agencies (as de-
fined in section 1861(o)), community men-
tal health centers (as defined in section 
1861(ff)(3)(B)) and other providers of 
mental health services, pharmacists, local 
government, and other providers deemed 
necessary to meet the needs of veterans. 
‘‘(iii) 
COORDINATION
AT
LOCAL 
LEVEL.—The Secretary shall require, as 
appropriate, a State to demonstrate con-
sultation with the hospital association of 
such State, rural hospitals located in such 
State, providers of mental health services, 
or other appropriate stakeholders for the 
provision of services under a grant award-
ed under this paragraph. 
‘‘(iv) SPECIAL
CONSIDERATION
OF 
CERTAIN
APPLICATIONS.—In 
awarding 
grants to States under subparagraph (A), 
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the Secretary shall give special consider-
ation to applications submitted by States 
in which veterans make up a high percent-
age (as determined by the Secretary) of 
the total population of the State. Such 
consideration shall be given without regard 
to the number of veterans of Operation 
Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
Freedom living in the areas in which men-
tal health services and other health care 
services would be delivered under the appli-
cation. 
‘‘(C) COORDINATION WITH VA.—The Sec-
retary shall, as appropriate, consult with the 
Director of the Office of Rural Health of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in awarding 
and administering grants to States under sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(D) USE OF FUNDS.—A State awarded a 
grant under this paragraph may, as appro-
priate, use the funds to reimburse providers of 
services described in subparagraph (A) to indi-
viduals described in that subparagraph. 
‘‘(E) LIMITATION
ON
USE
OF
GRANT 
FUNDS
FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—A 
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State awarded a grant under this paragraph 
may not expend more than 15 percent of the 
amount of the grant for administrative ex-
penses. 
‘‘(F) INDEPENDENT
EVALUATION
AND 
FINAL
REPORT.—The Secretary shall provide 
for an independent evaluation of the grants 
awarded under subparagraph (A). Not later 
than 1 year after the date on which the last 
grant is awarded to a State under such sub-
paragraph, the Secretary shall submit a report 
to Congress on such evaluation. Such report 
shall include an assessment of the impact of 
such grants on increasing the delivery of mental 
health services and other health services to vet-
erans of the United States Armed Forces living 
in rural areas (as so defined and including such 
areas that are rural census tracks), with par-
ticular emphasis on the impact of such grants 
on the delivery of such services to veterans of 
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation 
Iraqi Freedom, and to other individuals living 
in such rural areas.’’. 
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(b) USE OF FUNDS FOR FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE 
EXPENSES.—Section 1820(g)(5) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(g)(5)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘beginning with fiscal year 
2005’’ and inserting ‘‘for each of fiscal years 2005 
through 2008’’; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and, of the total amount ap-
propriated for grants under paragraphs (1), (2), and 
(6) for a fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 
2009)’’ after ‘‘2005)’’. 
(c) EXTENSION
OF AUTHORIZATION
FOR FLEX 
GRANTS.—Section 1820(j) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395i–4(j)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and for’’ and inserting ‘‘for’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, for making grants to all 
States under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection 
(g), $55,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2009 and 
2010, and for making grants to all States under 
paragraph (6) of subsection (g), $50,000,000 in 
each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010, to remain avail-
able until expended’’ before the period at the end. 
(d) MEDICARE RURAL HOSPITAL FLEXIBILITY PRO-
GRAM.—Section 1820(g)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395i–4(g)(1)) is amended— 
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(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(D) providing support for critical access 
hospitals for quality improvement, quality re-
porting, 
performance 
improvements, 
and 
benchmarking.’’. 
(e) ASSISTANCE TO SMALL CRITICAL ACCESS HOS-
PITALS TRANSITIONING TO SKILLED NURSING FACILI-
TIES
AND
ASSISTED
LIVING
FACILITIES.—Section 
1820(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i– 
4(g)), as amended by subsection (a), is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(7) 
CRITICAL
ACCESS
HOSPITALS 
TRANSITIONING
TO
SKILLED
NURSING
FACILITIES 
AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.— 
‘‘(A) GRANTS.—The Secretary may award 
grants to eligible critical access hospitals that 
have submitted applications in accordance with 
subparagraph (B) for assisting such hospitals 
in the transition to skilled nursing facilities and 
assisted living facilities. 
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‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—An applicable critical 
access hospital seeking a grant under this para-
graph shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary on or before such date and in such form 
and manner as the Secretary specifies. 
‘‘(C) ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
Secretary may not award a grant under this 
paragraph to an eligible critical access hospital 
unless— 
‘‘(i) local organizations or the State in 
which the hospital is located provides 
matching funds; and 
‘‘(ii) the hospital provides assurances 
that it will surrender critical access hos-
pital status under this title within 180 
days of receiving the grant. 
‘‘(D) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—A grant to an 
eligible critical access hospital under this para-
graph may not exceed $1,000,000. 
‘‘(E) FUNDING.—There are appropriated 
from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust 
Fund under section 1817 for making grants 
under this paragraph, $5,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2008. 
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‘‘(F) ELIGIBLE
CRITICAL
ACCESS
HOS-
PITAL DEFINED.—For purposes of this para-
graph, the term ‘eligible critical access hospital’ 
means a critical access hospital that has an av-
erage daily acute census of less than 0.5 and an 
average daily swing bed census of greater than 
10.0.’’. 
SEC. 122. REBASING FOR SOLE COMMUNITY HOSPITALS. 
(a) REBASING PERMITTED.—Section 1886(b)(3) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(b)(3)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(L)(i) For cost reporting periods beginning on or 
after January 1, 2009, in the case of a sole community 
hospital there shall be substituted for the amount other-
wise determined under subsection (d)(5)(D)(i) of this sec-
tion, if such substitution results in a greater amount of 
payment under this section for the hospital, the subpara-
graph (L) rebased target amount. 
‘‘(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term 
‘subparagraph (L) rebased target amount’ has the mean-
ing given the term ‘target amount’ in subparagraph (C), 
except that— 
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‘‘(I) there shall be substituted for the base cost 
reporting period the 12-month cost reporting period 
beginning during fiscal year 2006; 
‘‘(II) any reference in subparagraph (C)(i) to 
the ‘first cost reporting period’ described in such 
subparagraph is deemed a reference to the first cost 
reporting period beginning on or after January 1, 
2009; and 
‘‘(III) the applicable percentage increase shall 
only be applied under subparagraph (C)(iv) for dis-
charges occurring on or after January 1, 2009.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
1886(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395ww(b)(3)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (C), in the matter pre-
ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (I)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘subparagraphs (I) and (L)’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (I)(i), in the matter pre-
ceding subclause (I), by striking ‘‘For’’ and inserting 
‘‘Subject to subparagraph (L), for’’. 
SEC. 123. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON COMMUNITY 
HEALTH INTEGRATION MODELS IN CERTAIN 
RURAL COUNTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
demonstration project to allow eligible entities to develop 
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and test new models for the delivery of health care services 
in eligible counties for the purpose of improving access to, 
and better integrating the delivery of, acute care, extended 
care, and other essential health care services to Medicare 
beneficiaries. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the demonstration 
project under this section is to— 
(1) explore ways to increase access to, and im-
prove the adequacy of, payments for acute care, ex-
tended care, and other essential health care services 
provided under the Medicare and Medicaid programs 
in eligible counties; and 
(2) evaluate regulatory challenges facing such 
providers and the communities they serve. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The following requirements 
shall apply under the demonstration project: 
(1) Health care providers in eligible counties se-
lected to participate in the demonstration project 
under subsection (d)(3) shall (when determined ap-
propriate by the Secretary), instead of the payment 
rates otherwise applicable under the Medicare pro-
gram, be reimbursed at a rate that covers at least 
the reasonable costs of the provider in furnishing 
acute care, extended care, and other essential health 
care services to Medicare beneficiaries. 
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(2) Methods to coordinate the survey and cer-
tification process under the Medicare program and 
the Medicaid program across all health service cat-
egories included in the demonstration project shall 
be tested with the goal of assuring quality and safe-
ty while reducing administrative burdens, as appro-
priate, related to completing such survey and certifi-
cation process. 
(3) Health care providers in eligible counties se-
lected to participate in the demonstration project 
under subsection (d)(3) and the Secretary shall work 
with the State to explore ways to revise reimburse-
ment policies under the Medicaid program to im-
prove access to the range of health care services 
available in such eligible counties. 
(4) The Secretary shall identify regulatory re-
quirements that may be revised appropriately to im-
prove access to care in eligible counties. 
(5) Other essential health care services nec-
essary to ensure access to the range of health care 
services in eligible counties selected to participate in 
the demonstration project under subsection (d)(3) 
shall be identified. Ways to ensure adequate funding 
for such services shall also be explored. 
(d) APPLICATION PROCESS.— 
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(1) ELIGIBILITY.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Eligibility to partici-
pate in the demonstration project under this 
section shall be limited to eligible entities. 
(B) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means an en-
tity that— 
(i) is a Rural Hospital Flexibility Pro-
gram grantee under section 1820(g) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i– 
4(g)); and 
(ii) is located in a State in which at 
least 65 percent of the counties in the 
State are counties that have 6 or less resi-
dents per square mile. 
(2) APPLICATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity seek-
ing to participate in the demonstration project 
under this section shall submit an application to 
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(B) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall se-
lect eligible entities located in not more than 4 
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States to participate in the demonstration 
project under this section. 
(3) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE COUNTIES.—An 
eligible entity selected by the Secretary to partici-
pate in the demonstration project under this section 
shall select not more than 6 eligible counties in the 
State in which the entity is located in which to con-
duct the demonstration project. 
(4) ELIGIBLE COUNTY DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘eligible county’’ means a county that 
meets the following requirements: 
(A) The county has 6 or less residents per 
square mile. 
(B) As of the date of the enactment of this 
Act, a facility designated as a critical access 
hospital which meets the following requirements 
was located in the county: 
(i) As of the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the critical access hospital fur-
nished 1 or more of the following: 
(I) Home health services. 
(II) Hospice care. 
(III) Rural health clinic services. 
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(ii) As of the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the critical access hospital has an 
average daily inpatient census of 5 or less. 
(C) As of the date of the enactment of this 
Act, skilled nursing facility services were avail-
able in the county in— 
(i) a critical access hospital using 
swing beds; or 
(ii) a local nursing home. 
(e) ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The demonstration project 
under this section shall be administered jointly by 
the Administrator of the Office of Rural Health Pol-
icy of the Health Resources and Services Adminis-
tration and the Administrator of the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services, in accordance with 
paragraphs (2) and (3). 
(2) HRSA DUTIES.—In administering the dem-
onstration project under this section, the Adminis-
trator of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the 
Health Resources and Services Administration 
shall— 
(A) award grants to the eligible entities se-
lected to participate in the demonstration 
project; and 
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(B) work with such entities to provide 
technical assistance related to the requirements 
under the project. 
(3) CMS DUTIES.—In administering the dem-
onstration project under this section, the Adminis-
trator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Serv-
ices shall determine which provisions of titles XVIII 
and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 
et seq.; 1396 et seq.) the Secretary should waive 
under the waiver authority under subsection (i) that 
are relevant to the development of alternative reim-
bursement methodologies, which may include, as ap-
propriate, covering at least the reasonable costs of 
the provider in furnishing acute care, extended care, 
and other essential health care services to Medicare 
beneficiaries and coordinating the survey and certifi-
cation process under the Medicare and Medicaid pro-
grams, as appropriate, across all service categories 
included in the demonstration project. 
(f) DURATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The demonstration project 
under this section shall be conducted for a 3-year 
period beginning on October 1, 2009. 
(2) BEGINNING
DATE
OF
DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECT.—The demonstration project under this 
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section shall be considered to have begun in a State 
on the date on which the eligible counties selected to 
participate in the demonstration project under sub-
section (d)(3) begin operations in accordance with 
the requirements under the demonstration project. 
(g) FUNDING.— 
(1) CMS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
provide for the transfer, in appropriate part 
from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust 
Fund established under section 1817 of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i) and the 
Federal 
Supplementary 
Medical 
Insurance 
Trust Fund established under section 1841 of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t), of such sums as 
are necessary for the costs to the Centers for 
Medicare & Medicaid Services of carrying out 
its duties under the demonstration project 
under this section. 
(B) BUDGET NEUTRALITY.—In conducting 
the demonstration project under this section, 
the Secretary shall ensure that the aggregate 
payments made by the Secretary do not exceed 
the amount which the Secretary estimates 
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would have been paid if the demonstration 
project under this section was not implemented. 
(2) HRSA.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Office of Rural Health Policy of the 
Health Resources and Services Administration 
$800,000 for each of fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 
2012 for the purpose of carrying out the duties of 
such Office under the demonstration project under 
this section, to remain available for the duration of 
the demonstration project. 
(h) REPORT.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than the date 
that is 2 years after the date on which the dem-
onstration project under this section is implemented, 
the Administrator of the Office of Rural Health Pol-
icy of the Health Resources and Services Adminis-
tration, in coordination with the Administrator of 
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall 
submit a report to Congress on the status of the 
demonstration project that includes initial rec-
ommendations on ways to improve access to, and the 
availability of, health care services in eligible coun-
ties based on the findings of the demonstration 
project. 
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(2) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the completion of the demonstration project, 
the Administrator of the Office of Rural Health Pol-
icy of the Health Resources and Services Adminis-
tration, in coordination with the Administrator of 
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall 
submit a report to Congress on such project, to-
gether with recommendations for such legislation 
and administrative action as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(i) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may waive 
such requirements of titles XVIII and XIX of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.; 1396 et seq.) as 
may be necessary and appropriate for the purpose of car-
rying out the demonstration project under this section. 
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) EXTENDED
CARE
SERVICES.—The term 
‘‘extended care services’’ means the following: 
(A) Home health services. 
(B) Covered skilled nursing facility serv-
ices. 
(C) Hospice care. 
(2) COVERED
SKILLED
NURSING
FACILITY 
SERVICES.—The term ‘‘covered skilled nursing facil-
ity services’’ has the meaning given such term in 
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section 1888(e)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395yy(e)(2)(A)). 
(3) CRITICAL
ACCESS
HOSPITAL.—The term 
‘‘critical access hospital’’ means a facility designated 
as a critical access hospital under section 1820(c) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(c)). 
(4) HOME
HEALTH
SERVICES.—The term 
‘‘home health services’’ has the meaning given such 
term in section 1861(m) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(m)). 
(5) HOSPICE CARE.—The term ‘‘hospice care’’ 
has the meaning given such term in section 
1861(dd) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)). 
(6) MEDICAID PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Medicaid 
program’’ means the program under title XIX of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.). 
(7) MEDICARE PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Medicare 
program’’ means the program under title XVIII of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). 
(8) OTHER
ESSENTIAL
HEALTH
CARE
SERV-
ICES.—The term ‘‘other essential health care serv-
ices’’ means the following: 
(A) Ambulance services (as described in 
section 1861(s)(7) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(7))). 
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(B) Rural health clinic services. 
(C) Public health services (as defined by 
the Secretary). 
(D) Other health care services determined 
appropriate by the Secretary. 
(9) RURAL
HEALTH
CLINIC
SERVICES.—The 
term ‘‘rural health clinic services’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 1861(aa)(1) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(1)). 
(10) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
SEC. 124. EXTENSION OF THE RECLASSIFICATION OF CER-
TAIN HOSPITALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 106 of 
division B of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 
(42 U.S.C. 1395 note), as amended by section 117 of the 
Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 
(Public Law 110–173), is amended by striking ‘‘Sep-
tember 30, 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2009’’. 
(b) SPECIAL EXCEPTION RECLASSIFICATIONS.—Sec-
tion 117(a)(2) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Ex-
tension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–173)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘September 30, 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘the last 
date of the extension of reclassifications under section 
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106(a) of the Medicare Improvement and Extension Act 
of 2006 (division B of Public Law 109–432)’’. 
(c) DISREGARDING SECTION 508 HOSPITAL RECLAS-
SIFICATIONS FOR PURPOSES OF GROUP RECLASSIFICA-
TIONS.—Section 508(g) of the Medicare Prescription 
Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub-
lic Law 108–173, 42 U.S.C. 1395ww note), as added by 
section 117(b) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Ex-
tension Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–173)), is amended 
by striking ‘‘during fiscal year 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘be-
ginning on October 1, 2007, and ending on the last date 
of the extension of reclassifications under section 106(a) 
of the Medicare Improvement and Extension Act of 2006 
(division B of Public Law 109–432)’’. 
SEC. 125. REVOCATION OF UNIQUE DEEMING AUTHORITY 
OF THE JOINT COMMISSION. 
(a) REVOCATION.—Section 1865 of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bb) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (a); and 
(2) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), (d), 
and (e) as subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d), respec-
tively. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—(1) Section 1865 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bb) is amend-
ed— 
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(A) in subsection (a)(1), as redesignated by 
subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘In addition, if’’ and 
inserting ‘‘If’’; 
(B) in subsection (b), as so redesignated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘released to him by the 
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hos-
pitals,’’ and inserting ‘‘released to the Secretary 
by’’; and 
(ii) by striking the comma after ‘‘Associa-
tion’’; 
(C) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘pursuant to subsection (a) or (b)(1)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘pursuant to subsection (a)(1)’’; and 
(D) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘pursuant to subsection (a) or (b)(1)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘pursuant to subsection (a)(1)’’. 
(2) Section 1861(e) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395x(e)) is amended in the fourth sentence by 
striking ‘‘and (ii) is accredited by the Joint Commission 
on Accreditation of Hospitals, or is accredited by or ap-
proved by a program of the country in which such institu-
tion is located if the Secretary finds the accreditation or 
comparable approval standards of such program to be es-
sentially equivalent to those of the Joint Commission on 
Accreditation of Hospitals’’ and inserting ‘‘and (ii) is ac-
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credited by a national accreditation body recognized by the 
Secretary under section 1865(a), or is accredited by or 
approved by a program of the country in which such insti-
tution is located if the Secretary finds the accreditation 
or comparable approval standards of such program to be 
essentially equivalent to those of such a national accredita-
tion body.’’. 
(3) Section 1864(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395aa(c)) is amended by striking ‘‘pursuant to 
subsection (a) or (b)(1) of section 1865’’ and inserting 
‘‘pursuant to section 1865(a)(1)’’. 
(4) Section 1875(b) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395ll(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘the Joint Com-
mission on Accreditation of Hospitals,’’ and inserting ‘‘na-
tional accreditation bodies under section 1865(a)’’. 
(5) Section 1834(a)(20)(B) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(20)(B)) is amended by striking 
‘‘section 1865(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1865(a)’’. 
(6) Section 1852(e)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395w–22(e)(4)(C)) is amended by striking 
‘‘section 1865(b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 1865(a)(2)’’. 
(c) AUTHORITY TO RECOGNIZE THE JOINT COMMIS-
SION AS A NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BODY.—The Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services may recognize the 
Joint Commission as a national accreditation body under 
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section 1865 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395bb), as amended by this section, upon such terms and 
conditions, and upon submission of such information, as 
the Secretary may require. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE; TRANSITION RULE.—(1) Sub-
ject to paragraph (2), the amendments made by this sec-
tion shall apply with respect to accreditations of hospitals 
granted on or after the date that is 24 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(2) For purposes of title XVIII of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.), the amendments made by 
this section shall not effect the accreditation of a hospital 
by the Joint Commission, or under accreditation or com-
parable approval standards found to be essentially equiva-
lent to accreditation or approval standards of the Joint 
Commission, for the period of time applicable under such 
accreditation. 
Subtitle C—Provisions Relating to 
Part B 
PART I—PHYSICIANS’ SERVICES 
SEC. 131. PHYSICIAN PAYMENT, EFFICIENCY, AND QUALITY 
IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) INCREASE
IN
UPDATE
FOR
THE
SECOND 
HALF OF 2008 AND FOR 2009.— 
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(A) FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2008.— 
Section 1848(d)(8) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(d)(8)), as added by section 
101 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Ex-
tension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–173), is 
amended— 
(i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘A POR-
TION OF’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘for the period beginning on January 1, 
2008, and ending on June 30, 2008,’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in the heading, by striking 
‘‘THE
REMAINING
PORTION
OF
2008 
AND’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘for the period 
beginning on July 1, 2008, and end-
ing on December 31, 2008, and’’. 
(B) FOR 2009.—Section 1848(d) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(d)), as 
amended by section 101 of the Medicare, Med-
icaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Pub-
lic Law 110–173), is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(9) UPDATE FOR 2009.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs 
(7)(B) and (8)(B), in lieu of the update to the 
single conversion factor established in para-
graph (1)(C) that would otherwise apply for 
2009, the update to the single conversion factor 
shall be 1.1 percent. 
‘‘(B) NO
EFFECT
ON
COMPUTATION
OF 
CONVERSION
FACTOR
FOR
2010
AND
SUBSE-
QUENT
YEARS.—The conversion factor under 
this subsection shall be computed under para-
graph (1)(A) for 2010 and subsequent years as 
if subparagraph (A) had never applied.’’. 
(3) REVISION OF THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANCE 
AND QUALITY INITIATIVE FUND.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), section 1848(l)(2) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(l)(2)), as 
amended by section 101(a)(2) of the Medicare, 
Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 
(Public Law 110–173), is amended— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking clause (i)(III); and 
(II) by striking clause (ii)(III); 
and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
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(I) in clause (i), by adding ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(II) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting a period; and 
(III) by striking clause (iii). 
(B) CONTINGENCY.—If there is enacted, 
before, on, or after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, a Supplemental Appropriations Act, 
2008 that includes a provision amending section 
1848(l) of the Social Security Act, the alter-
native amendment described in subparagraph 
(C)— 
(i) shall apply instead of the amend-
ments made by subparagraph (A); and 
(ii) shall be executed after such provi-
sion in such Supplemental Appropriations 
Act. 
(C) 
ALTERNATIVE
AMENDMENT
DE-
SCRIBED.—The 
alternative 
amendment 
de-
scribed in this subparagraph is as follows: Sec-
tion 1848(l)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w–4(l)(2)), as amended by section 
101(a)(2) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and 
SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 
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110–173) and by the Supplemental Appropria-
tions Act, 2008, is amended— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking subclauses (III) 
and (IV) of clause (i); and 
(II) by striking subclauses (III) 
and (IV) of clause (ii); and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in clause (i), by adding ‘‘and’’ 
at the end; 
(II) in clause (ii), by striking the 
semicolon at the end and inserting a 
period; and 
(III) by striking clauses (iii) and 
(iv). 
(b) EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUAL-
ITY REPORTING SYSTEM.— 
(1) SYSTEM.—Section 1848(k)(2) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(k)(2)), as amend-
ed by section 101(b)(1) of the Medicare, Medicaid, 
and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 
110–173), is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(C) 
FOR
2010
AND
SUBSEQUENT 
YEARS.— 
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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause 
(ii), for purposes of reporting data on qual-
ity measures for covered professional serv-
ices furnished during 2010 and each subse-
quent 
year, 
subject 
to 
subsection 
(m)(3)(C), the quality measures (including 
electronic prescribing quality measures) 
specified under this paragraph shall be 
such measures selected by the Secretary 
from measures that have been endorsed by 
the entity with a contract with the Sec-
retary under section 1890(a). 
‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION.—In the case of a 
specified area or medical topic determined 
appropriate by the Secretary for which a 
feasible and practical measure has not 
been endorsed by the entity with a contract 
under section 1890(a), the Secretary may 
specify a measure that is not so endorsed 
as long as due consideration is given to 
measures that have been endorsed or 
adopted by a consensus organization iden-
tified by the Secretary, such as the AQA 
alliance. 
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‘‘(D) OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT ON 
MEASURES
FOR
2009
AND
SUBSEQUENT 
YEARS.—For each quality measure (including 
an electronic prescribing quality measure) 
adopted by the Secretary under subparagraph 
(B) (with respect to 2009) or subparagraph 
(C), the Secretary shall ensure that eligible pro-
fessionals have the opportunity to provide input 
during the development, endorsement, or selec-
tion of measures applicable to services they fur-
nish.’’. 
(2) REDESIGNATION OF REPORTING SYSTEM.— 
Subsection (c) of section 101 of division B of the 
Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 
1395w–4 note), as amended by section 101(b)(2) of 
the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act 
of 2007 (Public Law 110–173), is redesignated as 
subsection (m) of section 1848 of the Social Security 
Act. 
(3) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS UNDER REPORTING 
SYSTEM.—Section 1848(m) of the Social Security 
Act, as redesignated by paragraph (2), is amended— 
(A) by amending the heading to read as 
follows: ‘‘INCENTIVE PAYMENTS FOR QUALITY 
REPORTING’’; 
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(B) by striking paragraph (1) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(1) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—For 2007 through 
2010, with respect to covered professional serv-
ices furnished during a reporting period by an 
eligible professional, if— 
‘‘(i) there are any quality measures 
that have been established under the physi-
cian reporting system that are applicable 
to any such services furnished by such pro-
fessional for such reporting period; and 
‘‘(ii) the eligible professional satisfac-
torily submits (as determined under this 
subsection) to the Secretary data on such 
quality measures in accordance with such 
reporting system for such reporting period, 
in addition to the amount otherwise paid under 
this part, there also shall be paid to the eligible 
professional (or to an employer or facility in the 
cases described in clause (A) of section 
1842(b)(6)) or, in the case of a group practice 
under paragraph (3)(C), to the group practice, 
from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insur-
ance Trust Fund established under section 
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1841 an amount equal to the applicable quality 
percent of the Secretary’s estimate (based on 
claims submitted not later than 2 months after 
the end of the reporting period) of the allowed 
charges under this part for all such covered 
professional services furnished by the eligible 
professional (or, in the case of a group practice 
under paragraph (3)(C), by the group practice) 
during the reporting period. 
‘‘(B) APPLICABLE
QUALITY
PERCENT.— 
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term 
‘applicable quality percent’ means— 
‘‘(i) for 2007 and 2008, 1.5 percent; 
and 
‘‘(ii) for 2009 and 2010, 2.0 per-
cent.’’; 
(C) by striking paragraph (3) and redesig-
nating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); 
(D) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘For purposes’’ and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes’’; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respec-
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tively, and moving the indentation of such 
clauses 2 ems to the right; 
(iii) in subparagraph (A), as added by 
clause (i), by adding at the end the fol-
lowing flush sentence: 
‘‘For years after 2008, quality measures for 
purposes of this subparagraph shall not include 
electronic prescribing quality measures.’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(C) SATISFACTORY
REPORTING
MEAS-
URES FOR GROUP PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—By January 1, 
2010, the Secretary shall establish and 
have in place a process under which eligi-
ble professionals in a group practice (as 
defined by the Secretary) shall be treated 
as satisfactorily submitting data on quality 
measures under subparagraph (A) and as 
meeting the requirement described in sub-
paragraph (B)(ii) for covered professional 
services for a reporting period (or, for pur-
poses of subsection (a)(5), for a reporting 
period for a year) if, in lieu of reporting 
measures under subsection (k)(2)(C), the 
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group practice reports measures deter-
mined appropriate by the Secretary, such 
as measures that target high-cost chronic 
conditions and preventive care, in a form 
and manner, and at a time, specified by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) 
STATISTICAL
SAMPLING 
MODEL.—The process under clause (i) 
shall provide for the use of a statistical 
sampling model to submit data on meas-
ures, such as the model used under the 
Physician Group Practice demonstration 
project under section 1866A. 
‘‘(iii) NO DOUBLE PAYMENTS.—Pay-
ments to a group practice under this sub-
section by reason of the process under 
clause (i) shall be in lieu of the payments 
that would otherwise be made under this 
subsection to eligible professionals in the 
group practice for satisfactorily submitting 
data on quality measures. 
‘‘(D) AUTHORITY
TO
REVISE
SATISFAC-
TORILY
REPORTING
DATA.—For years after 
2009, the Secretary, in consultation with stake-
holders and experts, may revise the criteria 
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under this subsection for satisfactorily submit-
ting data on quality measures under subpara-
graph (A) and the criteria for submitting data 
on electronic prescribing quality measures 
under subparagraph (B)(ii).’’; 
(E) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 
‘‘for 2007, 2008, and 2009,’’ after ‘‘provi-
sion of law,’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (D)— 
(I) in clause (i)— 
(aa) by inserting ‘‘for 2007 
and 2008’’ after ‘‘under this sub-
section’’; and 
(bb) by striking ‘‘paragraph 
(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘this sub-
section’’; 
(II) in clause (ii), by striking 
‘‘shall’’ and inserting ‘‘may establish 
procedures to’’; and 
(III) in clause (iii)— 
(aa) by inserting ‘‘(or, in the 
case of a group practice under 
paragraph 
(3)(C), 
the 
group 
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practice)’’ after ‘‘an eligible pro-
fessional’’; 
(bb) by striking ‘‘bonus in-
centive payment’’ and inserting 
‘‘incentive payment under this 
subsection’’; and 
(cc) by adding at the end 
the following new sentence: ‘‘If 
such payments for such period 
have already been made, the Sec-
retary shall recoup such pay-
ments from the eligible profes-
sional (or the group practice).’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (E)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘(I)
IN
GEN-
ERAL.—’’; 
(II) by striking clause (ii); 
(III) by redesignating subclauses 
(I) through (IV) as clauses (i) 
through (iv), respectively, and moving 
the indentation of such clauses 2 ems 
to the left; 
(IV) in clause (ii), as so redesig-
nated, by striking ‘‘paragraph (2)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘this subsection’’; and 
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(V) in clause (iv), as so redesig-
nated— 
(aa) by striking ‘‘the bonus’’ 
and inserting ‘‘any’’; and 
(bb) by inserting ‘‘and the 
payment adjustment under sub-
section (a)(5)(A)’’ before the pe-
riod at the end; 
(iv) in subparagraph (F)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘2009, paragraph 
(3) shall not apply, and’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘subsequent years,’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘paragraph (2)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘this subsection’’; and 
(v) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(G) POSTING
ON
WEBSITE.—The Sec-
retary shall post on the Internet website of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in an 
easily understandable format, a list of the 
names of the following: 
‘‘(i) The eligible professionals (or, in 
the case of reporting under paragraph 
(3)(C), the group practices) who satisfac-
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torily submitted data on quality measures 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(ii) The eligible professionals (or, in 
the case of reporting under paragraph 
(3)(C), the group practices) who are suc-
cessful electronic prescribers.’’; and 
(F) in paragraph (6), by striking subpara-
graph (C) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(C) REPORTING PERIOD.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clauses 
(ii) and (iii), the term ‘reporting period’ 
means— 
‘‘(I) for 2007, the period begin-
ning on July 1, 2007, and ending on 
December 31, 2007; and 
‘‘(II) for 2008, 2009, 2010, and 
2011, the entire year. 
‘‘(ii) AUTHORITY TO REVISE REPORT-
ING PERIOD.—For years after 2009, the 
Secretary may revise the reporting period 
under clause (i) if the Secretary deter-
mines such revision is appropriate, pro-
duces valid results on measures reported, 
and is consistent with the goals of maxi-
mizing scientific validity and reducing ad-
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ministrative burden. If the Secretary re-
vises such period pursuant to the preceding 
sentence, the term ‘reporting period’ shall 
mean such revised period. 
‘‘(iii) REFERENCE.—Any reference in 
this subsection to a reporting period with 
respect to the application of subsection 
(a)(5) shall be deemed a reference to the 
reporting 
period 
under 
subparagraph 
(D)(iii) of such subsection.’’. 
(4) INCLUSION
OF
QUALIFIED
AUDIOLOGISTS 
AS ELIGIBLE PROFESSIONALS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 1848(k)(3)(B) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w– 
4(k)(3)(B)), is amended by adding at the end 
the following new clause: 
‘‘(iv) Beginning with 2009, a qualified 
audiologist 
(as 
defined 
in 
section 
1861(ll)(3)(B)).’’. 
(B) NO CHANGE IN BILLING.—Nothing in 
the amendment made by subparagraph (A) 
shall be construed to change the way in which 
billing for audiology services (as defined in sec-
tion 1861(ll)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
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U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(2))) occurs under title XVIII 
of such Act as of July 1, 2008. 
(5) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
1848(m) of the Social Security Act, as added and 
amended by paragraphs (2) and (3), is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘section 1848(k) 
of the Social Security Act, as added 
by subsection (b),’’ and inserting 
‘‘subsection (k)’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘such section’’ 
and inserting ‘‘such subsection’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395l)’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (E), in the mat-
ter preceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘1869 
or 1878 of the Social Security Act or oth-
erwise’’ and inserting ‘‘1869, section 1878, 
or otherwise’’; and 
(iv) in subparagraph (F)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘paragraph (2)(B) 
of section 1848(k) of the Social Secu-
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rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(k))’’ and 
inserting ‘‘subsection (k)(2)(B)’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘paragraph (4) 
of such section’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
section (k)(4)’’; 
(B) in paragraph (6)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘section 1848(k)(3) of the Social Security 
Act, as added by subsection (b)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (k)(3)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘section 1848(k) of the Social Security 
Act, as added by subsection (b)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (k)’’; and 
(C) by striking paragraph (6)(D). 
(6) NO AFFECT ON INCENTIVE PAYMENTS FOR 
2007 OR 2008.—Nothing in the amendments made by 
this subsection or section 132 shall affect the oper-
ation of the provisions of section 1848(m) of the So-
cial Security Act, as redesignated and amended by 
such subsection and section, with respect to 2007 or 
2008. 
(c) PHYSICIAN FEEDBACK PROGRAM TO IMPROVE 
EFFICIENCY AND CONTROL COSTS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1848 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4), as amended by 
subsection (b), is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(n) PHYSICIAN FEEDBACK PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
establish a Physician Feedback Program (in 
this subsection referred to as the ‘Program’) 
under which the Secretary shall use claims data 
under this title (and may use other data) to 
provide confidential reports to physicians (and, 
as determined appropriate by the Secretary, to 
groups of physicians) that measure the re-
sources involved in furnishing care to individ-
uals under this title. If determined appropriate 
by the Secretary, the Secretary may include in-
formation on the quality of care furnished to in-
dividuals under this title by the physician (or 
group of physicians) in such reports. 
‘‘(B) RESOURCE USE.—The resources de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) may be meas-
ured— 
‘‘(i) on an episode basis; 
‘‘(ii) on a per capita basis; or 
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‘‘(iii) on both an episode and a per 
capita basis. 
‘‘(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall 
implement the Program by not later than January 
1, 2009. 
‘‘(3) DATA FOR REPORTS.—To the extent prac-
ticable, reports under the Program shall be based on 
the most recent data available. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORITY TO FOCUS APPLICATION.—The 
Secretary may focus the application of the Program 
as appropriate, such as focusing the Program on— 
‘‘(A) physician specialties that account for 
a certain percentage of all spending for physi-
cians’ services under this title; 
‘‘(B) physicians who treat conditions that 
have a high cost or a high volume, or both, 
under this title; 
‘‘(C) physicians who use a high amount of 
resources compared to other physicians; 
‘‘(D) physicians practicing in certain geo-
graphic areas; or 
‘‘(E) physicians who treat a minimum 
number of individuals under this title. 
‘‘(5) AUTHORITY TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN INFOR-
MATION IF INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION.—The Sec-
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retary may exclude certain information regarding a 
service from a report under the Program with re-
spect to a physician (or group of physicians) if the 
Secretary determines that there is insufficient infor-
mation relating to that service to provide a valid re-
port on that service. 
‘‘(6) ADJUSTMENT
OF
DATA.—To the extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall make appropriate ad-
justments to the data used in preparing reports 
under the Program, such as adjustments to take 
into account variations in health status and other 
patient characteristics. 
‘‘(7) EDUCATION
AND
OUTREACH.—The Sec-
retary shall provide for education and outreach ac-
tivities to physicians on the operation of, and meth-
odologies employed under, the Program. 
‘‘(8) DISCLOSURE EXEMPTION.—Reports under 
the Program shall be exempt from disclosure under 
section 552 of title 5, United States Code.’’. 
(2) GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON THE PHYSI-
CIAN FEEDBACK PROGRAM.— 
(A) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of 
the United States shall conduct a study of the 
Physician Feedback Program conducted under 
section 1848(n) of the Social Security Act, as 
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added by paragraph (1), including the imple-
mentation of the Program. 
(B) REPORT.—Not later than March 1, 
2011, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit a report to Congress con-
taining the results of the study conducted under 
subparagraph (A), together with recommenda-
tions for such legislation and administrative ac-
tion as the Comptroller General determines ap-
propriate. 
(d) PLAN FOR TRANSITION TO VALUE-BASED PUR-
CHASING PROGRAM FOR PHYSICIANS AND OTHER PRACTI-
TIONERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall develop a plan to transition to 
a value-based purchasing program for payment 
under the Medicare program for covered professional 
services (as defined in section 1848(k)(3)(A) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(k)(3)(A))). 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than May 1, 2010, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall sub-
mit a report to Congress containing the plan devel-
oped under paragraph (1), together with rec-
ommendations for such legislation and administra-
tive action as the Secretary determines appropriate. 
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SEC. 132. INCENTIVES FOR ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING. 
(a) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS.—Section 1848(m) of the 
Social Security Act, as added and amended by section 
131(b), is amended— 
(1) by inserting after paragraph (1), the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) INCENTIVE PAYMENTS FOR ELECTRONIC 
PRESCRIBING.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—For 2009 through 
2013, with respect to covered professional serv-
ices furnished during a reporting period by an 
eligible professional, if the eligible professional 
is a successful electronic prescriber for such re-
porting period, in addition to the amount other-
wise paid under this part, there also shall be 
paid to the eligible professional (or to an em-
ployer or facility in the cases described in 
clause (A) of section 1842(b)(6)) or, in the case 
of a group practice under paragraph (3)(C), to 
the group practice, from the Federal Supple-
mentary Medical Insurance Trust Fund estab-
lished under section 1841 an amount equal to 
the applicable electronic prescribing percent of 
the Secretary’s estimate (based on claims sub-
mitted not later than 2 months after the end of 
the reporting period) of the allowed charges 
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under this part for all such covered professional 
services furnished by the eligible professional 
(or, in the case of a group practice under para-
graph (3)(C), by the group practice) during the 
reporting period. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION WITH RESPECT TO ELEC-
TRONIC
PRESCRIBING
QUALITY
MEASURES.— 
The provisions of this paragraph and subsection 
(a)(5) shall not apply to an eligible professional 
(or, in the case of a group practice under para-
graph (3)(C), to the group practice) if, for the 
reporting period (or, for purposes of subsection 
(a)(5), for the reporting period for a year)— 
‘‘(i) the allowed charges under this 
part for all covered professional services 
furnished by the eligible professional (or 
group, as applicable) for the codes to 
which the electronic prescribing quality 
measure applies (as identified by the Sec-
retary and published on the Internet 
website of the Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services as of January 1, 2008, 
and as subsequently modified by the Sec-
retary) are less than 10 percent of the 
total of the allowed charges under this part 
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for all such covered professional services 
furnished by the eligible professional (or 
the group, as applicable); or 
‘‘(ii) if determined appropriate by the 
Secretary, the eligible professional does not 
submit (including both electronically and 
nonelectronically) a sufficient number (as 
determined by the Secretary) of prescrip-
tions under part D. 
If the Secretary makes the determination to 
apply clause (ii) for a period, then clause (i) 
shall not apply for such period. 
‘‘(C) 
APPLICABLE
ELECTRONIC
PRE-
SCRIBING PERCENT.—For purposes of subpara-
graph (A), the term ‘applicable electronic pre-
scribing percent’ means— 
‘‘(i) for 2009 and 2010, 2.0 percent; 
‘‘(ii) for 2011 and 2012, 1.0 percent; 
and 
‘‘(iii) for 2013, 0.5 percent.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by section 
131(b)— 
(A) in the heading, by inserting ‘‘AND SUC-
CESSFUL ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBER’’ after ‘‘RE-
PORTING’’; and 
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(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) 
SUCCESSFUL
ELECTRONIC
PRE-
SCRIBER.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—For purposes of 
paragraph (2) and subsection (a)(5), an el-
igible professional shall be treated as a 
successful electronic prescriber for a re-
porting period (or, for purposes of sub-
section (a)(5), for the reporting period for 
a year) if the eligible professional meets 
the requirement described in clause (ii), or, 
if the Secretary determines appropriate, 
the requirement described in clause (iii). If 
the Secretary makes the determination 
under the preceding sentence to apply the 
requirement described in clause (iii) for a 
period, then the requirement described in 
clause (ii) shall not apply for such period. 
‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENT FOR SUBMITTING 
DATA ON ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING QUAL-
ITY
MEASURES.—The 
requirement 
de-
scribed in this clause is that, with respect 
to covered professional services furnished 
by an eligible professional during a report-
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ing period (or, for purposes of subsection 
(a)(5), for the reporting period for a year), 
if there are any electronic prescribing qual-
ity measures that have been established 
under the physician reporting system and 
are applicable to any such services fur-
nished by such professional for the period, 
such professional reported each such meas-
ure under such system in at least 50 per-
cent of the cases in which such measure is 
reportable by such professional under such 
system. 
‘‘(iii) REQUIREMENT FOR ELECTRONI-
CALLY PRESCRIBING UNDER PART D.—The 
requirement described in this clause is that 
the eligible professional electronically sub-
mitted a sufficient number (as determined 
by the Secretary) of prescriptions under 
part D during the reporting period (or, for 
purposes of subsection (a)(5), for the re-
porting period for a year). 
‘‘(iv) USE
OF
PART
D
DATA.—Not-
withstanding sections 1860D-15(d)(2)(B) 
and 1860D-15(f)(2), the Secretary may 
use data regarding drug claims submitted 
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for purposes of section 1860D-15 that are 
necessary for purposes of clause (iii), para-
graph (2)(B)(ii), and paragraph (5)(G). 
‘‘(v) STANDARDS
FOR
ELECTRONIC 
PRESCRIBING.—To the extent practicable, 
in determining whether eligible profes-
sionals 
meet 
the 
requirements 
under 
clauses (ii) and (iii) for purposes of clause 
(i), the Secretary shall ensure that eligible 
professionals utilize electronic prescribing 
systems in compliance with standards es-
tablished for such systems pursuant to the 
Part D Electronic Prescribing Program 
under section 1860D–4(e).’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (5)(E), by striking clause (iii) 
and inserting the following new clause: 
‘‘(iii) the determination of a successful 
electronic prescriber under paragraph (3), 
the limitation under paragraph (2)(B), and 
the exception under subsection (a)(5)(B); 
and’’. 
(b) INCENTIVE PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT.—Section 
1848(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w– 
4(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
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‘‘(5) 
INCENTIVES
FOR
ELECTRONIC
PRE-
SCRIBING.— 
‘‘(A) ADJUSTMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to sub-
paragraph (B) and subsection (m)(2)(B), 
with respect to covered professional serv-
ices furnished by an eligible professional 
during 2012 or any subsequent year, if the 
eligible professional is not a successful 
electronic prescriber for the reporting pe-
riod for the year (as determined under 
subsection (m)(3)(B)), the fee schedule 
amount for such services furnished by such 
professional during the year (including the 
fee schedule amount for purposes of deter-
mining a payment based on such amount) 
shall be equal to the applicable percent of 
the fee schedule amount that would other-
wise apply to such services under this sub-
section (determined after application of 
paragraph (3) but without regard to this 
paragraph). 
‘‘(ii) 
APPLICABLE
PERCENT.—For 
purposes of clause (i), the term ‘applicable 
percent’ means— 
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‘‘(I) for 2012, 99 percent; 
‘‘(II) for 2013, 98.5 percent; and 
‘‘(III) for 2014 and each subse-
quent year, 98 percent. 
‘‘(B) 
SIGNIFICANT
HARDSHIP
EXCEP-
TION.—The Secretary may, on a case-by-case 
basis, exempt an eligible professional from the 
application of the payment adjustment under 
subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines, 
subject to annual renewal, that compliance with 
the requirement for being a successful elec-
tronic prescriber would result in a significant 
hardship, such as in the case of an eligible pro-
fessional who practices in a rural area without 
sufficient Internet access. 
‘‘(C) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(i) PHYSICIAN
REPORTING
SYSTEM 
RULES.—Paragraphs (5), (6), and (8) of 
subsection (k) shall apply for purposes of 
this paragraph in the same manner as they 
apply for purposes of such subsection. 
‘‘(ii) INCENTIVE
PAYMENT
VALIDA-
TION RULES.—Clauses (ii) and (iii) of sub-
section (m)(5)(D) shall apply for purposes 
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100 
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of this paragraph in a similar manner as 
they apply for purposes of such subsection. 
‘‘(D) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this 
paragraph: 
‘‘(i) ELIGIBLE
PROFESSIONAL; COV-
ERED
PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES.—The 
terms ‘eligible professional’ and ‘covered 
professional services’ have the meanings 
given such terms in subsection (k)(3). 
‘‘(ii) 
PHYSICIAN
REPORTING
SYS-
TEM.—The term ‘physician reporting sys-
tem’ means the system established under 
subsection (k). 
‘‘(iii) REPORTING PERIOD.—The term 
‘reporting period’ means, with respect to a 
year, a period specified by the Secretary.’’. 
(c) GAO REPORT ON ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING.— 
Not later than September 1, 2012, the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States shall submit to Congress a report 
on the implementation of the incentives for electronic pre-
scribing established under the provisions of, and amend-
ments made by, this section. Such report shall include in-
formation regarding the following: 
(1) The percentage of eligible professionals (as 
defined in section 1848(k)(3) of the Social Security 
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Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(k)(3)) that are using elec-
tronic prescribing systems, including a determination 
of whether less than 50 percent of eligible profes-
sionals are using electronic prescribing systems. 
(2) If less than 50 percent of eligible profes-
sionals are using electronic prescribing systems, rec-
ommendations for increasing the use of electronic 
prescribing systems by eligible professionals, such as 
changes to the incentive payment adjustments estab-
lished under section 1848(a)(5) of such Act, as 
added by subsection (b). 
(3) The estimated savings to the Medicare pro-
gram under title XVIII of such Act resulting from 
the use of electronic prescribing systems. 
(4) Reductions in avoidable medical errors re-
sulting from the use of electronic prescribing sys-
tems. 
(5) The extent to which the privacy and secu-
rity of the personal health information of Medicare 
beneficiaries is protected when such beneficiaries’ 
prescription drug data and usage information is 
used for purposes other than their direct clinical 
care, including— 
(A) whether information identifying the 
beneficiary is, and remains, removed from data 
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regarding the beneficiary’s prescription drug 
utilization; and 
(B) the extent to which current law re-
quires sufficient and appropriate oversight and 
audit capabilities to monitor the practice of pre-
scription drug data mining. 
(6) Such other recommendations and adminis-
trative action as the Comptroller General determines 
to be appropriate. 
SEC. 133. EXPANDING ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE SERV-
ICES. 
(a) REVISIONS TO THE MEDICARE MEDICAL HOME 
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.— 
(1) AUTHORITY TO EXPAND.—Section 204(b) 
of division B of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act 
of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 1395b–1 note) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The 
project’’ and inserting ‘‘Subject to paragraph 
(3), the project’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) EXPANSION.—The Secretary may expand 
the duration and the scope of the project under 
paragraph (1), to an extent determined appropriate 
by the Secretary, if the Secretary determines that 
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such expansion will result in any of the following 
conditions being met: 
‘‘(A) The expansion of the project is ex-
pected to improve the quality of patient care 
without increasing spending under the Medicare 
program (not taking into account amounts 
available under subsection (g)). 
‘‘(B) The expansion of the project is ex-
pected to reduce spending under the Medicare 
program (not taking into account amounts 
available under subsection (g)) without reducing 
the quality of patient care.’’. 
(2) FUNDING AND APPLICATION.—Section 204 
of division B of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act 
of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 1395b–1 note) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsections: 
‘‘(g) FUNDING FROM SMI TRUST FUND.—There 
shall be available, from the Federal Supplementary Med-
ical Insurance Trust Fund (under section 1841 of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t)), the amount of 
$100,000,000 to carry out the project. 
‘‘(h) APPLICATION.—Chapter 35 of title 44, United 
States Code, shall not apply to the conduct of the 
project.’’. 
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(b) APPLICATION OF BUDGET-NEUTRALITY ADJUS-
TOR TO CONVERSION FACTOR.—Section 1848(c)(2)(B) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)(B)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new clause: 
‘‘(vi) ALTERNATIVE APPLICATION OF 
BUDGET-NEUTRALITY ADJUSTMENT.—Not-
withstanding subsection (d)(9)(A), effective 
for fee schedules established beginning 
with 2009, with respect to the 5-year re-
view of work relative value units used in 
fee schedules for 2007 and 2008, in lieu of 
continuing to apply budget-neutrality ad-
justments required under clause (ii) for 
2007 and 2008 to work relative value 
units, the Secretary shall apply such budg-
et-neutrality adjustments to the conversion 
factor otherwise determined for years be-
ginning with 2009.’’. 
SEC. 134. EXTENSION OF FLOOR ON MEDICARE WORK GEO-
GRAPHIC ADJUSTMENT UNDER THE MEDI-
CARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1848(e)(1)(E) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(E)), as 
amended by section 103 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and 
SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–173), is 
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amended by striking ‘‘before July 1, 2008’’ and inserting 
‘‘before January 1, 2010’’. 
(b) TREATMENT OF PHYSICIANS’ SERVICES FUR-
NISHED IN CERTAIN AREAS.—Section 1848(e)(1)(G) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(G)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
‘‘For purposes of payment for services furnished in the 
State described in the preceding sentence on or after Jan-
uary 1, 2009, after calculating the work geographic index 
in subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary shall increase the 
work geographic index to 1.5 if such index would otherwise 
be less than 1.5’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 602(1) of the 
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Mod-
ernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–173; 117 Stat. 
2301) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘subpara-
graphs (B), (C), and (E)’ and inserting ‘subpara-
graphs (B), (C), (E), and (G)’; and’’. 
SEC. 135. IMAGING PROVISIONS. 
(a) ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) ACCREDITATION
REQUIREMENT.—Section 
1834 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m) 
is amended by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
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‘‘(e) ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENT FOR ADVANCED 
DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SERVICES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Beginning with Janu-
ary 1, 2012, with respect to the technical com-
ponent of advanced diagnostic imaging services 
for which payment is made under the fee sched-
ule established under section 1848(b) and that 
are furnished by a supplier, payment may only 
be made if such supplier is accredited by an ac-
creditation organization designated by the Sec-
retary under paragraph (2)(B)(i). 
‘‘(B) ADVANCED
DIAGNOSTIC
IMAGING 
SERVICES
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the 
term ‘advanced diagnostic imaging services’ in-
cludes— 
‘‘(i) diagnostic magnetic resonance 
imaging, computed tomography, and nu-
clear medicine (including positron emission 
tomography); and 
‘‘(ii) such other diagnostic imaging 
services, including services described in 
section 1848(b)(4)(B) (excluding X-ray, 
ultrasound, and fluoroscopy), as specified 
by the Secretary in consultation with phy-
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sician specialty organizations and other 
stakeholders. 
‘‘(C) SUPPLIER
DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘supplier’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 1861(d). 
‘‘(2) ACCREDITATION ORGANIZATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) FACTORS FOR DESIGNATION OF AC-
CREDITATION ORGANIZATIONS.—The Secretary 
shall consider the following factors in desig-
nating accreditation organizations under sub-
paragraph (B)(i) and in reviewing and modi-
fying the list of accreditation organizations des-
ignated pursuant to subparagraph (C): 
‘‘(i) The ability of the organization to 
conduct timely reviews of accreditation ap-
plications. 
‘‘(ii) Whether the organization has es-
tablished a process for the timely integra-
tion of new advanced diagnostic imaging 
services into the organization’s accredita-
tion program. 
‘‘(iii) Whether the organization uses 
random site visits, site audits, or other 
strategies for ensuring accredited suppliers 
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maintain adherence to the criteria de-
scribed in paragraph (3). 
‘‘(iv) The ability of the organization 
to take into account the capacities of sup-
pliers located in a rural area (as defined in 
section 1886(d)(2)(D)). 
‘‘(v) Whether the organization has es-
tablished reasonable fees to be charged to 
suppliers applying for accreditation. 
‘‘(vi) Such other factors as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(B) DESIGNATION.—Not later than Janu-
ary 1, 2010, the Secretary shall designate orga-
nizations to accredit suppliers furnishing the 
technical component of advanced diagnostic im-
aging services. The list of accreditation organi-
zations so designated may be modified pursuant 
to subparagraph (C). 
‘‘(C) REVIEW AND MODIFICATION OF LIST 
OF ACCREDITATION ORGANIZATIONS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary 
shall review the list of accreditation organi-
zations designated under subparagraph (B) 
taking into account the factors under sub-
paragraph (A). Taking into account the re-
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sults of such review, the Secretary may, by 
regulation, modify the list of accreditation 
organizations designated under subpara-
graph (B). 
‘‘(ii) SPECIAL RULE FOR ACCREDITA-
TIONS
DONE
PRIOR
TO
REMOVAL
FROM 
LIST OF DESIGNATED ACCREDITATION OR-
GANIZATIONS.—In the case where the Sec-
retary removes an organization from the 
list of accreditation organizations des-
ignated under subparagraph (B), any sup-
plier that is accredited by the organization 
during the period beginning on the date on 
which the organization is designated as an 
accreditation organization under subpara-
graph (B) and ending on the date on 
which the organization is removed from 
such list shall be considered to have been 
accredited by an organization designated 
by the Secretary under subparagraph (B) 
for the remaining period such accreditation 
is in effect. 
‘‘(3) CRITERIA FOR ACCREDITATION.—The Sec-
retary shall establish procedures to ensure that the 
criteria used by an accreditation organization des-
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HR 6331 PCS
and quality control program by the supplier 
that is adequate and appropriate to ensure the 
reliability, clarity, and accuracy of the technical 
quality of diagnostic images produced by such 
supplier; and 
‘‘(F) any other standards or procedures 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(4) RECOGNITION
IN
STANDARDS
FOR
THE 
EVALUATION OF MEDICAL DIRECTORS AND SUPER-
VISING
PHYSICIANS.—The standards described in 
paragraph (3)(B) shall recognize whether a medical 
director or supervising physician— 
‘‘(A) in a particular specialty receives 
training in advanced diagnostic imaging serv-
ices in a residency program; 
‘‘(B) has attained, through experience, the 
necessary expertise to be a medical director or 
a supervising physician; 
‘‘(C) has completed any continuing medical 
education courses relating to such services; or 
‘‘(D) has met such other standards as the 
Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(5) RULE FOR ACCREDITATIONS MADE PRIOR 
TO DESIGNATION.—In the case of a supplier that is 
accredited before January 1, 2010, by an accredita-
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tion organization designated by the Secretary under 
paragraph (2)(B) as of January 1, 2010, such sup-
plier shall be considered to have been accredited by 
an organization designated by the Secretary under 
such paragraph as of January 1, 2012, for the re-
maining period such accreditation is in effect.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Section 1862(a) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)) is 
amended— 
(i) in paragraph (21), by striking ‘‘or’’ 
at the end; 
(ii) in paragraph (22), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (22) 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(23) which are the technical component of ad-
vanced diagnostic imaging services described in sec-
tion 1834(e)(1)(B) for which payment is made under 
the fee schedule established under section 1848(b) 
and that are furnished by a supplier (as defined in 
section 1861(d)), if such supplier is not accredited 
by an accreditation organization designated by the 
Secretary under section 1834(e)(2)(B).’’. 
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(B) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments 
made by this paragraph shall apply to advanced 
diagnostic imaging services furnished on or 
after January 1, 2012. 
(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO ASSESS THE AP-
PROPRIATE USE OF IMAGING SERVICES.— 
(1) CONDUCT OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.— 
(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary 
of 
Health and Human Services (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a 
demonstration project using the models de-
scribed in paragraph (2)(E) to collect data re-
garding physician compliance with appropriate-
ness criteria selected under paragraph (2)(D) in 
order to determine the appropriateness of ad-
vanced diagnostic imaging services furnished to 
Medicare beneficiaries. 
(B) 
ADVANCED
DIAGNOSTIC
IMAGING 
SERVICES.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘ad-
vanced diagnostic imaging services’’ has the 
meaning 
given 
such 
term 
in 
section 
1834(e)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act, as 
added by subsection (a). 
(C) AUTHORITY
TO
FOCUS
DEMONSTRA-
TION PROJECT.—The Secretary may focus the 
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demonstration project with respect to certain 
advanced diagnostic imaging services, such as 
services that account for a large amount of ex-
penditures under the Medicare program, serv-
ices that have recently experienced a high rate 
of growth, or services for which appropriateness 
criteria exists. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION
AND
DESIGN
OF
DEM-
ONSTRATION PROJECT.— 
(A) IMPLEMENTATION AND DURATION.— 
(i) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary 
shall implement the demonstration project 
under this subsection not later than Janu-
ary 1, 2010. 
(ii) DURATION.—The Secretary shall 
conduct the demonstration project under 
this subsection for a 2-year period. 
(B) APPLICATION AND SELECTION OF PAR-
TICIPATING PHYSICIANS.— 
(i) 
APPLICATION.—Each 
physician 
that desires to participate in the dem-
onstration project under this subsection 
shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and 
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HR 6331 PCS
containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(ii) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall 
select physicians to participate in the dem-
onstration project under this subsection 
from among physicians submitting applica-
tions under clause (i). The Secretary shall 
ensure that the physicians selected— 
(I) represent a wide range of geo-
graphic areas, demographic character-
istics (such as urban, rural, and sub-
urban), and practice settings (such as 
private and academic practices); and 
(II) have the capability to submit 
data to the Secretary (or an entity 
under a subcontract with the Sec-
retary) in an electronic format in ac-
cordance with standards established 
by the Secretary. 
(C) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AND INCEN-
TIVES.—The Secretary shall— 
(i) reimburse physicians for reason-
able administrative costs incurred in par-
ticipating in the demonstration project 
under this subsection; and 
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HR 6331 PCS
(ii) provide reasonable incentives to 
physicians to encourage participation in 
the demonstration project under this sub-
section. 
(D) 
USE
OF
APPROPRIATENESS
CRI-
TERIA.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in 
consultation with medical specialty soci-
eties and other stakeholders, shall select 
criteria with respect to the clinical appro-
priateness of advanced diagnostic imaging 
services for use in the demonstration 
project under this subsection. 
(ii) CRITERIA
SELECTED.—Any cri-
teria selected under clause (i) shall— 
(I) be developed or endorsed by a 
medical specialty society; and 
(II) be developed in adherence to 
appropriateness principles developed 
by a consensus organization, such as 
the AQA alliance. 
(E) MODELS FOR COLLECTING DATA RE-
GARDING
PHYSICIAN
COMPLIANCE
WITH
SE-
LECTED
CRITERIA.—Subject to subparagraph 
(H), in carrying out the demonstration project 
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under this subsection, the Secretary shall use 
each of the following models for collecting data 
regarding physician compliance with appro-
priateness criteria selected under subparagraph 
(D): 
(i) A model described in subparagraph 
(F). 
(ii) A model described in subpara-
graph (G). 
(iii) Any other model that the Sec-
retary determines to be useful in evalu-
ating the use of appropriateness criteria 
for advanced diagnostic imaging services. 
(F) POINT
OF
SERVICE
MODEL
DE-
SCRIBED.—A model described in this subpara-
graph is a model that— 
(i) uses an electronic or paper intake 
form that— 
(I) contains a certification by the 
physician furnishing the imaging serv-
ice that the data on the intake form 
was confirmed with the Medicare ben-
eficiary before the service was fur-
nished; 
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(II) contains standardized data 
elements for diagnosis, service or-
dered, service furnished, and such 
other information determined by the 
Secretary, in consultation with med-
ical specialty societies and other 
stakeholders, to be germane to evalu-
ating the effectiveness of the use of 
appropriateness criteria selected under 
subparagraph (D); and 
(III) is accessible to physicians 
participating in the demonstration 
project under this subsection in a for-
mat that allows for the electronic sub-
mission of such form; and 
(ii) provides for feedback reports in 
accordance with paragraph (3)(B). 
(G) 
POINT
OF
ORDER
MODEL
DE-
SCRIBED.—A model described in this subpara-
graph is a model that— 
(i) uses a computerized order-entry 
system that requires the transmittal of rel-
evant supporting information at the time 
of referral for advanced diagnostic imaging 
services and provides automated decision- 
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HR 6331 PCS
support feedback to the referring physician 
regarding the appropriateness of fur-
nishing such imaging services; and 
(ii) provides for feedback reports in 
accordance with paragraph (3)(B). 
(H) LIMITATION.—In no case may the 
Secretary use prior authorization— 
(i) as a model for collecting data re-
garding physician compliance with appro-
priateness criteria selected under subpara-
graph (D) under the demonstration project 
under this subsection; or 
(ii) under any model used for col-
lecting such data under the demonstration 
project. 
(I) REQUIRED CONTRACTS AND PERFORM-
ANCE STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN ENTITIES.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
enter into contracts with entities to carry 
out the model described in subparagraph 
(G). 
(ii) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—The 
Secretary shall establish and enforce per-
formance standards for such entities under 
the contracts entered into under clause (i), 
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HR 6331 PCS
including performance standards with re-
spect to— 
(I) the satisfaction of Medicare 
beneficiaries who are furnished ad-
vanced diagnostic imaging services by 
a physician participating in the dem-
onstration project; 
(II) the satisfaction of physicians 
participating in the demonstration 
project; 
(III) if applicable, timelines for 
the provision of feedback reports 
under paragraph (3)(B); and 
(IV) any other areas determined 
appropriate by the Secretary. 
(3) COMPARISON
OF
UTILIZATION
OF
AD-
VANCED DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SERVICES AND FEED-
BACK REPORTS.— 
(A) COMPARISON OF UTILIZATION OF AD-
VANCED DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SERVICES.—The 
Secretary shall consult with medical specialty 
societies and other stakeholders to develop 
mechanisms for comparing the utilization of ad-
vanced diagnostic imaging services by physi-
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cians participating in the demonstration project 
under this subsection against— 
(i) the appropriateness criteria se-
lected under paragraph (2)(D); and 
(ii) to the extent feasible, the utiliza-
tion of such services by physicians not par-
ticipating in the demonstration project. 
(B) FEEDBACK REPORTS.—The Secretary 
shall, in consultation with medical specialty so-
cieties and other stakeholders, develop mecha-
nisms to provide feedback reports to physicians 
participating in the demonstration project 
under this subsection. Such feedback reports 
shall include— 
(i) a profile of the rate of compliance 
by the physician with appropriateness cri-
teria selected under paragraph (2)(D), in-
cluding a comparison of— 
(I) the rate of compliance by the 
physician with such criteria; and 
(II) the rate of compliance by the 
physician’s peers (as defined by the 
Secretary) with such criteria; and 
(ii) to the extent feasible, a compari-
son of— 
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HR 6331 PCS
(I) the rate of utilization of ad-
vanced diagnostic imaging services by 
the physician; and 
(II) the rate of utilization of such 
services by the physician’s peers (as 
defined by the Secretary) who are not 
participating in the demonstration 
project. 
(4) CONDUCT
OF
DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT 
AND WAIVER.— 
(A) 
CONDUCT
OF
DEMONSTRATION 
PROJECT.—Chapter 35 of title 44, United 
States Code, shall not apply to the conduct of 
the demonstration project under this sub-
section. 
(B) WAIVER.—The Secretary may waive 
such provisions of titles XI and XVIII of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.; 
1395 et seq.) as may be necessary to carry out 
the demonstration project under this sub-
section. 
(5) EVALUATION AND REPORT.— 
(A) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall 
evaluate the demonstration project under this 
subsection to— 
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HR 6331 PCS
(i) assess the timeliness and efficacy 
of the demonstration project; 
(ii) assess the performance of entities 
under a contract entered into under para-
graph (2)(I)(i); 
(iii) analyze data— 
(I) on the rates of appropriate, 
uncertain, and inappropriate advanced 
diagnostic imaging services furnished 
by physicians participating in the 
demonstration project; 
(II) on patterns and trends in 
the appropriateness and inappropri-
ateness of such services furnished by 
such physicians; 
(III) on patterns and trends in 
national and regional variations of 
care with respect to the furnishing of 
such services; and 
(IV) on the correlation between 
the appropriateness of the services 
furnished and image results; and 
(iv) address— 
(I) the thresholds used under the 
demonstration project to identify ac-
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ceptable and outlier levels of perform-
ance with respect to the appropriate-
ness of advanced diagnostic imaging 
services furnished; 
(II) whether prospective use of 
appropriateness criteria could have an 
effect on the volume of such services 
furnished; 
(III) whether expansion of the 
use of appropriateness criteria with 
respect to such services to a broader 
population of Medicare beneficiaries 
would be advisable; 
(IV) whether, under such an ex-
pansion, physicians who demonstrate 
consistent compliance with such ap-
propriateness criteria should be ex-
empted from certain requirements; 
(V) the use of incident-specific 
versus practice-specific outlier infor-
mation in formulating future rec-
ommendations with respect to the use 
of appropriateness criteria for such 
services under the Medicare program; 
and 
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(VI) the potential for using 
methods (including financial incen-
tives), in addition to those used under 
the models under the demonstration 
project, to ensure compliance with 
such criteria. 
(B) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the completion of the demonstration project 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to Congress a report containing the results 
of the evaluation of the demonstration project 
conducted under subparagraph (A), together 
with recommendations for such legislation and 
administrative action as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(6) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall provide for 
the transfer from the Federal Supplementary Med-
ical Insurance Trust Fund established under section 
1841 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t) 
of $10,000,000, for carrying out the demonstration 
project under this subsection (including costs associ-
ated with administering the demonstration project, 
reimbursing physicians for administrative costs and 
providing incentives to encourage participation under 
paragraph (2)(C), entering into contracts under 
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paragraph (2)(I), and evaluating the demonstration 
project under paragraph (5)). 
(c) GAO STUDY AND REPORTS ON ACCREDITATION 
REQUIREMENT
FOR ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING 
SERVICES.— 
(1) STUDY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States (in this subsection re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Comptroller General’’) shall 
conduct a study, by imaging modality, on— 
(i) the effect of the accreditation re-
quirement under section 1834(e) of the So-
cial Security Act, as added by subsection 
(a); and 
(ii) any other relevant questions in-
volving access to, and the value of, ad-
vanced diagnostic imaging services for 
Medicare beneficiaries. 
(B) ISSUES.—The study conducted under 
subparagraph (A) shall examine the following: 
(i) The impact of such accreditation 
requirement on the number, type, and 
quality of imaging services furnished to 
Medicare beneficiaries. 
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(ii) The cost of such accreditation re-
quirement, including costs to facilities of 
compliance with such requirement and 
costs to the Secretary of administering 
such requirement. 
(iii) Access to imaging services by 
Medicare beneficiaries, especially in rural 
areas, before and after implementation of 
such accreditation requirement. 
(iv) Such other issues as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
(2) REPORTS.— 
(A) PRELIMINARY
REPORT.—Not later 
than March 1, 2013, the Comptroller General 
shall submit a preliminary report to Congress 
on the study conducted under paragraph (1). 
(B) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than 
March 1, 2014, the Comptroller General shall 
submit a final report to Congress on the study 
conducted under paragraph (1), together with 
recommendations for such legislation and ad-
ministrative action as the Comptroller General 
determines appropriate. 
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SEC. 136. EXTENSION OF TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PHYSI-
CIAN PATHOLOGY SERVICES UNDER MEDI-
CARE. 
Section 542(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), as amended by section 732 of the Medicare Prescrip-
tion Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 
(42 U.S.C. 1395w–4 note), section 104 of division B of 
the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 
1395w–4 note), and section 104 of the Medicare, Med-
icaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 
110–173), is amended by striking ‘‘2007, and the first 6 
months of 2008’’ and inserting ‘‘2007, 2008, and 2009’’. 
SEC. 137. ACCOMMODATION OF PHYSICIANS ORDERED TO 
ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED SERVICES. 
Section 1842(b)(6)(D)(iii) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6)(D)(iii)), as amended by section 
116 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act 
of 2007 (Public Law 110–173), is amended by striking 
‘‘(before July 1, 2008)’’. 
SEC. 138. ADJUSTMENT FOR MEDICARE MENTAL HEALTH 
SERVICES. 
(a) PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of payment for 
services furnished under the physician fee schedule 
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under section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w–4) during the period beginning on 
July 1, 2008, and ending on December 31, 2009, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
increase the fee schedule otherwise applicable for 
specified services by 5 percent. 
(2) 
NONAPPLICATION
OF
BUDGET-NEU-
TRALITY.—The budget-neutrality provision of sec-
tion 1848(c)(2)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)(B)(ii)) shall not apply to the 
adjustments described in paragraph (1). 
(b) DEFINITION OF SPECIFIED SERVICES.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘specified services’’ means procedure 
codes for services in the categories of the Health Care 
Common Procedure Coding System, established by the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 
1848(c)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w– 
4(c)(5)), as of July 1, 2007, and as subsequently modified 
by the Secretary, consisting of psychiatric therapeutic pro-
cedures furnished in office or other outpatient facility set-
tings or in inpatient hospital, partial hospital, or residen-
tial care facility settings, but only with respect to such 
services in such categories that are in the subcategories 
of services which are— 
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(1) insight oriented, behavior modifying, or sup-
portive psychotherapy; or 
(2) interactive psychotherapy. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary may implement this section 
by program instruction or otherwise. 
SEC. 139. IMPROVEMENTS FOR MEDICARE ANESTHESIA 
TEACHING PROGRAMS. 
(a) SPECIAL PAYMENT RULE FOR TEACHING ANES-
THESIOLOGISTS.—Section 1848(a) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(a)), as amended by section 
132(b), is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (4)(A), by inserting ‘‘except as 
provided in paragraph (5),’’ after ‘‘anesthesia 
cases,’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(6) SPECIAL RULE FOR TEACHING ANESTHE-
SIOLOGISTS.—With respect to physicians’ services 
furnished on or after January 1, 2010, in the case 
of teaching anesthesiologists involved in the training 
of physician residents in a single anesthesia case or 
two concurrent anesthesia cases, the fee schedule 
amount to be applied shall be 100 percent of the fee 
schedule amount otherwise applicable under this sec-
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tion if the anesthesia services were personally per-
formed by the teaching anesthesiologist alone and 
paragraph (4) shall not apply if— 
‘‘(A) 
the 
teaching 
anesthesiologist 
is 
present during all critical or key portions of the 
anesthesia service or procedure involved; and 
‘‘(B) the teaching anesthesiologist (or an-
other anesthesiologist with whom the teaching 
anesthesiologist has entered into an arrange-
ment) is immediately available to furnish anes-
thesia services during the entire procedure.’’. 
(b) TREATMENT OF CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE 
ANESTHETISTS.—With respect to items and services fur-
nished on or after January 1, 2010, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall make appropriate ad-
justments to payments under the Medicare program under 
title XVIII of the Social Security Act for teaching certified 
registered nurse anesthetists to implement a policy with 
respect to teaching certified registered nurse anesthetists 
that— 
(1) is consistent with the adjustments made by 
the special rule for teaching anesthesiologists under 
section 1848(a)(6) of the Social Security Act, as 
added by subsection (a); and 
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(2) maintains the existing payment differences 
between teaching anesthesiologists and teaching cer-
tified registered nurse anesthetists. 
PART II—OTHER PAYMENT AND COVERAGE 
IMPROVEMENTS 
SEC. 141. EXTENSION OF EXCEPTIONS PROCESS FOR MEDI-
CARE THERAPY CAPS. 
Section 1833(g)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395l(g)(5)), as amended by section 105 of the 
Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 
(Public Law 110–173), is amended by striking ‘‘June 30, 
2008’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2009’’. 
SEC. 
142. 
EXTENSION 
OF 
PAYMENT 
RULE 
FOR 
BRACHYTHERAPY AND THERAPEUTIC RADIO-
PHARMACEUTICALS. 
Section 1833(t)(16)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395l(t)(16)(C)), as amended by section 106 of the 
Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 
(Public Law 110–173), is amended by striking ‘‘July 1, 
2008’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘January 1, 
2010’’. 
SEC. 143. SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861(ll) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)) is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) The term ‘outpatient speech-language pathology 
services’ has the meaning given the term ‘outpatient phys-
ical therapy services’ in subsection (p), except that in ap-
plying such subsection— 
‘‘(A) ‘speech-language pathology’ shall be sub-
stituted for ‘physical therapy’ each place it appears; 
and 
‘‘(B) ‘speech-language pathologist’ shall be sub-
stituted for ‘physical therapist’ each place it ap-
pears.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) Section 1832(a)(2)(C) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395k(a)(2)(C)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and outpatient’’ and in-
serting ‘‘, outpatient’’; and 
(B) by inserting before the semicolon at 
the end the following: ‘‘, and outpatient speech- 
language pathology services (other than services 
to which the second sentence of section 1861(p) 
applies through the application of section 
1861(ll)(2))’’. 
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(2) Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 
1833(a)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395l(a)(8)) are each amended by striking ‘‘(which 
includes outpatient speech-language pathology serv-
ices)’’ and inserting ‘‘, outpatient speech-language 
pathology services,’’. 
(3) Section 1833(g)(1) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(g)(1)) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and speech-language pa-
thology services of the type described in such 
section through the application of section 
1861(ll)(2)’’ after ‘‘1861(p)’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and speech-language pa-
thology services’’ after ‘‘and physical therapy 
services’’. 
(4) The second sentence of section 1835(a) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395n(a)) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘section 1861(g)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (g) or (ll)(2) of section 
1861’’ each place it appears; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or outpatient speech-lan-
guage pathology services, respectively’’ after 
‘‘occupational therapy services’’. 
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(5) Section 1861(p) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395x(p)) is amended by striking the 
fourth sentence. 
(6) Section 1861(s)(2)(D) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(D)) is amended by 
inserting ‘‘, outpatient speech-language pathology 
services,’’ after ‘‘physical therapy services’’. 
(7) Section 1862(a)(20) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(20)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘outpatient occupational 
therapy services or outpatient physical therapy 
services’’ and inserting ‘‘outpatient physical 
therapy services, outpatient speech-language pa-
thology services, or outpatient occupational 
therapy services’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘section 1861(g)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (g) or (ll)(2) of section 
1861’’. 
(8) Section 1866(e)(1) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(e)(1)) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘section 1861(g)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘subsection (g) or (ll)(2) of section 
1861’’ the first two places it appears; 
(B) by striking ‘‘defined) or’’ and inserting 
‘‘defined),’’; and 
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(C) by inserting before the semicolon at 
the end the following: ‘‘, or (through the oper-
ation of section 1861(ll)(2)) with respect to the 
furnishing of outpatient speech-language pa-
thology’’. 
(9) Section 1877(h)(6) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395nn(h)(6)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(L) Outpatient speech-language pathology 
services.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to services furnished on or after 
July 1, 2009. 
(d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to affect existing regulations and policies of the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that require 
physician oversight of care as a condition of payment for 
speech-language pathology services under part B of the 
Medicare program. 
SEC. 144. PAYMENT AND COVERAGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR 
PATIENTS 
WITH 
CHRONIC 
OBSTRUCTIVE 
PULMONARY DISEASE AND OTHER CONDI-
TIONS. 
(a) COVERAGE OF PULMONARY AND CARDIAC REHA-
BILITATION.— 
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‘‘(3) The items and services described in this para-
graph are— 
‘‘(A) physician-prescribed exercise; 
‘‘(B) cardiac risk factor modification, including 
education, counseling, and behavioral intervention 
(to the extent such education, counseling, and behav-
ioral intervention is closely related to the individual’s 
care and treatment and is tailored to the individual’s 
needs); 
‘‘(C) psychosocial assessment; 
‘‘(D) outcomes assessment; and 
‘‘(E) such other items and services as the Sec-
retary may determine, but only if such items and 
services are— 
‘‘(i) reasonable and necessary for the diag-
nosis or active treatment of the individual’s 
condition; 
‘‘(ii) reasonably expected to improve or 
maintain the individual’s condition and func-
tional level; and 
‘‘(iii) furnished under such guidelines re-
lating to the frequency and duration of such 
items and services as the Secretary shall estab-
lish, taking into account accepted norms of 
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HR 6331 PCS
medical practice and the reasonable expectation 
of improvement of the individual. 
‘‘(4)(A) The term ‘intensive cardiac rehabilitation 
program’ means a physician-supervised program (as de-
scribed in paragraph (2)) that furnishes the items and 
services described in paragraph (3) and has shown, in 
peer-reviewed published research, that it accomplished— 
‘‘(i) one or more of the following: 
‘‘(I) positively affected the progression of 
coronary heart disease; or 
‘‘(II) reduced the need for coronary bypass 
surgery; or 
‘‘(III) reduced the need for percutaneous 
coronary interventions; and 
‘‘(ii) a statistically significant reduction in 5 or 
more of the following measures from their level be-
fore receipt of cardiac rehabilitation services to their 
level after receipt of such services: 
‘‘(I) low density lipoprotein; 
‘‘(II) triglycerides; 
‘‘(III) body mass index; 
‘‘(IV) systolic blood pressure; 
‘‘(V) diastolic blood pressure; or 
‘‘(VI) the need for cholesterol, blood pres-
sure, and diabetes medications. 
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‘‘(B) To be eligible for an intensive cardiac rehabilita-
tion program, an individual must have— 
‘‘(i) had an acute myocardial infarction within 
the preceding 12 months; 
‘‘(ii) had coronary bypass surgery; 
‘‘(iii) stable angina pectoris; 
‘‘(iv) had heart valve repair or replacement; 
‘‘(v) had percutaneous transluminal coronary 
angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary stenting; or 
‘‘(vi) had a heart or heart-lung transplant. 
‘‘(C) An intensive cardiac rehabilitation program may 
be provided in a series of 72 one-hour sessions (as defined 
in section 1848(b)(5)), up to 6 sessions per day, over a 
period of up to 18 weeks. 
‘‘(5) The Secretary shall establish standards to en-
sure that a physician with expertise in the management 
of individuals with cardiac pathophysiology who is licensed 
to practice medicine in the State in which a cardiac reha-
bilitation program (or the intensive cardiac rehabilitation 
program, as the case may be) is offered— 
‘‘(A) is responsible for such program; and 
‘‘(B) in consultation with appropriate staff, is 
involved substantially in directing the progress of in-
dividual in the program. 
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‘‘Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program 
‘‘(fff)(1) The term ‘pulmonary rehabilitation pro-
gram’ means a physician-supervised program (as de-
scribed in subsection (eee)(2) with respect to a program 
under this subsection) that furnishes the items and serv-
ices described in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) The items and services described in this para-
graph are— 
‘‘(A) physician-prescribed exercise; 
‘‘(B) education or training (to the extent the 
education or training is closely and clearly related to 
the individual’s care and treatment and is tailored to 
such individual’s needs); 
‘‘(C) psychosocial assessment; 
‘‘(D) outcomes assessment; and 
‘‘(E) such other items and services as the Sec-
retary may determine, but only if such items and 
services are— 
‘‘(i) reasonable and necessary for the diag-
nosis or active treatment of the individual’s 
condition; 
‘‘(ii) reasonably expected to improve or 
maintain the individual’s condition and func-
tional level; and 
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‘‘(iii) furnished under such guidelines re-
lating to the frequency and duration of such 
items and services as the Secretary shall estab-
lish, taking into account accepted norms of 
medical practice and the reasonable expectation 
of improvement of the individual. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall establish standards to en-
sure that a physician with expertise in the management 
of individuals with respiratory pathophysiology who is li-
censed to practice medicine in the State in which a pul-
monary rehabilitation program is offered— 
‘‘(A) is responsible for such program; and 
‘‘(B) in consultation with appropriate staff, is 
involved substantially in directing the progress of in-
dividual in the program.’’. 
(2) PAYMENT FOR INTENSIVE CARDIAC REHA-
BILITATION PROGRAMS.— 
(A) INCLUSION IN PHYSICIAN FEE SCHED-
ULE.—Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(j)(3)) is amended by 
inserting ‘‘(2)(DD),’’ after ‘‘(2)(AA),’’. 
(B) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
1848(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395w–4(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new paragraph: 
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‘‘(5) TREATMENT OF INTENSIVE CARDIAC RE-
HABILITATION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of an in-
tensive cardiac rehabilitation program described 
in section 1861(eee)(4), the Secretary shall sub-
stitute the Medicare OPD fee schedule amount 
established under the prospective payment sys-
tem for hospital outpatient department service 
under paragraph (3)(D) of section 1833(t) for 
cardiac rehabilitation (under HCPCS codes 
93797 and 93798 for calendar year 2007, or 
any succeeding HCPCS codes for cardiac reha-
bilitation). 
‘‘(B) DEFINITION OF SESSION.—Each of 
the services described in subparagraphs (A) 
through (E) of section 1861(eee)(3), when fur-
nished for one hour, is a separate session of in-
tensive cardiac rehabilitation. 
‘‘(C) MULTIPLE SESSIONS PER DAY.—Pay-
ment may be made for up to 6 sessions per day 
of the series of 72 one-hour sessions of inten-
sive cardiac rehabilitation services described in 
section 1861(eee)(4)(B).’’. 
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(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply to items and services 
furnished on or after January 1, 2010. 
(b) REPEAL OF TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF OXY-
GEN EQUIPMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1834(a)(5)(F) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(5)(F)) is 
amended— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘OWNER-
SHIP OF EQUIPMENT’’ and inserting ‘‘RENT-
AL CAP’’; and 
(B) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(ii) PAYMENTS
AND
RULES
AFTER 
RENTAL CAP.—After the 36th continuous 
month during which payment is made for 
the equipment under this paragraph— 
‘‘(I) the supplier furnishing such 
equipment under this subsection shall 
continue to furnish the equipment 
during any period of medical need for 
the remainder of the reasonable useful 
lifetime of the equipment, as deter-
mined by the Secretary; 
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‘‘(II) payments for oxygen shall 
continue to be made in the amount 
recognized for oxygen under para-
graph (9) for the period of medical 
need; and 
‘‘(III) maintenance and servicing 
payments shall, if the Secretary deter-
mines such payments are reasonable 
and necessary, be made (for parts and 
labor not covered by the supplier’s or 
manufacturer’s warranty, as deter-
mined by the Secretary to be appro-
priate for the equipment), and such 
payments shall be in an amount deter-
mined to be appropriate by the Sec-
retary.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by paragraph (1) shall take effect on January 1, 
2009. 
SEC. 145. CLINICAL LABORATORY TESTS. 
(a) REPEAL OF MEDICARE COMPETITIVE BIDDING 
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR CLINICAL LABORATORY 
SERVICES.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1847 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3) is amended by 
striking subsection (e). 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
1833(a)(1)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395l(a)(1)(D)) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or’’ before ‘‘(ii)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘or (iii) on the basis’’ and 
all that follows before the comma at the end. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(b) CLINICAL LABORATORY TEST FEE SCHEDULE 
UPDATE ADJUSTMENT.—Section 1833(h)(2)(A)(i) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(h)(2)(A)(ii)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘minus, for each of the years 2009 
through 2013, 0.5 percentage points’’ after ‘‘city aver-
age)’’. 
SEC. 146. IMPROVED ACCESS TO AMBULANCE SERVICES. 
(a) EXTENSION
OF INCREASED MEDICARE PAY-
MENTS FOR GROUND AMBULANCE SERVICES.—Section 
1834(l)(13) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395m(l)(13)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
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(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
inserting ‘‘and for such services furnished on or 
after July 1, 2008, and before January 1, 
2010’’ after ‘‘2007,’’; 
(B) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘(or 3 per-
cent if such service is furnished on or after July 
1, 2008, and before January 1, 2010)’’ after ‘‘2 
percent’’; and 
(C) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘(or 2 per-
cent if such service is furnished on or after July 
1, 2008, and before January 1, 2010)’’ after ‘‘1 
percent’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘2006’’ and 
inserting ‘‘APPLICABLE PERIOD’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘applicable’’ before ‘‘pe-
riod’’. 
(b) AIR AMBULANCE PAYMENT IMPROVEMENTS.— 
(1) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN AREAS FOR PAY-
MENT FOR AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES UNDER THE 
AMBULANCE FEE SCHEDULE.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, for purposes of making pay-
ments under section 1834(l) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)) for air ambulance services 
furnished during the period beginning on July 1, 
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2008, and ending on December 31, 2009, any area 
that was designated as a rural area for purposes of 
making payments under such section for air ambu-
lance services furnished on December 31, 2006, shall 
be treated as a rural area for purposes of making 
payments under such section for air ambulance serv-
ices furnished during such period. 
(2) CLARIFICATION REGARDING SATISFACTION 
OF REQUIREMENT OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY.— 
(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—Section 
1834(l)(14)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(l)(14)(B)(i)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘reasonably determines or certifies’’ 
and inserting ‘‘certifies or reasonably deter-
mines’’. 
(B) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The amendment 
made by subparagraph (A) shall apply to serv-
ices furnished on or after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
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SEC. 147. EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF THE MEDICARE 
HOLD HARMLESS PROVISION UNDER THE 
PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR HOS-
PITAL OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT (HOPD) 
SERVICES FOR CERTAIN HOSPITALS. 
Section 1833(t)(7)(D)(i) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395l(t)(7)(D)(i)) is amended— 
(1) in subclause (II)— 
(A) in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘2009’’ and inserting ‘‘2010’’; and 
(B) by striking the second sentence and in-
serting the following new sentence: ‘‘For pur-
poses of the preceding sentence, the applicable 
percentage shall be 95 percent with respect to 
covered OPD services furnished in 2006, 90 
percent with respect to such services furnished 
in 2007, and 85 percent with respect to such 
services furnished in 2008 or 2009.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
clause: 
‘‘(III) In the case of a sole community 
hospital 
(as 
defined 
in 
section 
1886(d)(5)(D)(iii)) that has not more than 
100 beds, for covered OPD services fur-
nished on or after January 1, 2009, and 
before January 1, 2010, for which the 
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(A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(B) in clause (ii)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘and before January 
1, 2009,’’ after ‘‘April 1, 2007,’’; and 
(ii) by striking the period at the end 
and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
clauses: 
‘‘(iii) furnished on or after January 1, 2009, 
and before January 1, 2010, by 1.0 percent above 
the amount of such composite rate component for 
such services furnished on December 31, 2008; and 
‘‘(iv) furnished on or after January 1, 2010, by 
1.0 percent above the amount of such composite rate 
component for such services furnished on December 
31, 2009.’’. 
(2) SITE NEUTRAL COMPOSITE RATE.—Section 
1881(b)(12)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395rr(b)(12)(A)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new sentence: ‘‘Under such 
system, the payment rate for dialysis services fur-
nished on or after January 1, 2009, by providers of 
services shall be the same as the payment rate (com-
puted without regard to this sentence) for such serv-
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formance standards, as determined appro-
priate by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) PERFORMANCE
SCORE
WITH
RE-
SPECT
TO
INDIVIDUAL
MEASURES.—The Sec-
retary shall also calculate separate performance 
scores for each measure, including for dialysis 
adequacy and anemia management. 
‘‘(4) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—Subject to sub-
paragraph (E), the Secretary shall establish 
performance standards with respect to meas-
ures selected under paragraph (2) for a per-
formance period with respect to a year (as es-
tablished under subparagraph (D)). 
‘‘(B) 
ACHIEVEMENT
AND
IMPROVE-
MENT.—The performance standards established 
under subparagraph (A) shall include levels of 
achievement and improvement, as determined 
appropriate by the Secretary. 
‘‘(C) TIMING.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish the performance standards under subpara-
graph (A) prior to the beginning of the per-
formance period for the year involved. 
‘‘(D) PERFORMANCE
PERIOD.—The Sec-
retary shall establish the performance period 
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