TITLE V--PROVISIONS RELATING TO PART A
Subtitle B--Other Provisions
SEC. 512. COVERAGE OF HOSPICE CONSULTATION SERVICES.
(a) COVERAGE OF HOSPICE CONSULTATION SERVICES-
Section 1812(a) (42 U.S.C. 1395d(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking `and' at the end of
paragraph (3);
(2) by striking the period at the end
of paragraph (4) and inserting `; and'; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4)
the following new paragraph:
`(5) for individuals who are terminally ill, have not made an election
under subsection (d)(1), and have not previously received services under
this paragraph, services that are furnished by a physician (as defined in
section 1861(r)(1)) who is either the medical director or an employee of a
hospice program and that--
`(i) an evaluation of the individual's need for pain and symptom
management, including the individual's need for hospice care;
and
`(ii) counseling the individual with respect to hospice care and
other care options; and
`(B) may include advising the individual regarding advanced care
planning.'.
(b) PAYMENT- Section 1814(i) (42 U.S.C. 1395f(i))
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(4) The amount paid to a hospice program with respect to the services
under section 1812(a)(5) for which payment may be made under this part shall
be equal to an amount established for an office or other outpatient visit for
evaluation and management associated with presenting problems of moderate
severity and requiring medical decisionmaking of low complexity under the fee
schedule established under section 1848(b), other than the portion of such
amount attributable to the practice expense component.'.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 1861(dd)(2)(A)(i)
(42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(2)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting before the comma at the
end the following: `and services described in section 1812(a)(5)'.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by
this section shall apply to services provided by a hospice program on or after
January 1, 2005.
