Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 4.djvu/944

 112 STAT. 2681-915 PUBLIC LAW 105-277—OCT. 21, 1998 'home health apphcable increase percentage' means, with respect to— "(I) fiscal year 2002 or 2003, the home health market basket percentage increase (as defined in clause (iii)) minus 1.1 percentage points; or "(II) any subsequent fiscal year, the home health market basket percentage increase.". (e) EXCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL PART B COSTS FROM DETERMINA- TION OF PART B MONTHLY PREMIUM. —Section 1839 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting "(except as provided in subsection (g))" after "year that"; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(g) In estimating the benefits and administrative costs which will be payable from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for a year for purposes of determining the monthly premium rate under subsection (a)(3), the Secretary shall exclude an estimate of any benefits and administrative costs attributable to the application of section 1861(v)(l)(L)(viii) or to the establishment under section 1861(v)(l)(L)(i)(V) of a per visit limit at 106 percent of the median (instead of 105 percent of the median), but only to the extent payment for home health services under this title is not being made under section 1895 (relating to prospective payment for home health services).". if) REPORTS ON SUMMARY OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY THE SECRETARY ON THE PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT SYSTEM.—By not later than January 1, 1999, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the following matters: (1) RESEARCH.—A description of any research paid for by the Secretary on the development of a prospective payment system for home health services furnished under the medicare, program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and a summary of the results of such research. (2) SCHEDULE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SYSTEM.— The Secretary's schedule for the implementation of the prospective payment system for home health services under section 1895 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ffi0. (g) MEDPAC REPORTS. — (1) REVIEW OF SECRETARY'S REPORT.— Not later than 60 days after the date the Secretary of Health and Human Services submits to Congress the report under subsection (f), the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (established under section 1805 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395b-6)) shall submit to Congress a report describing the Commission's analy- sis of the Secretary's report, and shall include the Commission's recommendations with respect to the matters contained in such report. (2) ANNUAL REPORT. —The Commission shall include in its annual report to Congress for June 1999 an analysis of whether changes in law made by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, as modified by the amendments made by this section, with respect to pa3mients for home health services furnished under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, impede access to such services by individuals entitled to benefits under such program. (h) GAG AUDIT OF RESEARCH EXPENDITURES.— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an audit of sums

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