S.Amdt. 2877

SA 2877. Mr. BROWN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 2786 proposed by Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr.
Dodd, and Mr. Harkin) to the bill H.R. 3590, to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers credit in the
case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal
employees, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

On page 869, between lines 14 and 15, insert the following:

SEC. 3143. REIMBURSEMENT FOR TOTAL BODY ORTHOTIC MANAGEMENT
FOR CERTAIN NURSING HOME PATIENTS.

(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'')
shall issue product codes that qualified practitioners and
suppliers may use to receive reimbursement under section
1834(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(h)) for
qualified total body orthotic management devices used for the
treatment of nonambulatory individuals with severe
musculoskeletal conditions who are in the full-time care of
skilled nursing facilities (as defined in section 1861(j) of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(j))). In issuing such codes, the
Secretary shall take all steps necessary to prevent fraud and
abuse.
(b) Qualified Total Body Orthotic Management Device.--For
purposes of this section, the term ``qualified total body
orthotic management device'' means a medically-prescribed
device which--
(1) consists of custom fitted individual braces with
adjustable points at the hips, knee, ankle, elbow, and wrist,
but only if--
(A) the individually adjustable braces are attached to a
frame which is an integral component of the device and cannot
function or be used apart from the frame; and
(B) the frame is designed such that it serves no purpose
without the braces; and
(2) is designed to--
(A) improve function;
(B) retard progression of musculoskeletal deformity; or
(C) restrict, eliminate, or assist in the functioning of
lower and upper extremities and pelvic, spinal, and cervical
regions of the body affected by injury, weakness, or
deformity, of an individual for whom stabilization of
affected areas of the body, or relief of pressure points, is
required for medical reasons.
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