To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate cost-sharing under the Medicare Program for bone mass measurements.

November 7, 2003

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia 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 cost-sharing under the Medicare Program for bone mass measurements.

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 `Improved Access to Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF COST-SHARING FOR BONE MASS MEASUREMENTS.

(a) ELIMINATION OF COINSURANCE-

(1) IN GENERAL- Section 1833(a)(1)(N) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(N)) is amended--

(A) by inserting `other than bone mass measurement described in section 1861(s)(15)' after `(as defined in section 1848(j)(3))'; and

(B) by adding after the comma at the end the following: `and in the case of such services consisting of such a bone mass measurement, the amounts paid shall be 100 percent of such payment basis,'.

(2) ELIMINATION OF COINSURANCE IN OUTPATIENT HOSPITAL SETTINGS- The third sentence of section 1866(a)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after `1861(s)(10)(A)' the following: `, with respect to bone mass measurement (as defined in section 1861(rr)),'.

(b) WAIVER OF DEDUCTIBLE- The first sentence of section 1833(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)) is amended--

(1) by striking `and' before `(6)'; and

(2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: `, and (7) such deductible shall not apply with respect to bone mass measurement (as defined in section 1861(rr))'.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2004.

END