Diabetic Vision Loss and Blindness Prevention Act of 2018

Bill: 115-hr-6639
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2018-07-27
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance

Health technology, devices, supplies

Hearing, speech, and vision care

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Medicare
Latest action: action_date: 2018-08-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-07-27
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Diabetic Vision Loss and Blindness Prevention Act of 2018</b></p> <p>This bill provides for Medicare coverage of digital retinal imaging with remote interpretation, which is used to detect or assess a certain diabetic eye condition.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6639 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 27, 2018 Mr. Reed (for himself and Ms. Sewell of Alabama ) 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 amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under the Medicare program of digital retinal imaging with remote interpretation.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Diabetic Vision Loss and Blindness Prevention Act of 2018 . 2. Medicare coverage of digital retinal imaging with remote interpretation (a) Coverage Section 1861 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x ) is amended— (1) in subsection (s)(2)— (A) in subparagraph (FF), by striking and at the end; (B) in subparagraph (GG), by adding and at the end; and (C) by inserting after subparagraph (GG) the following new subparagraph: (HH) digital retinal imaging with remote interpretation (as defined in subsection (jjj)); ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (jjj) Digital Retinal Imaging with Remote Interpretation The term digital retinal imaging with remote interpretation means an exam for the purpose of early detection or assessment of diabetic retinopathy that— (1) is provided not more frequently than on an annual basis to an individual who has been diagnosed with diabetes and who— (A) does not have prior known diabetic retinopathy; or (B) is not known to have worse than mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (ETDRS level 35); (2) is provided by or under the supervision of a primary care practitioner (as defined in section 1833(x)) or board-certified endocrinologist; (3) utilizes a retinal camera with optical resolution compliant with the International Organization for Standardization ISO 10940 to take digital images of structures behind the lens of the eye, such as the retina, choroid and optic nerve; and (4) involves the electronic transmission of such images for evaluation for diabetic retinopathy and other diseases of the eye by a board-certified, State-licensed ophthalmologist. . (b) Payment Notwithstanding section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) )— (1) payment shall be made pursuant to the amendments made by subsection (a) for digital retinal imaging with remote interpretation under CPT code 92250; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a national minimum payment amount for CPT code 92250 and any successor to such codes that is not less than the reimbursement rate in effect for such code (or predecessor code) on December 31, 2017.