A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate the reimbursement differential between hospitals in different areas.

Summary

Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to eliminate limitations on physician charges and effectively eliminate the distinction between participating and nonparticipating physicians. Requires that by April 1, 1989, both the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission submit a report to the Congress recommending a methodology for eliminating the differences in average standardized Medicare payments to large urban, other urban, and rural hospitals by October 1, 1991. Directs the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to submit an analysis of such reports to the Congress by May 1, 1989. Requires the Secretary to promulgate final regulations by August 30, 1989, for the implementation of such recommendations. Makes such regulations effective beginning on October 1, 1989, unless the Congress enacts legislation regarding such payments before such date. Requires that by April 1, 1990, both the Secretary and the Commission submit a report to the Congress specifying the manner in which average standardized payments to hospitals should be adjusted to reflect legitimate differences in operating costs for different categories of hospitals. Directs the CBO to submit an analysis of such reports to the Congress by May 1, 1990. Requires the Secretary to promulgate final regulations by August 30, 1991, for the implementation of such recommendations. Makes such regulations effective beginning on October 1, 1991, unless the Congress enacts legislation regarding such payments before such date.

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Timeline

1. 8 September 1988

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 8 September 1988

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 8 September 1988

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Symms, Steven D. [R-ID] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Hecht, Chic [R-NV] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS] · R · Cosponsor
• Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssfi00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate mandated caps on physicians' fees, and to eliminate the reimbursement differential between hospitals in different areas.