Holding Providers Harmless From Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020
This bill temporarily increases payments to providers under Medicare medical services. Specifically, the bill provides an additional payment for certain services in 2021 and 2022 if the otherwise applicable payment is less than what it would have been in 2020. The bill applies to services that are payable under the physician fee schedule, excluding specified outpatient evaluation and management services.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8702 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8702
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an
increase in payment under part B of the Medicare program for certain
services in response to COVID-19.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 30, 2020
Mr. Bera (for himself, Mr. Bucshon, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Holding, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee, Ms.
Finkenauer, and Mr. Marshall) 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 an
increase in payment under part B of the Medicare program for certain
services in response to COVID-19.
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 ``Holding Providers Harmless From
Medicare Cuts During COVID-19 Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN PAYMENT UNDER PART B OF THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN SERVICES TO HOLD PROVIDERS
HARMLESS WHILE RESPONDING TO COVID-19.
(a) In General.--Section 1833 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395l) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(dd) COVID-19 Relief Payments for Certain Services.--
``(1) In general.--In the case of an eligible service (as
defined in paragraph (2)(A)) furnished during a specified year
(as defined in paragraph (2)(C)) by a supplier for which
payment is made under (or based on) the fee schedule
established under section 1848, in addition to the amount of
payment that would otherwise be made for such service under
this part, there also shall be paid at the time such payment
under section 1848 is made an amount equal to the specified
hold harmless relief payment (as defined in paragraph (2)(B))
for such service.
``(2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Eligible service.--
``(i) In general.--The term `eligible
service' means, with respect to a service
furnished in a specified year by a supplier for
which payment is made under (or based on) the
fee schedule established under section 1848,
any service (other than a service described in
clause (ii)) for which the payment amount
determined under (or based on) such fee
schedule for such year and supplier is less
than such payment amount that would have been
determined under (or based on) such fee
schedule for such service and supplier had such
service been furnished in 2020.
``(ii) Excluded services.--For purposes of
clause (i), the services described in this
clause are any of the following:
``(I) Services identified by any of
HCPCS codes 99202 through 99205 or by
HCPCS code 99211 (or any successor
codes), but only if such service is
billed in conjunction with HCPCS code
GPC1X (or a successor code).
``(II) Services identified by any
of HCPCS codes 99212 through 99215 (or
any successor codes).
``(III) Services identified by
HCPCS code GPC1X (or any successor
code).
``(B) Specified hold harmless relief payment.--The
term `specified hold harmless relief payment' means,
with respect to an eligible service furnished in a
specified year by a supplier, the difference between
the payment amount determined under (or based on) the
fee schedule established under section 1848 for such
year and supplier and such amount that would have been
determined under (or based on) such schedule for such
service and supplier had such service been furnished in
2020.
``(C) Specified year.--The term `specified year'
means 2021 and 2022.
``(3) Coordination.--The amount of the additional payment
for a service under this subsection and subsection (m) shall be
determined without regard to any additional payment for the
service under subsection (m) and this subsection, respectively.
The amount of the additional payment for a service under this
subsection and subsection (z) shall be determined without
regard to any additional payment for the service under
subsection (z) and this subsection, respectively.
``(4) Clarification.--For purposes of this subsection, a
service for which payment is made under (or based on) the fee
schedule established under section 1848 includes a service
payable under section 1834(k).
``(5) Limitation on judicial review.--There shall be no
administrative or judicial review under section 1869, 1878, or
otherwise, respecting the identification of eligible services
under this subsection.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1834(g)(2)(B) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(g)(2)(B)) is amended by striking ``(x)
and (y)'' and inserting ``(x), (y), and (dd)''.
<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.
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