Protecting Medicare Patients and Physicians Act
Bill: S.5194 | Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John (R-LA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Protecting Medicare Patients and Physicians Act
This bill extends a payment increase under Medicare's physician fee schedule through the end of 2023 (currently set to expire at the end of 2022) and temporarily exempts Medicare from sequestration.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend certain 
   increases in payments for physicians services under the Medicare 
                         program through 2023.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Medicare Patients and 
Physicians Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, the House of Representatives, and the Senate should commit to 
take administrative and legislative actions to--
            (1) ensure financial stability and predictability in the 
        Medicare physician payment system;
            (2) promote and reward value-based care innovation; and
            (3) safeguard timely access to high-quality care by 
        advancing health equity and reducing disparities.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF SUPPORT FOR PHYSICIANS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN 
              ADJUSTING TO MEDICARE PAYMENT CHANGES.

    (a) In General.--Section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395w-4) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(2)(B)(iv)(V), by striking ``or 2022'' 
        and inserting ``, 2022, or 2023''; and
            (2) in subsection (t)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``and 2022'' and 
                inserting ``, 2022, and 2023'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``and 2022'' and inserting 
                        ``, 2022, and 2023'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
                    ``(C) such services furnished on or after January 
                1, 2023, and before January 1, 2024, by 4.42 
                percent.''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2)(C)--
                            (i) in the heading, by striking ``and 
                        2022'' and inserting ``, 2022 and 2023''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``or 2022'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``, 2022, or 2023''.
    (b) Temporary Suspension of PAYGO Medicare Sequestration.--During 
the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on 
December 31, 2023, the Medicare programs under title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) shall be exempt from 
reduction under any sequestration order issued under the Statutory Pay-
As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 931 et seq.) before, on, or after the 
date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Transfer of Returned Provider Relief Funds.--Section 1150C of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-26) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Transfer of Returned Funds.--The Secretary shall provide for 
the transfer to the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund 
under section 1841 of any amounts returned to the Secretary by an 
eligible health care provider under this section that are unobligated 
as of the date of the enactment of this subsection.''.
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