TITLE VI--PROVISIONS RELATING TO PART B
Subtitle C--Other Provisions
SEC. 624. TWO-YEAR MORATORIUM ON THERAPY CAPS; PROVISIONS
RELATING TO REPORTS.
(a) ADDITIONAL MORATORIUM ON THERAPY CAPS-
(1) 2004 AND 2005- Section 1833(g)(4)
(42 U.S.C. 1395l(g)(4)) is amended by striking `and 2002' and inserting `2002,
2004, and 2005'.
(2) REMAINDER OF 2003- For the period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending of December
31, 2003, the Secretary shall not apply the provisions of paragraphs (1),
(2), and (3) of section 1833(g) to expenses incurred with respect to services
described in such paragraphs during such period. Nothing in the preceding
sentence shall be construed as affecting the application of such paragraphs
by the Secretary before the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) PROMPT SUBMISSION OF OVERDUE REPORTS ON
PAYMENT AND UTILIZATION OF OUTPATIENT THERAPY SERVICES- Not later than March
31, 2004, the Secretary shall submit to Congress the reports required under
section 4541(d)(2) of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33; 111
Stat. 457) (relating to alternatives to a single annual dollar cap on outpatient
therapy) and under section 221(d) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced
Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (Appendix F, 113 Stat. 1501A-352), as enacted
into law by section 1000(a)(6) of Public Law 106-113 (relating to utilization
patterns for outpatient therapy).
(c) GAO REPORT IDENTIFYING CONDITIONS AND DISEASES
JUSTIFYING WAIVER OF THERAPY CAP-
(1) STUDY- The Comptroller General
of the United States shall identify conditions or diseases that may justify
waiving the application of the therapy caps under section 1833(g) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(g)) with respect to such conditions or diseases.
(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than
October 1, 2004, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report
on the conditions and diseases identified under paragraph (1), and shall include
a recommendation of criteria, with respect to such conditions and disease,
under which a waiver of the therapy caps would apply.
