S. 5194 – Reading Mode

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5194

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 6, 2022

Mr. Kennedy 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 extend certain increases in payments for physicians services under the Medicare program through 2023.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Medicare Patients and Physicians Act.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the House of Representatives, and the Senate should commit to take administrative and legislative actions to—

(1)

ensure financial stability and predictability in the Medicare physician payment system;

(2)

promote and reward value-based care innovation; and

(3)

safeguard timely access to high-quality care by advancing health equity and reducing disparities.

Extension of support for physicians and other professionals in adjusting to Medicare payment changes

(a)

In general

Section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (c)(2)(B)(iv)(V), by striking or 2022 and inserting , 2022, or 2023; and

(2)

in subsection (t)—

(A)

in the heading, by striking and 2022 and inserting , 2022, and 2023;

(B)

in paragraph (1)—

(i)

by striking and 2022 and inserting , 2022, and 2023;

(ii)

in subparagraph (A), by striking and at the end;

(iii)

in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(iv)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(C)

such services furnished on or after January 1, 2023, and before January 1, 2024, by 4.42 percent.

; and

(C)

in paragraph (2)(C)—

(i)

in the heading, by striking and 2022 and inserting , 2022 and 2023; and

(ii)

by striking or 2022 each place it appears and inserting , 2022, or 2023.

(b)

Temporary suspension of PAYGO Medicare sequestration

During the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2023, the Medicare programs under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) shall be exempt from reduction under any sequestration order issued under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 931 et seq.) before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c)

Transfer of returned provider relief funds

Section 1150C of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–26) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(f)

Transfer of returned funds

The Secretary shall provide for the transfer to the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1841 of any amounts returned to the Secretary by an eligible health care provider under this section that are unobligated as of the date of the enactment of this subsection.