SCREEN Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-3198
Sponsor: Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-2]
Introduced: 2011-10-13 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health promotion and preventive care
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Surgery and anesthesia

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: 
Supporting Colorectal Examination and Education Now Act of 2011 or the SCREEN Act of 2011 - Increases Medicare payments to qualifying Medicare providers by 10% for cancer screening tests recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Terminates the increase for a test when it reaches a 75% utilization rate for beneficiaries for whom such screening is recommended. Makes a Medicare provider eligible for such increased payment only if the provider: (1) participates in a nationally recognized quality improvement registry with respect to such test, and (2) demonstrates that the tests were provided in accordance with accepted outcomes-based quality measures.
 
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to waive cost-sharing for colorectal cancer screening tests.
 
Extends Medicare coverage to include an outpatient office visit or consultation prior to a colorectal cancer test consisting of a screening colonoscopy, or in conjunction with an individual's decision regarding the performance of such a test on the individual, for the purpose of beneficiary education, assuring selection of the proper screening test, and securing information relating to the procedure and the sedation of the individual.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reduce the conversion factors for purposes of payment to physicians and hospital outpatient departments under Medicare to offset the additional expenditures under this Act.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require health plans to cover, with no cost-sharing, activities related to certain covered preventive services that are part of the same clinical encounter, such as conducting a biopsy or removing a lesion or growth.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-19
text: Referred for a period ending not later than October 19, 2011, (or for a later time if the Chairman so designates) to the Subcommittee on Health, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the subcommittee concerned.
action_date: 2011-10-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2011-10-13
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2011-10-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1863)
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-10-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-10-12
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1833-1834)