To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a permanent increase in medicare payments for home health services that are furnished in rural areas.

March 17, 2003

Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. BOND) 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 for a permanent increase in medicare payments for home health services that are furnished in rural areas.

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 `Rural Home Health Payment Fairness Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. PERMANENT INCREASE IN MEDICARE PAYMENT FOR HOME HEALTH SERVICES FURNISHED IN A RURAL AREA.

(a) IN GENERAL- Section 1895 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395fff) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(f) INCREASE IN PAYMENT FOR SERVICES FURNISHED IN A RURAL AREA-

`(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of home health services furnished in a rural area (as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D)) on or after April 1, 2003, the Secretary shall increase the payment amount otherwise made under this section for such services by 10 percent.

`(2) WAIVER OF BUDGET NEUTRALITY- The Secretary shall not reduce the standard prospective payment amount (or amounts) under this section applicable to home health services furnished during a period to offset the increase in payments resulting from the application of paragraph (1).'.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall apply to services furnished on or after April 1, 2003.

END