Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1377
Sponsor: Rep. Weller, Jerry [R-IL-11]
Introduced: 2003-03-20 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Administrative procedure
Ambulatory care
Bribery
Coinsurance
Communication in medicine
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of Health and Human Services
Economics and Public Finance
Federal aid to health facilities
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Health maintenance organizations
Hospital rates
Law
Managed care
Medical fees
Medicare
Nursing homes
Patients' rights
Preventive medicine
Quality of care
Rebates
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) provide for coverage of Medicare-covered ambulatory services by Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs); and (2) ensure FQHC reimbursement under hospital and skilled nursing facility prospective payment systems.
Amends SSA title XI with respect to criminal penalties for acts involving Federal health care programs, particularly illegal remunerations (kickbacks). Exempts from the prohibition against such remunerations any remuneration: (1) between a certain kind of public or nonprofit private health center entity and any individual or entity providing goods, items, services, donations, loans, or a combination, to such health center entity pursuant to an agreement, if such agreement contributes to the ability of the health center entity to maintain or increase the availability, or enhance the quality, of services provided to a medically underserved population served by the health center entity; and (2) between a FQHC (or an entity controlled by such a health center) and a Medicare+Choice organization pursuant to a specified written agreement.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards relating to the exception for health center entity arrangements to specified anti-kickback penalties.
Amends SSA title XVIII to revise the payment for certain FQHC services furnished to an individual enrolled with a Medicare+Choice organization under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice), allowing for supplemental reimbursement, among other changes.
Amends Medicare+Choice to add additional Medicare+Choice contract requirements.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
action_date: 2003-03-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-03-20
text: Introduced in House