To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide improved reimbursement for clinical social worker services under the medicare program.

January 7, 2003

Mr. INOUYE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

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 2003'.

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 by striking `and services' and inserting `clinical social worker services, and services'.

(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, 2004.

END