108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 343
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit direct
payment under the medicare program for clinical social worker services provided
to residents of skilled nursing facilities.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 11, 2003
Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Corzine,
Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Bingaman) 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 permit direct
payment under the medicare program for clinical social worker services provided
to residents of skilled nursing facilities.
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 `Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act of
2003'.
SEC. 2. PERMITTING DIRECT PAYMENT UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR CLINICAL
SOCIAL WORKER SERVICES PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 1888(e)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395yy(e)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting `clinical social worker services,'
after `qualified psychologist services,'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 1861(hh)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(2))
is amended by striking `and other than services furnished to an inpatient
of a skilled nursing facility which the facility is required to provide as
a requirement for participation'.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall apply to items
and services furnished on or after the date that regulations relating to payment
for physicians' services for calendar year 2003 take effect, but in no case
later than the first day of the third month beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
END
