[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4618 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 302
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4618
[Report No. 116-326, Parts I and II]
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for
certain hearing items and services under part B of the Medicare
program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 8, 2019
Mrs. McBath (for herself and Mrs. Dingell) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and
in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
December 6, 2019
Reported from the Committee on Ways and Means with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
January 24, 2020
Additional sponsors: Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Cuellar, Ms. Norton,
Mr. Higgins of New York, and Mr. Welch
January 24, 2020
Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to
be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on October
8, 2019]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for
certain hearing items and services under part B of the Medicare
program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Hearing Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. PROVIDING COVERAGE FOR HEARING CARE UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.
(a) Provision of Aural Rehabilitation and Treatment Services by
Qualified Audiologists.--Section 1861(ll)(3) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(3)) is amended by inserting ``(and, beginning
January 1, 2022, such aural rehabilitation and treatment services)''
after ``assessment services''.
(b) Coverage of Hearing Aids.--
(1) Inclusion of hearing aids as prosthetic devices.--
Section 1861(s)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395x(s)(8)) is amended by inserting ``, and including hearing
aids furnished on or after January 1, 2022, to individuals
diagnosed with profound or severe hearing loss'' before the
semicolon at the end.
(2) Payment limitations for hearing aids.--Section 1834(h)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(h)) is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(6) Limitations for hearing aids.--Payment may be made
under this part with respect to an individual, with respect to
hearing aids furnished on or after January 1, 2022--
``(A) not more than once during any 5-year period;
``(B) only for types of such hearing aids that are
not over-the-counter hearing aids (as defined in
section 520(q)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act) and that are determined appropriate by
the Secretary; and
``(C) only if furnished pursuant to a written order
of a physician or qualified audiologist (as defined in
section 1861(ll)(4)(B)).''.
(3) Application of competitive acquisition.--
(A) In general.--Section 1834(h)(1)(H) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(h)(1)(H)) is
amended--
(i) in the header, by inserting ``and
hearing aids'' before the semicolon;
(ii) by inserting ``and of hearing aids
described in paragraph (2)(D) of such
section,'' after ``2009,''; and
(iii) in clause (i), by inserting ``or such
hearing aids'' after ``such orthotics''.
(B) Conforming amendment.--
(i) In general.--Section 1847(a)(2) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-3(a)(2))
is amended by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(D) Hearing aids.--Hearing aids for which payment
would otherwise be made under section 1834(h).''.
(ii) Exemption of certain items from
competitive acquisition.--Section 1847(a)(7) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-
3(a)(7)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(C) Certain hearing aids.--Those items and
services described in paragraph (2)(D) if furnished by
a physician or other practitioner (as defined by the
Secretary) to the physician's or practitioner's own
patients as part of the physician's or practitioner's
professional service.''.
(4) Inclusion of audiologists as certain practitioners to
receive payment on an assignment-related basis.--Section
1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395u(b)(18)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following
new clause:
``(vii) With respect to 2022 and each
subsequent year, a qualified audiologist (as
defined in section 1861(ll)(4)(B)).''.
(c) Exclusion Modification.--Section 1862(a)(7) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(7)) is amended by inserting ``(except
such hearing aids or examinations as described in and otherwise allowed
under section 1861(s)(8))'' after ``hearing aids or examinations
therefor''.
SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION FUNDING.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for the
transfer from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund
under section 1841 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t) to the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for
the period of 2020 through 2024 of such sums as may be necessary for
purposes of implementing the amendments made by section 2.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
(a) Report.--Not later than the date that is 2 years after the date
of the enactment of the Medicare Hearing Act of 2019, the Inspector
General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall--
(1) determine the feasibility of qualified audiologists (as
defined in paragraph (4)(B) of 1861(ll) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll))) furnishing audiology services (as
defined in paragraph (3) of such section) to individuals
entitled to benefits under part A of title XVIII of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395c et seq.) and enrolled for benefits under part
B of such title (42 U.S.C.1395j et seq.) without such
individuals being referred by a physician (as defined in
section 1861(r) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(r))) or
practitioner (as described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) of such
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C))) to qualified audiologists; and
(2) submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services a
report on the feasibility of the referral described in
paragraph (1) and any program integrity or overutilization
concerns with respect to such referral.
(b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services may
promulgate regulations to allow qualified audiologists to furnish
audiology services without a referral from a physician or practitioner,
consistent with the findings submitted to the Secretary pursuant to
subsection (a)(2).
Union Calendar No. 302
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4618
[Report No. 116-326, Parts I and II]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for
certain hearing items and services under part B of the Medicare
program.
_______________________________________________________________________
January 24, 2020
Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to
be printed