Union Calendar No. 574
116th CONGRESS 2d Session |
[Report No. 116–691, Part I]
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient improvements and rural and quality improvements under the Medicare program.
June 21, 2019
Mr. Neal (for himself and Mr. Brady) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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
December 24, 2020
Reported from the Committee on Ways and Means with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
December 24, 2020
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 21, 2019]
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient improvements and rural and quality improvements under the Medicare program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
(a) Short title.—This Act may be cited as the “Beneficiary Education Tools, Telehealth, and Extenders Reauthorization Act of 2019” or the “BETTER Act of 2019”.
(b) Table of contents.—The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 101. Beneficiary enrollment notification and eligibility simplification.
Sec. 102. Extension of funding outreach and assistance for low-income programs.
Sec. 103. Medicare coverage of certain mental health telehealth services.
Sec. 104. Requiring prescription drug plan sponsors to include real-time benefit information as part of such sponsor’s electronic prescription program under the Medicare program.
Sec. 105. Transitional coverage and retroactive Medicare part D coverage for certain low-income beneficiaries.
Sec. 201. Medicare GME treatment of hospitals establishing new medical residency training programs after hosting medical resident rotators for short durations.
Sec. 202. Extension of the work geographic index floor under the Medicare program.
Sec. 203. Extension of funding for quality measure endorsement, input, and selection under Medicare program.
Sec. 204. Improving measurements under the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program under the Medicare program.
(a) Eligibility and enrollment notices.—
(1) AS PART OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT STATEMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS ATTAINING AGES 63 TO 65.—Section 1143(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–13(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(4) Medicare eligibility information.—
“(A) IN GENERAL.—In the case of statements provided on or after the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph to individuals who are attaining ages 63, 64, and 65, the statement shall also include a notice containing the information described in subparagraph (B).
“(B) CONTENTS OF NOTICE.—The notice required under subparagraph (A) shall include a clear, simple explanation of—
“(i) eligibility for benefits under the Medicare program under title XVIII, and in particular benefits under part B of such title;
“(ii) the reasons a late enrollment penalty for failure to timely enroll could be assessed and how such late enrollment penalty is calculated, in particular for benefits under part B;
“(iii) the availability of relief from the late enrollment penalty and retroactive enrollment under section 1837(h) (including as such section is applied under sections 1818(c) and 1818A(c)(3)), with examples of circumstances under which such relief may be granted and examples of circumstances under which such relief would not be granted;
“(C) DEVELOPMENT OF NOTICE.—
“(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordination with the Commissioner of Social Security, and taking into consideration information collected pursuant to clause (ii), shall, not later than 12 months after the last day of the period for the request of information described in clause (ii), develop the notice to be provided pursuant to subparagraph (A).
“(ii) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.—Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall request written information, including recommendations, from stakeholders (including the groups described in subparagraph (D)) on the information to be included in the notice.
“(iii) NOTICE IMPROVEMENT.—Beginning 4 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, and not less than once every two years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall—
“(D) GROUPS FOR CONSULTATION.—For purposes of subparagraph (C)(ii), the groups described in this clause include the following:
“(E) POSTING OF NOTICE ON WEBSITES.—The Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary shall post the notice required under subparagraph (A) in a prominent location on the public Internet website of the Social Security Administration and on the public Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, respectively.
“(F) REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS.—
“(i) IN GENERAL.—Effective for fiscal years beginning in the year in which the date of enactment of this paragraph occurs, the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary shall enter into an agreement which shall provide funding to cover the administrative costs of the Commissioner’s activities under this paragraph. Such agreement shall—
“(I) provide funds to the Commissioner for the full cost of the Social Security Administration’s work related to the implementation of this paragraph, including any costs incurred prior to the finalization of such agreement;
“(G) NO EFFECT ON OBLIGATION TO MAIL STATEMENTS.—Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to relieve the Commissioner of Social Security from any requirement under subsection (c), including the requirement to mail a statement on an annual basis to each eligible individual who is not receiving benefits under title II and for whom a mailing address can be determined through such methods as the Commissioner determines to be appropriate.”.
(2) INDIVIDUALS IN MEDICARE WAITING PERIOD.—Title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1144 the following new section:
“Medicare enrollment notification and eligibility notices for individuals in medicare waiting period
“(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commissioner of Social Security shall distribute the notice to be provided pursuant to section 1143(a)(4), as may be modified under paragraph (2), to individuals in the 24-month waiting period under section 226(b).
“(2) AUTHORITY TO MODIFY NOTICE.—The Secretary, in coordination with the Commissioner of Social Security, may modify the notice to be distributed under paragraph (1) as necessary to take into account the individuals described in such paragraph.
“(3) POSTING OF NOTICE ON WEBSITES.—The Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary shall post the notice required to be distributed under paragraph (1) in a prominent location on the public Internet website of the Social Security Administration and on the public Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, respectively.
“(b) Timing.—Beginning not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, a notice required under subsection (a)(1) shall be mailed to an individual no less than two times in accordance with the following:
“(c) Reimbursement of costs.—
“(1) IN GENERAL.—Effective for fiscal years beginning in the year in which the date of enactment of this section occurs, the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary shall enter into an agreement which shall provide funding to cover the administrative costs of the Commissioner’s activities under this section. Such agreement shall—
“(A) provide funds to the Commissioner for the full cost of the Social Security Administration’s work related to the implementation of this section, including any costs incurred prior to the finalization of such agreement;
“(2) LIMITATION.—In no case shall funds from the Social Security Administration’s Limitation on Administrative Expenses be used to carry out activities related to the implementation of this section, except as the Commissioner determines is necessary in developing the agreement under paragraph (1).”.
(b) Beneficiary enrollment simplification.—
(1) EFFECTIVE DATE OF COVERAGE.—Section 1838(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395q(a)) is amended—
(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
“(2) (A) in the case of an individual who enrolls pursuant to subsection (d) of section 1837 before the month in which he first satisfies paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1836, the first day of such month,
“(B) in the case of an individual who first satisfies such paragraph in a month beginning before January 2021 and who enrolls pursuant to such subsection (d)—
“(i) in such month in which he first satisfies such paragraph, the first day of the month following the month in which he so enrolls,
“(C) in the case of an individual who first satisfies such paragraph in a month beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and who enrolls pursuant to such subsection (d) in such month in which he first satisfies such paragraph or in any subsequent month of his initial enrollment period, the first day of the month following the month in which he so enrolls, or
(B) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
“(3) in the case of an individual who is deemed to have enrolled—
“(A) on or before the last day of the third month of his initial enrollment period, the first day of the month in which he first meets the applicable requirements of section 1836 or July 1, 1973, whichever is later, or
(2) SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIODS FOR EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.—
(A) ENROLLMENT.—Section 1837 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395p) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(B) COVERAGE PERIOD.—Section 1838 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395q) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(g) Notwithstanding subsection (a), in the case of an individual who enrolls during a special enrollment period pursuant to section 1837(m), the coverage period shall begin on a date the Secretary provides in a manner consistent (to the extent practicable) with protecting continuity of health benefit coverage.”.
(C) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1839(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r(b)) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking “or (l)” and inserting “, (l), or (m)”.
(3) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.—Section 1839(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “For purposes of determining any increase under this subsection for individuals whose enrollment occurs on or after January 1, 2021, the second sentence of this subsection shall be applied by substituting ‘close of the month’ for ‘close of the enrollment period’ each place it appears.”.
(4) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2021, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means and Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance and Special Committee on Aging of the Senate a report including recommendations on how to align existing Medicare enrollment periods under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, including the general enrollment period under part B of such title and the annual election period under the Medicare Advantage program under part C of such title and under the prescription drug program under part D of such title. Such recommendations shall be consistent with the goals of maximizing coverage continuity and choice and easing beneficiary transition.
(a) Additional funding for State health insurance programs.—Subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 119 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 1395b–3 note), as amended by section 3306 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148), section 610 of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–240), section 1110 of the Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013 (Public Law 113–67), section 110 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–93), section 208 of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Public Law 114–10), and section 50207 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–123), is amended—
(b) Additional funding for area agencies on aging.—Subsection (b)(1)(B) of such section 119, as so amended, is amended—
(c) Additional funding for aging and disability resource centers.—Subsection (c)(1)(B) of such section 119, as so amended, is amended—
Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by striking “and paragraph (6)(C)” and inserting “, paragraph (6)(C), and paragraph (8)(C)”;
(3) in paragraph (4)(F)(i), by inserting “services identified by CPT codes 90832, 90834, and 90837 (and as subsequently modified by the Secretary),” before “and any additional service”;
(5) in paragraph (7), by striking “The geographic requirements” and inserting “Subject to paragraph (8)(D), the geographic requirements”; and
(6) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(8) TREATMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TELEHEALTH SERVICES.—
“(A) NON-APPLICATION OF ORIGINATING SITE REQUIREMENTS.—The requirements described in paragraph (4)(C)(i) shall not apply with respect to telehealth services furnished on or after January 1, 2021, that are mental health telehealth services. Nothing in the previous sentence shall waive any applicable State law requirements.
“(B) INCLUSION OF CERTAIN SITES.—With respect to telehealth services described in subparagraph (A), the term ‘originating site’ shall include the home of the eligible telehealth individual at which the individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system.
“(C) NO ORIGINATING SITE FACILITY FEE.—No facility fee shall be paid under paragraph (2)(B) to an originating site with respect to a telehealth service described in subparagraph (A) if the originating site does not otherwise meet the requirements for an originating site under paragraph (4)(C).
“(D) FACE-TO-FACE INITIAL ASSESSMENT; REASSESSMENTS.—Payment may not be made for mental health telehealth services under this paragraph (if such payment would not otherwise be allowed under this subsection without application of this paragraph or paragraph (7)) furnished to an eligible telehealth individual unless—
“(i) within the 6-month period prior to the provision of such mental health telehealth services, the individual receives a face-to-face clinical assessment, without the use of telehealth, by a physician described in subparagraph (F)(i) or a practitioner described in subparagraph (F)(ii) of the needs of such individual for such services; and
“(E) MENTAL HEALTH TELEHEALTH SERVICES DEFINED.—For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘mental health telehealth service’ means services identified by CPT codes 90832, 90834, and 90837 (and as subsequently modified by the Secretary).
Section 1860D–4(e)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–104(e)(2)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking “To the extent” and inserting “Except as provided in subparagraph (F), to the extent”; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(F) REAL-TIME BENEFIT INFORMATION.—
“(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 2021, the program shall implement real-time benefit tools that are capable of integrating with a prescribing health care professional’s electronic prescribing or electronic health record system for the transmission of formulary and benefit information in real time to prescribing health care professionals. With respect to a covered part D drug, such tools shall be capable of transmitting such information specific to an individual enrolled in a prescription drug plan. Such information shall include the following:
“(I) A list of any clinically-appropriate alternatives to such drug included in the formulary of such plan.
“(ii) ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.—The provisions of subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (ii) of subparagraph (E) shall apply to an electronic transmission described in clause (i) in the same manner as such provisions apply with respect to an electronic transmission described in clause (i) of such subparagraph.
Section 1860D–14 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–114) is amended—
(2) by adding after subsection (d) the following new subsection:
“(e) Limited income newly eligible transition program.—
“(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall carry out a program to provide transitional coverage for covered part D drugs for LI NET eligible individuals in accordance with this subsection.
“(2) LI NET ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘LI NET eligible individual’ means a part D eligible individual who—
“(3) TRANSITIONAL COVERAGE.—For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘transitional coverage’ means with respect to an LI NET eligible individual—
“(A) immediate access to covered part D drugs at the point of sale during the period that begins on the first day of the month such individual is determined to meet the requirements of clauses (ii) and (iii) of subsection (a)(3)(A) and ends on the date that coverage under a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan takes effect with respect to such individual; and
“(B) in the case of an LI NET eligible individual who is a full-benefit dual eligible individual (as defined in section 1935(c)(6)) or a recipient of supplemental security income benefits under title XVI, retroactive coverage (in the form of reimbursement of the amounts that would have been paid under this part had such individual been enrolled in a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan) of covered part D drugs purchased by such individual during the period that begins on the date that is the later of—
“(ii) the date that is 36 months prior to the date such individual enrolls in a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan,
and ends on the date that coverage under such plan takes effect.
“(4) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—
“(A) SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT.—The Secretary shall, to the extent feasible, administer the program under this subsection through a contract with a single program administrator.
“(B) BENEFIT DESIGN.—The Secretary shall ensure that the transitional coverage provided to LI NET eligible individuals under this subsection—
“(ii) permits all pharmacies determined by the Secretary to be in good standing to process claims under the program;
“(5) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE; WAIVER AUTHORITY.—
“(A) IN GENERAL.—The following provisions shall not apply with respect to the program under this subsection:
“(i) Paragraphs (1) and (3)(B) of section 1860D–4(a) (relating to dissemination of general information; availability of information on changes in formulary through the internet).
(a) Redetermination of approved FTE resident amount.—Section 1886(h)(2)(F) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(2)(F)) is amended—
(2) by adding at the end the following:
“(ii) In applying this subparagraph in the case of a hospital that trains residents and has not entered into a GME affiliation agreement (as defined by the Secretary for purposes of paragraph (4)(H)(ii)), on or after the date of the enactment of this clause, the Secretary shall not establish an FTE resident amount until such time as the Secretary determines that the hospital has trained at least 1.0 full-time-equivalent resident in an approved medical residency training program in a cost reporting period.
“(iii) In applying this subparagraph for cost reporting periods beginning on or after the date of enactment of this clause, in the case of a hospital that, as of such date of enactment, has an approved FTE resident amount based on the training in an approved medical residency program or programs of—
“(I) less than 1.0 full-time-equivalent resident in any cost reporting period beginning before October 1, 1997, as determined by the Secretary; or
“(II) no more than 3.0 full-time-equivalent residents in any cost reporting period beginning on or after October 1, 1997, and before the date of the enactment of this clause, as determined by the Secretary,
in lieu of such FTE resident amount the Secretary shall, in accordance with the methodology described in section 413.77(e) of title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation), establish a new FTE resident amount if the hospital trains at least 1.0 full-time-equivalent resident (in the case of a hospital described in subclause (I)) or more than 3.0 full-time-equivalent residents (in the case of a hospital described in subclause (II)) in a cost reporting period beginning on or after such date of enactment and before the date that is 5 years after such date of enactment.
“(iv) For purposes of carrying out this subparagraph for cost reporting periods beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this clause, a hospital shall report full-time-equivalent residents on its cost report for a cost reporting period if the hospital trains at least 1.0 full-time-equivalent residents in an approved medical residency training program or programs in such period.
(b) Redetermination of FTE resident limitation.—Section 1886(h)(4)(H)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(h)(4)(H)(i)) is amended—
(2) by adding at the end the following:
“(II) In applying this clause in the case of a hospital that, on or after the date of the enactment of this subclause, begins training residents in a new approved medical residency training program or programs (as defined by the Secretary), the Secretary shall not determine a limitation applicable to the hospital under subparagraph (F) until such time as the Secretary determines that the hospital has trained at least 1.0 full-time-equivalent resident in such new approved medical residency training program or programs in a cost reporting period.
“(III) In applying this clause in the case of a hospital that, as of the date of the enactment of this subclause, has a limitation under subparagraph (F), based on a cost reporting period beginning before October 1, 1997, of less than 1.0 full-time-equivalent resident, the Secretary shall adjust the limitation in the manner applicable to a new approved medical residency training program if the Secretary determines the hospital begins training at least 1.0 full-time-equivalent residents in a program year beginning on or after such date of enactment and before the date that is 5 years after such date of enactment.
“(IV) In applying this clause in the case of a hospital that, as of the date of the enactment of this subclause, has a limitation under subparagraph (F), based on a cost reporting period beginning on or after October 1, 1997, and before such date of enactment, of no more than 3.0 full-time-equivalent residents, the Secretary shall adjust the limitation in the manner applicable to a new approved medical residency training program if the Secretary determines the hospital begins training more than 3.0 full-time-equivalent residents in a program year beginning on or after such date of enactment and before the date that is 5 years after such date of enactment.
“(V) An adjustment to the limitation applicable to a hospital made pursuant to subclause (III) or (IV) shall be made in a manner consistent with the methodology, as appropriate, in section 413.79(e) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation). As appropriate, the Secretary may consider information from any cost reporting periods necessary to make such an adjustment to the limitation.”.
(c) Technical and conforming amendments.—Section 1886 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww) is amended—
(1) in subsection (d)(5)(B)(viii), by striking “subsection (h)(4)(H)” and inserting “paragraphs (2)(F)(iv) and (4)(H) of subsection (h)”; and
(d) Effective date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply to payment under section 1886 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww) for cost reporting periods beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Section 1848(e)(1)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(E)) is amended by striking “2020” and inserting “2023”.
(a) In general.—Section 1890(d)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395aaa(d)(2)) is amended—
(b) Input for removal of measures.—Section 1890(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395aaa(b)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
(c) Prioritization of measure endorsement.—Section 1890(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395aaa(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(9) PRIORITIZATION OF MEASURE ENDORSEMENT.—The entity—
“(A) during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this paragraph and ending on December 31, 2023, shall prioritize the endorsement of measures relating to maternal morbidity and mortality by the entity with a contract under subsection (a) in connection with endorsement of measures described in paragraph (2); and
(a) In general.—Section 1888(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395yy(h)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(C) EXCLUSIONS.—With respect to payments for services furnished on or after October 1, 2021, this subsection shall not apply to a facility for which there are not a minimum number (as determined by the Secretary) of—
(2) in paragraph (2)(A)—
(C) by adding at the end the following:
“(ii) may, with respect to payments for services furnished on or after October 1, 2022, apply additional measures determined appropriate by the Secretary, which may include measures of functional status, patient safety, care coordination, or patient experience.
Subject to the succeeding sentence, in the case that the Secretary applies additional measures under clause (ii), the Secretary shall consider and apply, as appropriate, quality measures specified under section 1899B(c)(1). In no case may the Secretary apply more than 10 measures under this subparagraph.”;
(3) in subparagraph (A) of each of paragraphs (3) and (4), by striking “measure” and inserting “measures”; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(12) VALIDATION.—
“(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall apply to the measures applied under this subsection and the data submitted under subsection (e)(6) a process to validate such measures and data, as appropriate, which may be similar to the process specified in section 1886(b)(3)(B)(viii)(XI) for validating inpatient hospital measures.
“(B) FUNDING.—For purposes of carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund established under section 1817, of $5,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2024.”.
(b) Report by MedPAC.—Not later than March 15, 2021, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall submit to Congress a report on establishing a prototype value-based payment program under a unified prospective payment system for post-acute care services under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). Such report—
Union Calendar No. 574 | |||||
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[Report No. 116–691, Part I] | |||||
A BILL | |||||
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient improvements and rural and quality improvements under the Medicare program. | |||||
December 24, 2020 | |||||
Reported from the Committee on Ways and Means with an amendment | |||||
December 24, 2020 | |||||
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed |