To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for direct access to audiologists for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes.

July 22, 2003

Mr. RYUN of Kansas (for himself and Mrs. CAPPS) 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

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for direct access to audiologists for Medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes.

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 `Hearing Health Accessibility Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. DIRECT ACCESS TO QUALIFIED AUDIOLOGISTS FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES.

Section 1861(ll)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(2)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: `, without regard to any requirement that the individual receiving the audiology services be under the care of (or referred by) a physician or other health care practitioner or that such services are provided under the supervision of a physician or other health care practitioner'.

SEC. 3. INCLUSION OF AUDIOLOGY SERVICES AS A PART B MEDICAL SERVICE; PAYMENT.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (U), by striking `and' at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (V), by inserting `and' at the end; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

`(W) audiology services (as defined in subsection (ll)(2));'.

(b) PAYMENT UNDER THE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE- Section 1848(j)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting `(2)(W),' after `(2)(S),'.

SEC. 4. CONSTRUCTION; EFFECTIVE DATE.

(a) CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to expand the scope of audiology services for which payment may be made under title XVIII of the Social Security Act on December 31, 2003.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this Act shall take effect with respect to services furnished on or after January 1, 2004.

END