To permit direct payment under the Medicare program for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities.

1. Adds SEC. __. PERMITTING DIRECT PAYMENT UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER SERVICES PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES at the end of subtitle A of title IV

   Adds a section

   In S. 1 · Reported to Senate

   (b) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) together with such recommendations for legislative and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

   Inserted: SEC. __. PERMITTING DIRECT PAYMENT UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER SERVICES PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Section 1888(e)(2)(A)(ii) (42 U.S.C. 1395yy(e)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting "clinical social worker services," after "qualified psychologist services,".

   Inserted: (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1861(hh)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(2)) is amended by striking "and other than services furnished to an inpatient of a skilled nursing facility which the facility is required to provide as a requirement for participation".

   Inserted: (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after October 1, 2003.jennifer

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle A of title IV, add the following:

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As printed