Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for Medicare coverage of screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a national education and information campaign to promote awareness among health care practitioners and the general public with respect to the importance of early detection and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4626 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4626
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage
of screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms under part B of
the Medicare Program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 21, 2004
Mr. Greenwood (for himself and Mr. Green of Texas) introduced the
following bill; which was 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage
of screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms under part B of
the Medicare Program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act''.
SEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF SCREENING ULTRASOUND FOR ABDOMINAL AORTIC
ANEURYSMS.
(a) In General.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395x), as amended by sections 611, 612, 613, 642, and 706 of the
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
(Public Law 108-173), is amended--
(1) in subsection (s)(2)--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
(Y);
(B) by adding ``and'' at the end of subparagraph
(Z); and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(AA) screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm
(as defined in subsection (bbb)) for an individual who has not
been previously furnished such a screening ultrasound and who--
``(i) has a family history of abdominal aortic
aneurysm;
``(ii) manifests risk factors for cardiovascular
disease (such as smoking or hypertension);
``(iii) evidences arthrosclerotic vascular disease;
or
``(iv) has other risk factors for abdominal aortic
aneurysm as the Secretary may specify;''.
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``Screening Ultrasound for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
``(bbb) The term `screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic
aneurysm' means--
``(1) a procedure using sound waves (or such other
procedures using alternative technologies, of commensurate
accuracy and cost, that the Secretary may specify) provided for
the early detection of abdominal aortic aneurysm, and
``(2) includes a physician's interpretation of the results
of the procedure.''.
(b) Inclusion of Screening Ultrasound for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
in Screening Services for Which Education, Counseling, and Referral Is
Provided for Under Benefits for Initial Preventive Physical
Examination.--Section 1861(ww)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395x(ww)(2)), as added by section 611(b) of the Medicare Prescription
Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173),
is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(L) Screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm as
defined in section 1861(bbb).''.
(c) Payment for Screening Ultrasound for Abdominal Aortic
Aneurysm.--(1) Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395w-4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting ``(2)(AA)'' after ``(2)(W)''.
(d) Frequency and Quality Standards.--Section 1862(a)(1) of such
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(1)), as amended by sections 303, 611, 612, and
613 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization
Act of 2003, is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (L);
(2) by striking the semicolon at the end of subparagraph
(M) and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(N) in the case of screening ultrasound for abdominal
aortic aneurysm--
``(i) which is performed more frequently than is
provided for under section 1861(s)(2)(AA); or
``(ii) which is performed by an individual or
diagnostic laboratory that does not meet quality
assurance standards established by the Secretary,
including with respect to individuals performing
screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysm
(other than physicians) and diagnostic laboratories,
that the individual or laboratory is certified by the
appropriate State licensing or certification agency or,
in the case of a services performed in a State that
does not license or certify such individuals or
laboratories, by a national certification or
accreditation organization recognized by the
Secretary.''.
(e) Non-Application of Part B Deductible.--Section 1833(b) of such
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' after ``section 1861(jj)),''; and
(2) by inserting ``, and (7) such deductible shall not
apply with respect to screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic
aneurysm (as defined in section 1861(bbb))'' after
``1861(nn))''.
(f) Consultation in Establishment of Quality Assurance Standards
and Designation of Recognition of National Accreditation
Organizations.--The Secretary shall consult with national medical,
vascular technologist and sonographer societies in establishing--
(1) risk factors under section 1861(s)(2)(A)(iv) of the
Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a)(1)(C), and
(2) quality assurance standards under section
1862(a)(1)(N)(ii) of such Act, as added by subsection (d)(3).
(g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to screening ultrasounds for abdominal aortic aneurysm performed
on or after January 1, 2005.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATION CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--After consultation with national medical, vascular
technologist and sonographer societies, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall carry out a national education and information
campaign to promote awareness among health care practitioners and the
general public with respect to the importance of early detection and
treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
(b) Use of Funds.--The Secretary may use amounts appropriated
pursuant to this subsection to make grants to national medical,
vascular technologist, and sonographer societies (in accordance with
procedures and criteria specified by the Secretary) to enable them to
educate practitioners and providers about matters relating to such
aneurysms.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal year 2005 and each fiscal year thereafter such
sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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