To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust the fee for collecting specimens for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests under the Medicare Program.

February 25, 2003

Mr. ENGLISH (for himself and Mr. DEUTSCH) 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 adjust the fee for collecting specimens for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests 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 Laboratory Services Access Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. ADJUSTMENT IN MEDICARE LABORATORY SPECIMEN COLLECTION FEE.

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

(1) in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting `in the amount specified in paragraph (8)' after `a nominal fee'; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(8) The amount specified in this paragraph, for the nominal fee under paragraph (3)(A) for tests performed in--

`(A) 2004, is $5.42; or

`(B) a subsequent year, is the amount specified in this paragraph for tests performed in the preceding year adjusted by the annual percentage increase or decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (United States city average).'.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to fees for tests performed on or after January 1, 2004.

END