Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 3.djvu/258

 110 STAT. 1988 PUBLIC LAW 104-191—AUG. 21, 1996 and quality of health insurance coverage offered under provisions of this title. (3) CONSULTATION.—The studies under this subsection shall be conducted in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, representatives of State officials, consumers, and other representatives of individuals and entities that have expertise in health insurance and employee benefits. (b) REPORTS. —Not later than January 1, 2000, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on each of the studies under subsection (a). SEC. 192. REPORT ON MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT OF TELEMEDICINE. The Health Care Financing Administration shall complete its ongoing study of Medicare reimbursement of all telemedicine services and submit a report to Congress on Medicare reimbursement of telemedicine services by not later than March 1, 1997. The report shall— (1) utilize data compiled from the current demonstration projects already under review and gather data from other ongoing telemedicine networks; (2) include an analysis of the cost of services provided via telemedicine; and (3) include a proposal for Medicare reimbursement of such services. SEC. 193. ALLOWING FEDERALLY-QUALIFIED HMOS TO OFFER HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLANS. Section 1301(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300e(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(6) A health maintenance organization that otherwise meets the requirements of this title may offer a high-deductible health plan (as defined in section 220(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).". SEC. 194. VOLUNTEER SERVICES PROVIDED BY HEALTH PROFES- SIONALS AT FREE CLINICS. Section 224 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 233) is amended by adding at the end the following subsection: "(o)(l) For purposes of this section, a free clinic health professional shall in providing a qualifying health service to an individual be deemed to be an employee of the Public Health Service for a calendar year that begins during a fiscal year for which a transfer was made under paragraph (6)(D). The preceding sentence is subject to the provisions of this subsection. "(2) In providing a health service to an individual, a health care practitioner shall for purposes of this subsection be considered to be a free clinic health professional if the following conditions are met: "(A) The service is provided to the individual at a free clinic, or through offsite programs or events carried out by the free clinic. "(B) The free clinic is sponsoring the health care practitioner pursuant to paragraph (5)(C). "(C) The service is a qualifying health service (as defined in paragraph (4)). "(D) Neither the health care practitioner nor the free clinic receives any compensation for the service from the individual

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