TITLE VI--PROVISIONS RELATING TO PART B
Subtitle D--Additional Demonstrations, Studies, and Other Provisions
SEC. 650. GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON THE PROPAGATION OF CONCIERGE
CARE.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Comptroller General
of the United States shall conduct a study on concierge care (as defined in
paragraph (2)) to determine the extent to which such care--
(A) is used by medicare beneficiaries
(as defined in section 1802(b)(5)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395a(b)(5)(A))); and
(B) has impacted upon the access
of medicare beneficiaries (as so defined) to items and services for which
reimbursement is provided under the medicare program under title XVIII of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
(2) CONCIERGE CARE- In this section,
the term `concierge care' means an arrangement under which, as a prerequisite
for the provision of a health care item or service to an individual, a physician,
practitioner (as described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C))), or other individual--
(A) charges a membership fee
or another incidental fee to an individual desiring to receive the health
care item or service from such physician, practitioner, or other individual;
or
(B) requires the individual
desiring to receive the health care item or service from such physician,
practitioner, or other individual to purchase an item or service.
(b) REPORT- Not later than the date that is
12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under
subsection (a)(1) together with such recommendations for legislative or administrative
action as the Comptroller General determines to be appropriate.
