Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID–19 Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-8702
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-7]
Introduced: 2020-10-30
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance

Health personnel

Home and outpatient care

Medicare
Latest action: action_date: 2020-10-30
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.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-10-30
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill temporarily increases payments to providers under Medicare medical services. Specifically, the bill provides an additional payment for certain services in 2021 and 2022 if the otherwise applicable payment is less than what it would have been in 2020. The bill applies to services that are payable under the physician fee schedule, excluding specified outpatient evaluation and management services.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8702 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 30, 2020 Mr. Bera (for himself, Mr. Bucshon , Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania , Mr. Holding , Mr. Ruiz , Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee , Ms. Finkenauer , and Mr. Marshall ) 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 an increase in payment under part B of the Medicare program for certain services in response to COVID–19.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID–19 Act of 2020 . 2. Providing for an increase in payment under part B of the Medicare program for certain services to hold providers harmless while responding to COVID–19 (a) In general Section 1833 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395l ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (dd) COVID–19 relief payments for certain services (1) In general In the case of an eligible service (as defined in paragraph (2)(A)) furnished during a specified year (as defined in paragraph (2)(C)) by a supplier for which payment is made under (or based on) the fee schedule established under section 1848, in addition to the amount of payment that would otherwise be made for such service under this part, there also shall be paid at the time such payment under section 1848 is made an amount equal to the specified hold harmless relief payment (as defined in paragraph (2)(B)) for such service. (2) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Eligible service (i) In general The term eligible service means, with respect to a service furnished in a specified year by a supplier for which payment is made under (or based on) the fee schedule established under section 1848, any service (other than a service described in clause (ii)) for which the payment amount determined under (or based on) such fee schedule for such year and supplier is less than such payment amount that would have been determined under (or based on) such fee schedule for such service and supplier had such service been furnished in 2020. (ii) Excluded services For purposes of clause (i), the services described in this clause are any of the following: (I) Services identified by any of HCPCS codes 99202 through 99205 or by HCPCS code 99211 (or any successor codes), but only if such service is billed in conjunction with HCPCS code GPC1X (or a successor code). (II) Services identified by any of HCPCS codes 99212 through 99215 (or any successor codes). (III) Services identified by HCPCS code GPC1X (or any successor code). (B) Specified hold harmless relief payment The term specified hold harmless relief payment means, with respect to an eligible service furnished in a specified year by a supplier, the difference between the payment amount determined under (or based on) the fee schedule established under section 1848 for such year and supplier and such amount that would have been determined under (or based on) such schedule for such service and supplier had such service been furnished in 2020. (C) Specified year The term specified year means 2021 and 2022. (3) Coordination The amount of the additional payment for a service under this subsection and subsection (m) shall be determined without regard to any additional payment for the service under subsection (m) and this subsection, respectively. The amount of the additional payment for a service under this subsection and subsection (z) shall be determined without regard to any additional payment for the service under subsection (z) and this subsection, respectively. (4) Clarification For purposes of this subsection, a service for which payment is made under (or based on) the fee schedule established under section 1848 includes a service payable under section 1834(k). (5) Limitation on judicial review There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1869, 1878, or otherwise, respecting the identification of eligible services under this subsection. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 1834(g)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(g)(2)(B) ) is amended by striking (x) and (y) and inserting (x), (y), and (dd) .