To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services under the Medicare Program.

July 17, 2003

Mr. STRICKLAND (for himself and Mr. MURPHY) 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 eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric 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 `Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATORY COPAYMENT RATES FOR MEDICARE OUTPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES.

Section 1833(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(c)) is amended to read as follows:

`(c)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, with respect to expenses incurred in a calendar year in connection with the treatment of mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders of an individual who is not an inpatient of a hospital at the time such expenses are incurred, there shall be considered as incurred expenses for purposes of subsections (a) and (b)--

`(A) for expenses incurred in any year before 2004, only 62 1/2 percent of such expenses;

`(B) for expenses incurred in 2004, only 68 3/4 percent of such expenses;

`(C) for expenses incurred in 2005, only 75 percent of such expenses;

`(D) for expenses incurred in 2006, only 81 1/4 percent of such expenses;

`(E) for expenses incurred in 2007, only 87 1/2 percent of such expenses;

`(F) for expenses incurred in 2008, only 93 3/4 percent of such expenses; and

`(G) for expenses incurred in 2009 or any subsequent year, 100 percent of such expenses.

`(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term `treatment' does not include brief office visits (as defined by the Secretary) for the sole purpose of monitoring or changing drug prescriptions used in the treatment of such disorders or partial hospitalization services that are not directly provided by a physician.'.

END