S.Amdt. 2976

SA 2976. Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. Ensign) 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 816, after line 20, insert the following:

SEC. 3115. PERMITTING HOME HEALTH AGENCIES TO ASSIGN THE MOST
APPROPRIATE SKILLED SERVICE TO MAKE THE INITIAL
ASSESSMENT VISIT UNDER A MEDICARE HOME HEALTH
PLAN OF CARE FOR REHABILITATION CASES.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 484.55(a)(2) of
title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations or any other
provision of law, a home health agency may determine the most
appropriate skilled therapist to make the initial assessment
visit for an individual who is referred (and may be eligible)
for home health services under title XVIII of the Social
Security Act but who does not require skilled nursing care as
long as the skilled service (for which that therapist is
qualified to provide the service) is included as part of the
plan of care for home health services for such individual.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in subsection (a) shall
be construed to provide for initial eligibility for coverage
of home health services under title XVIII of the Social
Security Act on the basis of a need for occupational therapy.
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