I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3271
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the Medicare
Payment Advisory Commission to 19 members and to include on such
commission individuals with national recognition for their expertise in
manufacturing and distributing finished medical goods.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 9, 1999
Mr. DUNCAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Com-
merce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand
the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to 19 mem-
bers and to include on such commission individuals with
national recognition for their expertise in manufacturing
and distributing finished medical goods.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The amendments to the Social Security Act
contained in section 4022 of the Balanced Budget
Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–33) established the
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to replace
the Physician Payment Review Commission and the
Prospective Payment Assessment Commission.
(2) The Medicare Payment Advisory Commis-
sion is required to submit an annual report to Con-
gress containing an examination of issues and policy
recommendations that affect the Medicare Program
under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
(3) The Medicare Program has struggled to
keep up with the latest technologies and medical
supply products, even if such technologies and prod-
ucts prove to be cost-effective.
(4) The ability to keep up with such tech-
nologies and products requires—
(A) analysis of both the cost and quality of
various products; and
(B) constant review of medical develop-
ments.
(5) The Medicare Payment Advisory Commis-
sion has broad authority and includes the ability to
review and make recommendations on procurement
reimbursement and reform issues, including the ef-
fect, impact, and cost implications of competitive
bidding, flexible purchasing, and inherent reason-
ableness on the provision of a full range of effective
medical products and services to Medicare bene-
ficiaries. However, as of the date of enactment of
this Act, the membership of the commission has not
included individuals with expertise in manufacturing
and distributing finished medical goods.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF MEMBERSHIP OF MEDPAC TO 19.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1805(c) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395b–6(c)), as amended by section
5202 of the Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998
(contained in division J of Public Law 105–277), is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘17’’ and in-
serting ‘‘19’’; and
(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ‘‘individ-
uals with national recognition for their expertise in
manufacturing and distributing finished medical
goods,’’ after ‘‘other health professionals,’’.
(b) INITIAL TERMS OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of staggering
the initial terms of members of the Medicare Pay-
ment Advisory Commission under section 1805(c)(3)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395b–
6(c)(3)), the initial terms of the two additional mem-
bers of the Commission provided for by the amend-
ment under subsection (a)(1) are as follows:
(A) One member shall be appointed for one
year.
(B) One member shall be appointed for
two years.
(2) COMMENCEMENT OF TERMS.—Such terms
shall begin on March 1, 2000.
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