TA SUPPORT Act

Bill: 116-s-3230
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2020-01-28
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Health personnel

Health programs administration and funding

Medicare

Performance measurement
Latest action: action_date: 2020-01-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-01-28
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Technical Assistance for Small and Underserved Providers to Prevent Oversights and Refocus on Treatment Act or the TA SUPPORT Act</b></p> <p>This bill reauthorizes funds through FY2025 for the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to contract with specified entities (e.g., quality improvement organizations) to provide technical assistance regarding the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and alternative payment models under Medicare, specifically for health professionals in practices with 15 or fewer professionals. (MIPS is an incentive program under Medicare that allows health professionals to receive payment adjustments based on certain performance measures.)</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3230 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 28, 2020 Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Portman ) 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 for an extension of funding for technical assistance to small practices and practices in health professional shortage areas under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Technical Assistance for Small and Underserved Providers to Prevent Oversights and Refocus on Treatment Act or the TA SUPPORT Act . 2. Extension of funding for technical assistance to small practices and practices in health professional shortage areas under MIPS (a) In general Section 1848(q)(11)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(q)(11)(B) ) is amended by striking through 2020 and inserting through 2025 . (b) Study and report (1) Study The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subsection referred to as the Secretary ) shall conduct a study on the impact of the technical assistance funded under paragraph (11) of section 1848(q) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(q) ). Such study shall include an analysis of— (A) the practices that have received technical assistance through such funding; and (B) the progress that professionals in such practices have made to improve within the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) under such section 1848(q); and (C) the progress that professionals in such practices have made to transition to the implementation of and participation in an alternative payment model as described in section 1833(z)(3)(C) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395l(z)(3)(C) ). (2) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate.