II
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1081
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 19, 2005
Mr. Kyl (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Corzine, and Mr. Talent) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a minimum update for physicians’ services for 2006 and 2007.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Preserving Patient Access to
Physicians Act of 2005
.
Minimum update for physicians’ services for 2006 and 2007
In general
Section 1848(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
Update for 2006
The update to the single conversion factor established in paragraph (1)(C) for 2006 shall not be less than 2.7 percent.
Update for 2007
In general
The update to the single conversion factor established in paragraph (1)(C) for 2007 shall not be less than the product of—
1 plus the Secretary’s estimate of the percentage change in the value of the input price index (as provided under subparagraph (B)(ii)) for 2007 (divided by 100); and
1 minus the Secretary’s estimate of the productivity adjustment factor under subparagraph (C) for 2007.
Input price index
Establishment
Taking into account the mix of goods and services included in computing the medicare economic index (referred to in the fourth sentence of section 1842(b)(3)), the Secretary shall establish an index that reflects the weighted-average input prices for physicians’ services for 2006. Such index shall only account for input prices and not changes in costs that may result from other factors (such as productivity).
Annual estimate of change in index
The Secretary shall estimate, before the beginning of 2007, the change in the value of the input price index under clause (i) from 2006 to 2007.
Productivity adjustment factor
The Secretary shall estimate, and cause to be published in the Federal Register not later than November 1, 2006, a productivity adjustment factor for 2007 that reflects the Secretary’s estimate of growth in multifactor productivity in the national economy, taking into account growth in productivity attributable to both labor and nonlabor factors. Such adjustment may be based on a multi-year moving average of productivity (based on data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics).
.
Conforming amendment
Section
1848(d)(4)(B) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(d)(4)(B)) is amended, in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking and paragraph (5)
and inserting
paragraphs (5), (6), and (7)
.