S 2785 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title XVIII of the Security Act to preserve access to physicians' services under the Medicare program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

March 13, 2008

Ms. STABENOW introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title XVIII of the Security Act to preserve access to physicians' services under the Medicare program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Save Medicare Act of 2008'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT UPDATE.

Section 1848(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(d)), as amended by section 101 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (8)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in the heading, by striking `A PORTION OF';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subparagraph (A)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by striking `(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to' and inserting `Notwithstanding'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking `for the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on June 30, 2008,';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking subparagraph (B); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(9) UPDATE FOR 2009- In lieu of the update to the single conversion factor established in paragraph (1)(C) that would otherwise apply for 2009, the update to the single conversion factor shall be 1.8 percent.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF THE PHYSICIAN QUALITY REPORTING SYSTEM.

(a) System- Section 1848(k)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(k)(2)(B)), as amended by section 101 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in the heading, by striking `AND 2009' and inserting `, 2009, AND 2010';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in clause (i), by striking `and 2009' and inserting `, 2009, and 2010'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in each of clauses (ii) and (iii)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking `and 2008' and inserting `, 2008, and 2009'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking `or 2009' and inserting `, 2009, or 2010'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Reporting- Section 101(c) of division B of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4 note), as amended by section 101 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in the heading, by striking `and 2008' and inserting `, 2008, and 2009'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (6)(C)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in clause (i), by striking `and' at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting `; and'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following new clause:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) for 2009, all of 2009.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF MEDICARE INCENTIVE PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR PHYSICIAN SCARCITY AREAS.

Section 1833(u) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(u)), as amended by section 102 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1), by striking `July 1, 2008' and inserting `January 1, 2010'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subparagraph (4)(D), by striking `July 1, 2008' and inserting `January 1, 2010'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF FLOOR ON MEDICARE WORK GEOGRAPHIC ADJUSTMENT UNDER THE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE.

Section 1848(e)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(e)(1), as amended by section 103 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173), is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking `subparagraphs (B)' through `the Secretary' and inserting `the succeeding provisions of this paragraph, the Secretary'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking `July 1, 2008' and inserting `January 1, 2010'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF ACCOMMODATION OF PHYSICIANS ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED SERVICES.

Section 1842(b)(6)(D)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6)(D)(iii)), as amended by section 116 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-173), is amended by striking `July 1, 2008' and inserting `January 1, 2010'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

It is the sense of the Senate that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act should be deficit neutral over the 5-year period beginning on October 1, 2008; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Congress should address the challenges facing the Medicare program in a fiscally responsible manner.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING QUALITY.

It is the Sense of the Senate that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the Medicare program should provide payments to physicians and other health professionals that serve as positive incentives for participation in voluntary initiatives to improve health care quality;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) such initiatives should include pay-for-reporting programs, programs to facilitate coordination of care, the use of clinical appropriateness criteria developed by organizations representing physicians and other health care professionals, grants for developing and pilot testing data registry systems, grants for participation in such data registries, and other appropriate initiatives; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) financing for such initiatives should be non-punitive and exempt from the Medicare physician fee schedule budget neutrality requirements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink