Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce, and for other purposes.

6/6/2007--Introduced.
Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the formula for calculating payments for physicians' services. Resets to 2007 the base year for application of the sustainable growth rate formula, which shall be eliminated in 2010. Extends the current quality reporting system. Amends the Medicare Improvement and Extension Act of 2006 to extend and increase transitional bonus incentive payments. Amends SSA title XVIII to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to:
(1) establish a new physician quality incentive system; and
(2) create standards for health information technology (HIT) payment incentives. Amends SSA title XI to create safe harbors to antikickback and civil and criminal penalties for provision of HIT and training services. Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the impact of such safe harbors. Amends SSA title XVIII to create an exception to the limitation on certain physician referrals for the provision of HIT and training services to health care professionals. Directs the Secretary to report annually to:
(1) each physician information on the physician's total Medicare billings; and
(2) each individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) on the amount of Medicare payments made to or on behalf of the individual during the year involved. Directs the Secretary to collect data on annual savings in expenditures in the Medicare program due to physicians' services that resulted in hospital or in-patient diversion. Requires the Board of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to monitor and examine the extent to which the different funding mechanisms under Medicare parts A, B, and D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) provide an appropriate alignment with the program goals of the respective parts. Directs the Secretary to arrange for a study of price inputs and relative values for physicians' services recommended by the AMA/Speciality Society Relative Value Unit Scale Update Committee process. Requires the Secretary to provide for a study of, and report to Congress on, health care disparities in high-risk health condition areas and minority communities with respect to the impact reporting requirements may have on physician penetration in such communities. Amends SSA title XVIII to accelerate the deadline for nationwide implementation of the recovery audit contractor element of the Medicare Integrity Program.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Michael Burgess [R, TX-26]
• and 23 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Charles Boustany [R, LA-7]
  • Rep. Virginia Brown-Waite [R, FL-5]
  • Rep. Dan Burton [R, IN-5]
  • Rep. David Camp [R, MI-4]
  • Rep. K. Michael Conaway [R, TX-11]
  • Rep. Henry Cuellar [D, TX-28]
  • Rep. David Davis [R, TN-1]
  • Rep. Vernon Ehlers [R, MI-3]
  • Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [R, MO-8]
  • Rep. John Gingrey [R, GA-11]
  • Rep. Louis Gohmert [R, TX-1]
  • Rep. Kay Granger [R, TX-12]
  • Rep. Steven LaTourette [R, OH-14]
  • Rep. Michael McCaul [R, TX-10]
  • Rep. Thaddeus McCotter [R, MI-11]
  • Rep. Jeff Miller [R, FL-1]
  • Rep. Marilyn Musgrave [R, CO-4]
  • Rep. Michael Rogers [R, MI-8]
  • Rep. Lamar Smith [R, TX-21]
  • Rep. Lee Terry [R, NE-2]
  • Rep. William Thornberry [R, TX-13]
  • Rep. Greg Walden [R, OR-2]
  • Rep. Zach Wamp [R, TN-3]
  close

Committees

• House Energy and Commerce
• 2 more
  • House Energy and Commerce
  • House Ways and Means
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.2585

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
June 06, 2007

Show All Actions (8 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Oct 02, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H11149-11155)
• Sep 04, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H10062-10065)
• Jun 06, 2007: Referred to House Ways and Means
• Jun 06, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• Jun 06, 2007: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
• Jun 06, 2007: 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.
• Introduced on Jun 06, 2007.
• Apr 25, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4168-4173)

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Related Bills:

• H.R.5545
• S.2729

Related Issue Areas:

• Health policy
• Aged
• Auditing
• Budgets
• 30 more
• Collection of accounts
• Conflict of interests
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Criminal justice
• Drugs
• Federal preemption
• Fines (Penalties)
• Government contractors
• Government information
• Government paperwork
• Government publicity
• Government spending reductions
• Government trust funds
• Governmental investigations
• Health information systems
• Information technology
• Law
• Medical care
• Medical ethics
• Medical fees
• Medicare
• Medicine
• Minorities
• Minority health
• Physicians
• Public contracts
• Quality of care
• State and local government
• State laws
• Technology

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

July 08, 2008 Newsletter - Greg Walden

I’m cosponsoring legislation (HR 2585) to fix this problem, but in the meantime this measure should help. County health centers, kidney dialysis, rural ambulance care and other services will get better funded. ...

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August 16, 2007 We have hope yet!

The Family Reunification Act of 2003: Introduced on June 24 by Representative Barney Frank (D-MA), HR 2585 would amend the INA to permit certain long-term permanent residents to seek cancellation of removal. ...

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Source: Immigration Blogger

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June 05, 2007 Bill Action: Introduced: HR 2585: To amend title XVIII of the ...

Michael Burgess [R-TX] introduced HR 2585: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce, and for other purposes. ...

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Source: Active Legislation -- Monitored by GovTrack.us

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