Title: Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act of 2017
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement in Research and Treatment Act of 2017
This bill modifies provisions relating to coverage for and access to treatment for chronic kidney disease, including Medicare payment provisions for renal dialysis services.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1890 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1890

 To improve the understanding of, and promote access to treatment for, 
            chronic kidney disease, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 28, 2017

  Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Blunt, and Mr. Nelson) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                                Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To improve the understanding of, and promote access to treatment for, 
            chronic kidney disease, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Chronic Kidney Disease Improvement 
in Research and Treatment Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
 TITLE I--IMPROVING PATIENT LIVES AND QUALITY OF CARE THROUGH RESEARCH 
                             AND INNOVATION

Sec. 101. Improving patient lives and quality of care through research 
                            and innovation.
Sec. 102. Enhancing care through new technologies.
Sec. 103. Understanding current utilization of palliative care 
                            services.
Sec. 104. Understanding the progression of kidney disease and treatment 
                            of kidney failure in minority populations.
          TITLE II--EMPOWER PATIENT DECISION MAKING AND CHOICE

Sec. 201. Providing individuals with kidney failure access to managed 
                            care.
Sec. 202. Medigap coverage for beneficiaries with end-stage renal 
                            disease.
Sec. 203. Promoting access to home dialysis treatments.
    TITLE III--IMPROVING PATIENT CARE AND ENSURING QUALITY OUTCOMES

Sec. 301. Maintain an economically stable dialysis infrastructure.
Sec. 302. Improve patient decision making and transparency by 
                            consolidating and modernizing quality 
                            programs.
Sec. 303. Increasing access to Medicare kidney disease education 
                            benefit.
Sec. 304. Certification of new facilities.
Sec. 305. Improving access in underserved areas.

 TITLE I--IMPROVING PATIENT LIVES AND QUALITY OF CARE THROUGH RESEARCH 
                             AND INNOVATION

SEC. 101. IMPROVING PATIENT LIVES AND QUALITY OF CARE THROUGH RESEARCH 
              AND INNOVATION.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this 
section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a study on 
increasing kidney transplantation rates. Such study shall include an 
analysis of each of the following:
            (1) Any disincentives in the payment systems under the 
        Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act 
        that create barriers to kidney transplants and post-transplant 
        care for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease.
            (2) The practices used by States with higher than average 
        donation rates and whether those practices and policies could 
        be successfully utilized in other States.
            (3) Practices and policies that could increase deceased 
        donation rates of minority populations.
            (4) Whether cultural and policy barriers exist to 
        increasing living donation rates, including an examination of 
        how to better facilitate chained donations.
            (5) Other areas determined appropriate by the Secretary.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
on the study conducted under subsection (a), together with such 
recommendations as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

SEC. 102. ENHANCING CARE THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

    (a) Agreement With National Academy of Sciences.--The Secretary of 
Health and Human Services shall seek to enter into an agreement with 
the National Academy of Sciences within six months of the date of the 
enactment of this Act under which the National Academy of Sciences will 
conduct a study on the design of payments for renal dialysis services 
under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security 
Act, including an analysis of whether adjustments to such payments are 
needed to allow for the incorporation of new technologies and 
therapies.
    (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
National Academy of Sciences shall evaluate the current payment system 
for renal dialysis services under the Medicare program, identify 
barriers to adopting innovative items, services, and therapies, and 
make recommendations as to how to eliminate such barriers.

SEC. 103. UNDERSTANDING CURRENT UTILIZATION OF PALLIATIVE CARE 
              SERVICES.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States (in this section referred to as the ``Comptroller 
        General'') shall conduct a study on the utilization of 
        palliative care in treating individuals with advanced kidney 
        disease, from stage 4 through stage 5, including individuals 
        with kidney failure on dialysis through any progression of the 
        disease. Such study shall include an analysis of--
                    (A) how palliative care can be utilized to improve 
                the quality of life of those with kidney disease and 
                facilitate care tailored to their individual goals and 
                values;
                    (B) the successful use of palliative care in the 
                care of patients with other chronic diseases and 
                serious illnesses;
                    (C) the utilization of palliative care at any point 
                in an illness, including when used at the same time as 
                curative treatment; and
                    (D) other areas determined appropriate by the 
                Comptroller General.
            (2) Definition of palliative care.--In this section, the 
        term ``palliative care'' means patient and family centered care 
        that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and 
        treating suffering. Such term includes care that is furnished 
        throughout the continuum of the illness that addresses 
        physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs 
        and that facilitates patient autonomy, access to information 
        and choice.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Congress a 
report on the study conducted under subsection (a), together with such 
recommendations as the Comptroller General determines to be 
appropriate.

SEC. 104. UNDERSTANDING THE PROGRESSION OF KIDNEY DISEASE AND TREATMENT 
              OF KIDNEY FAILURE IN MINORITY POPULATIONS.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this 
section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a study on--
            (1) the social, behavioral, and biological factors leading 
        to kidney disease;
            (2) efforts to slow the progression of kidney disease in 
        minority populations that are disproportionately affected by 
        such disease; and
            (3) treatment patterns associated with providing care, 
        under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social 
        Security Act, the Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act, 
        and through private health insurance, to minority populations 
        that are disproportionately affected by kidney failure.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
study conducted under subsection (a), together with such 
recommendations as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

          TITLE II--EMPOWER PATIENT DECISION MAKING AND CHOICE

SEC. 201. PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE ACCESS TO MANAGED 
              CARE.

    (a) Permanent Extension of Medicare Advantage ESRD Special Needs 
Plans Authority.--Section 1859(f)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w-28(f)(1)) is amended by inserting ``, in the case of a 
specialized MA plan for special needs individuals who have not been 
determined to have end stage renal disease,'' before ``for periods 
before January 1, 2019''.
    (b) Accelerated Access to Medicare Advantage.--Section 17006(a)(3) 
of the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255) is amended by 
striking ``2021'' and inserting ``2020''.
    (c) Accelerated MedPAC Risk Adjustment Report.--Section 
17006(f)(2)(A)(i)(II) of the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-
255) is amended by striking ``2020'' and inserting ``2019''.

SEC. 202. MEDIGAP COVERAGE FOR BENEFICIARIES WITH END-STAGE RENAL 
              DISEASE.

    (a) Guaranteed Availability of Medigap Policies to All ESRD 
Medicare Beneficiaries.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1882(s) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(s)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``is 
                        65'' and inserting the following: ``is--
                            ``(i) 65 years of age or older and is 
                        enrolled for benefits under part B; or
                            ``(ii) is entitled to benefits under 
                        226A(b) and is enrolled for benefits under part 
                        B.''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D), in the matter 
                        preceding clause (i), by inserting ``(or is 
                        entitled to benefits under 226A(b))'' after 
                        ``is 65 years of age or older''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3)(B)--
                            (i) in clause (ii), by inserting ``(or is 
                        entitled to benefits under 226A(b))'' after 
                        ``is 65 years of age or older''; and
                            (ii) in clause (vi), by inserting ``(or 
                        under 226A(b))'' after ``at age 65''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply to Medicare supplemental policies effective on or 
        after January 1, 2020.
    (b) Additional Enrollment Period for Certain Individuals.--
            (1) One-time enrollment period.--
                    (A) In general.--In the case of an individual 
                described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary of Health 
                and Human Services shall establish a one-time 
                enrollment period during which such an individual may 
                enroll in any Medicare supplemental policy under 
                section 1882 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1395ss) of the individual's choosing.
                    (B) Enrollment period.--The enrollment period 
                established under subparagraph (A) shall begin on 
                January 1, 2020, and shall end June 30, 2020.
            (2) Individual described.--An individual described in this 
        paragraph is an individual who--
                    (A) is entitled to hospital insurance benefits 
                under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act 
                under section 226A(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 426-1);
                    (B) is enrolled for benefits under part B of such 
                title XVIII; and
                    (C) would not, but for the provisions of, and 
                amendments made by, subsection (a) be eligible for the 
                guaranteed issue of a Medicare supplemental policy 
                under paragraph (2) or (3) of section 1882(s) of such 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(s)).

SEC. 203. PROMOTING ACCESS TO HOME DIALYSIS TREATMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1881(b)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395rr(b)(3)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses 
        (i) and (ii), respectively;
            (2) in clause (ii), as redesignated by subparagraph (A), by 
        striking ``on a comprehensive'' and inserting ``subject to 
        subparagraph (B), on a comprehensive'';
            (3) by striking ``With respect to'' and inserting ``(A) 
        With respect to''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), an individual 
determined to have end-stage renal disease receiving home dialysis may 
choose to receive the monthly end-stage renal disease-related visits 
furnished on or after January 1, 2018, via telehealth if the individual 
receives a face-to-face visit, without the use of telehealth, at least 
once every three consecutive months.''.
    (b) Originating Site Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (4)(C)(ii), by adding at the end 
                the following new subclauses:
                                    ``(IX) A renal dialysis facility, 
                                but only for purposes of section 
                                1881(b)(3)(B).
                                    ``(X) The home of an individual, 
                                but only for purposes of section 
                                1881(b)(3)(B).''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(5) Treatment of home dialysis monthly esrd-related 
        visit.--The geographic requirements described in paragraph 
        (4)(C)(i) shall not apply with respect to telehealth services 
        furnished on or after January 1, 2018, for purposes of section 
        1881(b)(3)(B), at an originating site described in subclause 
        (VI), (IX), or (X) of paragraph (4)(C)(ii).''.
            (2) No facility fee if originating site for home dialysis 
        therapy is the home.--Section 1834(m)(2)(B) of the Social 
        Security (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(2)(B)) is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as 
                subclauses (I) and (II), and indenting appropriately;
                    (B) in subclause (II), as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (A), by striking ``clause (i) or this 
                clause'' and inserting ``subclause (I) or this 
                subclause'';
                    (C) by striking ``site.--With respect to'' and 
                inserting ``site.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        with respect to''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(ii) No facility fee if originating site 
                        for home dialysis therapy is the home.--No 
                        facility fee shall be paid under this 
                        subparagraph to an originating site described 
                        in paragraph (4)(C)(ii)(X).''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1881(b)(1) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b)(1)) is amended by striking 
``paragraph (3)(A)'' and inserting ``paragraph (3)(A)(i)''.
    (d) Exclusion From Remuneration for Purposes of Applying Civil 
Monetary Penalties.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1128A(i)(6) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7a(i)(6)) is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (H)(iv), by striking ``; or'' 
                at the end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(J) the provision of telehealth or remote patient 
                monitoring technologies to individuals under title 
                XVIII by a health care provider for the purpose of 
                furnishing telehealth or remote patient monitoring 
                services.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall apply to services furnished on or after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.

    TITLE III--IMPROVING PATIENT CARE AND ENSURING QUALITY OUTCOMES

SEC. 301. MAINTAIN AN ECONOMICALLY STABLE DIALYSIS INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) In General.--Section 1881(b)(14) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395rr(b)(14)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), in the matter preceding clause 
        (i), by striking ``Such system'' and inserting ``Subject to 
        subparagraph (J), such system''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(J) For payment for renal dialysis services 
                furnished on or after January 1, 2018, under the system 
                under this paragraph--
                            ``(i) the payment adjustment described in 
                        clause (i) of subparagraph (D)--
                                    ``(I) shall not take into account 
                                comorbidities; and
                                    ``(II) shall only take into account 
                                age for purposes of distinguishing 
                                between individuals who are under 18 
                                years of age and those who are 18 years 
                                of age and older but shall not include 
                                any other adjustment for age;
                            ``(ii) the Secretary shall reassess any 
                        adjustments related to patient weight under 
                        such clause;
                            ``(iii) the payment adjustment described in 
                        clause (ii) of such subparagraph shall not be 
                        included;
                            ``(iv) the standardization factor described 
                        in the final rule published in the Federal 
                        Register on November 8, 2012 (77 Fed. Reg. 
                        67470), shall be established using the most 
                        currently available data (and not historical 
                        data) and adjusted on an annual basis, based on 
                        such available data, to account for any change 
                        in utilization of drugs and any modification in 
                        adjustors applied under this paragraph; and
                            ``(v) take into account reasonable costs 
                        for determining the payment rate consistent 
                        with paragraph (2)(B).''.
    (b) Inclusion of Network Fee as an Allowable Cost.--Section 
1881(b)(14) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b)(14)), as 
amended by subsection (a), is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph:
                    ``(K) Not later than January 1, 2018, the Secretary 
                shall amend the ESRD facility cost report to include 
                the per treatment network fee (as described in 
                paragraph (7)) as an allowable cost or offset to 
                revenue.''.

SEC. 302. IMPROVE PATIENT DECISION MAKING AND TRANSPARENCY BY 
              CONSOLIDATING AND MODERNIZING QUALITY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Measures.--Section 1881(h)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395rr(h)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraphs:
                    ``(F) Weighting limitation.--No single measure 
                specified by the Secretary or individual measure within 
                a composite measure so specified may be weighted less 
                than 10 percent of the total performance score.
                    ``(G) Statistically valid and reliable.--In 
                specifying measures under subparagraph (A), the 
                Secretary shall only specify measures that have been 
                shown to be statistically valid and reliable through 
                testing.''.
    (b) Endorsement.--Section 1881(h)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395rr(h)(2)(B)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (ii), by adding at the end the following new 
        sentence: ``The exception under the preceding sentence shall 
        not apply to a measure that the entity with a contract under 
        section 1890(a) (or a similar entity) considered but failed to 
        endorse.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(iii) Composite measures.--Clauses (i) 
                        and (ii) shall apply to composite measures in 
                        the same manner as such clauses apply to 
                        individual measures.''.
    (c) Requirements for Dialysis Facility Compare Star Rating 
Program.--Section 1881(h)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395rr(h)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
                    ``(E) Requirements for any dialysis facility 
                compare star rating program.--To the extent that the 
                Secretary maintains a dialysis facility compare star 
                rating program, under such a program the Secretary--
                            ``(i) shall assign stars using the same 
                        methodology and total performance score results 
                        from the quality incentive program under this 
                        subsection;
                            ``(ii) shall determine the stars using the 
                        same methodology used under such quality 
                        incentive program; and
                            ``(iii) shall not use a forced bell curve 
                        when determining the stars or rebaselining the 
                        stars.''.
    (d) Hospitals Required To Provide Information.--Section 1881 of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection:
    ``(i) Hospitals Required To Provide Information.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a process 
        under which a hospital or a critical access hospital shall 
        provide a renal dialysis facility with health and treatment 
        information with respect to an individual who is discharged 
        from the hospital or critical access hospital and who 
        subsequently receives treatment at facility.
            ``(2) Elements.--Under the process established under 
        paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) the request for the health information may be 
                initiated by the individual prior to discharge or upon 
                request by the renal dialysis facility after the 
                patient is discharged; and
                    ``(B) the information must be provided to the 
                facility within 7 days of the request being made.''.
    (e) Incentive Payments.--Section 1881(h)(1) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr(h)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) Incentive payments.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In the case of a 
                        provider of services or a renal dialysis 
                        facility that the Secretary determines exceeds 
                        the attainment performance standards under 
                        paragraph (4) with respect to a year, the 
                        Secretary may make a bonus payment to the 
                        provider or facility (pursuant to a process 
                        established by the Secretary).
                            ``(ii) Funding.--The total amount of bonus 
                        payments under clause (i) in a year shall be 
                        equal to the total amount of reduced payments 
                        in a year under subparagraph (A).
                            ``(iii) No effect in subsequent years.--The 
                        provisions of subparagraph (C) shall apply to a 
                        bonus payment under this subparagraph in the 
                        same manner subparagraph (C) applies to a 
                        reduction under such subparagraph.''.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2019.

SEC. 303. INCREASING ACCESS TO MEDICARE KIDNEY DISEASE EDUCATION 
              BENEFIT.

    (a) In General.--Section 1861(ggg) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395x(ggg)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or stage 
                V'' after ``stage IV''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or of a 
                physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical 
                nurse specialist (as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)) 
                assisting in the treatment of the individual's kidney 
                condition'' after ``kidney condition''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (B); and
                    (B) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``(A)'' after ``(2)'';
                            (ii) by striking ``and'' at the end of 
                        clause (i);
                            (iii) by striking the period at the end of 
                        clause (ii) and inserting ``; and'';
                            (iv) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) 
                        as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and
                            (v) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) a renal dialysis facility subject to the 
                requirements of section 1881(b)(1) with personnel who--
                            ``(i) provide the services described in 
                        paragraph (1); and
                            ``(ii) is a physician (as defined in 
                        subsection (r)(1)) or a physician assistant, 
                        nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse 
                        specialist (as defined in subsection 
                        (aa)(5)).''.
    (b) Payment to Renal Dialysis Facilities.--Section 1881(b) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph:
            ``(15) For purposes of paragraph (14), the single payment 
        for renal dialysis services under such paragraph shall not take 
        into account the amount of payment for kidney disease education 
        services (as defined in section 1861(ggg)). Instead, payment 
        for such services shall be made to the renal dialysis facility 
        on an assignment-related basis under section 1848.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section apply to 
kidney disease education services furnished on or after January 1, 
2018.

SEC. 304. CERTIFICATION OF NEW FACILITIES.

    (a) Certification.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1865(a)(1) of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bb(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``or the 
        conditions and requirements under section 1881(b)''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act and 
        apply to a finding made on or after such date.
    (b) Timing for Acceptance of Requests From Accreditation 
Organizations.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall accept a 
completed application from any national accreditation body for 
providers and facilities that provide services under 1881(b), in 
accordance with section 1865(3)(A)). Any application received pursuant 
to the preceding sentence shall be deemed approved unless the 
Secretary, within 90 days after the date of the submission of the 
application to the Secretary, either denies such request in writing or 
informs the applicant in writing with respect to any additional 
information that is needed in order to make a final determination with 
respect to the application. If the Secretary requests additional 
information pursuant to the preceding sentence and the applicant 
submits such information, the application shall be deemed approved 
unless the Secretary, within 90 days of the date of receiving such 
information, denies such request.

SEC. 305. IMPROVING ACCESS IN UNDERSERVED AREAS.

    (a) Definition of Primary Care Services.--Section 331(a)(3)(D) of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254d(a)(3)(D)) is amended by 
inserting ``and includes renal dialysis services'' before the period at 
the end.
    (b) National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program.--Section 
338A(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l(a)(2)) is 
amended by inserting ``, including nephrology health professionals'' 
before the period at the end.
    (c) National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.--Section 
338B(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l-1(a)(2)) is 
amended by inserting ``, including nephrology health professionals'' 
before the period at the end.
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