Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Bills introduced in the House: HR 4871. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for equity in the calculation of Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments for hospitals in Puerto Rico. Introduced July 20 by Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. HR 4877. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to revoke the unique ability of the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to deem hospitals to meet certain requirements under the Medicare program and to provide for greater accountability of the Joint Commission to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Introduced July 20 by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. Bills introduced in the Senate: S 2678. A bill to ensure that members of Congress do not receive better prescription drug benefits than Medicare beneficiaries. Introduced July 16 by Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN). S 2694. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the automatic enrollment of Medicaid beneficiaries for prescription drug benefits under Part D of such title. Introduced July 20 by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). S 2698. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to invoke the unique ability of the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations to deem hospitals to meet certain requirement sunder the Medicare program and to provide for greater accountability of the Joint Commission to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Introduced July 20 by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), referred to the Committee on Finance. S 2707. Abill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to recognize the services of respiratory therapists under the plan of care for home health services. Introduced July 21 by Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), referred to the Committee on Finance. S 2714. A bill to amend Part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, as added by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, to provide for negotiation of fair prices for Medicare prescription drugs. Introduced July 21 by Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD).