S.Amdt. 1099

1. Rewrites section 426

   Replaces

   In S. 1 · Reported to Senate

   SEC. 426. INCREASE FOR GROUND AMBULANCE SERVICES[struck: FURNISHED IN A RURAL AREA].

   Section 1834(l) [inserted: of the Social Security Act ](42 U.S.C. [inserted: Sec. ]1395m(l)), as amended by section 405(b)(2), is amended by adding at the end the following new [struck: paragraph:][inserted: paragraphs.]

   "(10) Temporary increase for [struck: ground ]ambulance services[struck: furnished in a rural area].--

   "(A) [struck: In general][inserted: Ground ambulance services].--Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, in the case of ground ambulance services furnished on or after January 1, [struck: 2005,][inserted: 2004] and before January 1, [struck: 2008, for which ][inserted: 2007, ]the [struck: transportation originates in a rural area described in paragraph (9) or in a rural census tract described in such paragraph, the ]fee schedule established under this section, with respect to both the payment rate for service and the payment rate for mileage, shall provide that such rates otherwise established[struck: , after application of any increase under such paragraph, ][inserted: ]shall be increased by [struck: 5][inserted: 21.5] percent.

   Struck: "(B) Application of increased payments after 2007.--The increased payments under subparagraph (A) shall not be taken into account in calculating payments for services furnished on or after the period specified in such subparagraph.".

   Inserted: "(B) Additional increase for services furnished in a rural area.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, in the case of ground ambulance services furnished on or after January 1, 2004 and before January 1, 2007, for which the transportation originates in a rural area described in paragraph (10)(C), the fee schedule established under this section, with respect to both the payment rate for service and the payment rate for mileage, shall provide that such rates otherwise established shall be increased by the higher of either 20 percent or the following section:

   Inserted: "(C) Basing rural areas on population density by postal zip codes."

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)) is amended in paragraph (9), as so redesignated by section 2(a)(1), by striking "(as defined in section 1886(d)(2)(D)" and all that follows through "(57 Fed. Reg. 6725)" and inserting "(as determined under an area classification system established by the Secretary that is based on population density within postal zip code areas)".

   Inserted: (b) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, taking into account the recommendations contained in the report submitted under section 221(b)(3) the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvements and Protection Act of 2000, shall implement such increase in addition to the increase under subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall establish the classification system described in the amendment made by subsection (a) by not later than December 31, 2003. Such amendment shall apply to services furnished on or after such date, not later than 30 days after the establishment of such system, as the Secretary shall provide by regulation.

   Inserted: "(D) Application of increased payments after 2007.--The increased payments under subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not be taken into account in calculating payments for services furnished on or after the period specified in such subparagraph."

   Inserted: "(11) Conversion factor adjustments.--The Secretary shall not adjust downward the conversion factor in any year because of an evaluation of the prior year conversion factor."

   Original wording

   Strike section 426 and insert the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed