Better Efficiency and Administrative Simplification Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-584
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2015-02-26
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Government information and archives

Health information and medical records

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Medicare

Performance measurement

Public contracts and procurement
Latest action: action_date: 2015-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-02-26
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Better Efficiency and Administrative Simplification Act of 2015 </b></p> <p>Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to allow individuals the option to receive the Medicare Summary Notice (explanation of benefits) electronically.</p> <p>Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) apply a similar option to other Medicare statements and notifications, and (2) provide such Medicare Summary Notice and any other such statements and notifications on a more frequent basis than is otherwise required under Medicare.</p> <p>Extends from at least once every 5 years to at least once every 10 years the application of competitive procedures when the contract of a Medicare administrative contractor comes up for renewal. </p> <p>Directs the Secretary, to the extent possible without compromising the process for entering into and renewing contracts with Medicare administrative contractors (MACs), to make available to the public the performance of each MAC with respect to requirements and measurement standards.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 584 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 26, 2015 Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Warner ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide the option to receive Medicare Summary Notices electronically, to increase the flexibility and transparency of contracts with medicare administrative contractors, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Better Efficiency and Administrative Simplification Act of 2015 . 2. Option to receive Medicare Summary Notice electronically (a) In general Section 1806 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395b–7 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Format of statements from Secretary (1) Electronic option beginning in 2016 Subject to paragraph (2), for statements described in subsection (a) that are furnished for a period in 2016 or a subsequent year, in the case that an individual described in subsection (a) elects, in accordance with such form, manner, and time specified by the Secretary, to receive such statement in an electronic format, such statement shall be furnished to such individual for each period subsequent to such election in such a format and shall not be mailed to the individual. (2) Limitation on revocation option (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may determine a maximum number of elections described in paragraph (1) by an individual that may be revoked by the individual. (B) Minimum of one revocation option In no case may the Secretary determine a maximum number under subparagraph (A) that is less than one. (3) Notification The Secretary shall ensure that, in the most cost effective manner and beginning January 1, 2017, a clear notification of the option to elect to receive statements described in subsection (a) in an electronic format is made available, such as through the notices distributed under section 1804, to individuals described in subsection (a). For notices distributed under section 1804 on or after January 1, 2017, the Secretary shall ensure that such notice includes a clear notification of the option to elect to receive statements described in subsection (a) in an electronic format. . (b) Encouraged expansion of electronic statements To the extent to which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines appropriate, the Secretary shall— (1) apply an option similar to the option described in subsection (c)(1) of section 1806 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395b–7 ) (relating to the provision of the Medicare Summary Notice in an electronic format), as added by subsection (a), to other statements and notifications under title XVIII of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq. ); and (2) provide such Medicare Summary Notice and any such other statements and notifications on a more frequent basis than is otherwise required under such title. 3. Renewal of MAC contracts (a) In general Section 1874A(b)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395kk–1(b)(1)(B) ) is amended by striking 5 years and inserting 10 years . (b) Application The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to contracts entered into on or after, and to contracts in effect as of, the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Contractor performance transparency Section 1874A(b)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395kk–1(b)(3)(A) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause: (iv) Contractor performance transparency To the extent possible without compromising the process for entering into and renewing contracts with medicare administrative contractors under this section, the Secretary shall make available to the public the performance of each medicare administrative contractor with respect to such performance requirements and measurement standards. .