S 38
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 38
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide
improved reimbursement for clinical social worker services under the
Medicare program.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 25 (legislative day, January 5), 2011
Mr. INOUYE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide
improved reimbursement for clinical social worker services under 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 `Equity for Clinical Social Workers Act
of 2011'.
SEC. 2. IMPROVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER SERVICES
UNDER MEDICARE.
(a) In General- Section 1833(a)(1)(F)(ii) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(F)(ii)) is amended to read as follows: `(ii)
the amount determined by a fee schedule established by the Secretary,'.
(b) Definition of Clinical Social Worker Services Expanded- Section
1861(hh)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(2)) is amended
by striking `services performed by a clinical social worker (as defined
in paragraph (1))' and inserting `such services and such services and
supplies furnished as an incident to such services performed by a clinical
social worker (as defined in paragraph (1))'.
(c) Clinical Social Worker Services Not To Be Included in Inpatient
Hospital Services- Section 1861(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395x(b)(4)) is amended by striking `and services' and inserting
`clinical social worker services, and services'.
(d) Treatment of Services Furnished in Inpatient Setting- Section 1832(a)(2)(B)(iii)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395k(a)(2)(B)(iii)) is amended--
(1) by striking `and services' and inserting `clinical social worker
services, and services'; and
(2) by adding `and' at the end.
(e) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply
to payments made for clinical social worker services furnished on or
after January 1, 2012.
END
