Protecting Patients and Physicians Against Coding Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2652
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6]
Introduced: 2015-06-04
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Government studies and investigations

Health information and medical records

Health personnel

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2015-06-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-06-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Protecting Patients and Physicians Against Coding Act of 2015 </b></p> <p>The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in carrying out regulations providing for the replacement of ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases-9) with ICD-10 as a standard code set, shall provide for a two-year grace period during which physicians and other health care providers submitting claims and other documents using ICD-10 are not penalized for errors, mistakes, and malfunctions relating to the transition to such code set. HHS shall also give these practitioners assistance during the grace period.</p> <p>The Government Accountability Office shall study this transition for Congress.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2652 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 4, 2015 Mr. Palmer (for himself, Mr. Tom Price of Georgia , Mr. Babin , Mr. Rogers of Alabama , Mr. Sessions , Mr. Westerman , Mr. Salmon , Mr. Buck , Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania , Mr. Brooks of Alabama , Mrs. Love , Mr. Aderholt , Mr. Sanford , Mr. Lamborn , Mrs. Hartzler , Mr. Griffith , Mr. Ratcliffe , Mr. Zinke , Mrs. Lummis , Mr. Bridenstine , Mr. Walker , Mr. Franks of Arizona , Mr. Bishop of Michigan , Mr. Carter of Georgia , Ms. Herrera Beutler , Mr. Duncan of South Carolina , Mr. Blum , Mr. Stutzman , Mr. Rice of South Carolina , Mr. Byrne , Mr. Loudermilk , Mr. Barton , and Mr. Boustany ) introduced the following bill; which was 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 A BILL To provide a 2-year grace period for physicians and other health care providers in transitioning from the use of ICD–9 to ICD–10.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Patients and Physicians Against Coding Act of 2015 . 2. 2-year grace period in transitioning from the use of ICD–9 to ICD–10 (a) In general In carrying out regulations providing for the replacement of ICD–9 with ICD–10 as a standard for code sets under section 1173(c) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320d–2(c) ) and section 162.1002 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for a 2-year grace period during which physicians and other health care providers submitting claims and other documents using ICD–10 are not penalized for errors, mistakes, and malfunctions relating to the transition to such code set. (b) Assistance During the 2-year grace period described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take affirmative steps to assist physicians and other health care providers who are subject to the requirement to use ICD–10 as a standard for code sets in identifying appropriate ICD–10 subcodes. (c) GAO study and report (1) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on— (A) the extent to which the transition to ICD–10 code sets has affected— (i) physicians and other health care providers in general; and (ii) physicians and other health care providers in rural areas; and (B) the effectiveness of programs conducted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services that are designed to support physicians and other health care providers referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A). (2) Report Not later than April 1, 2016, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines to be appropriate.