TITLE VI--PROVISIONS RELATING TO PART B
Subtitle D--Additional Demonstrations, Studies, and Other Provisions
SEC. 644. MEDPAC STUDY OF PAYMENT FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGEONS.
(a) STUDY- The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
(in this section referred to as the `Commission') shall conduct a study on the
practice expense relative values established by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services under the medicare physician fee schedule under section 1848
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4) for physicians in the specialties
of thoracic and cardiac surgery to determine whether such values adequately
take into account the attendant costs that such physicians incur in providing
clinical staff for patient care in hospitals.
(b) REPORT- Not later than January 1, 2005,
the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under
subsection (a) together with recommendations for such legislation or administrative
action as the Commission determines to be appropriate.
