Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 2.djvu/874

 113 STAT. 1501A-356 PUBLIC LAW 106-113—APPENDIX F coverage of additional benefits for immunosuppressive drugs under the amendments made by this section for drugs furnished in 2000 in the same manner as if such amendments constituted a national coverage determination described in the matter in such section before subparagraph (A). (d) REPORT ON IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUG BENEFIT. — (1) IN GENERAL.— Not later than March 1, 2003, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the operation of this section and the amendments made by this section. The report shall include— (A) an analysis of the impact of this section; and (B) recommendations regarding an appropriate costeffective method for providing coverage of immunosuppressive drugs under the medicare program on a permanent basis. (2) CONSIDERATIONS.— In making recommendations under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall identify potential modifications to the immunosuppressive drug benefit that would best promote the objectives of— (A) improving health outcomes (by decreasing transplant rejection rates that are attributable to failure to comply with immunosuppressive drug regimens); (B) achieving cost savings to the medicare program (by decreasing the need for secondary transplants and other care relating to post-transplant complications); and (C) meeting the needs of those medicare beneficiaries who, because of income or other factors, would be less likely to maintain an immunosuppressive drug regimen in the absence of such modifications. SEC. 228. TEMPORARY INCREASE IN PAYMENT RATES FOR DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND OXYGEN. (a) IN GENERAL.— For purposes of payments under section 1834(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)) for covered items (as defined in paragraph (13) of that section) furnished during 2001 and 2002, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall increase the payment amount in effect (but for this section) for such items for— (1) 2001 by 0.3 percent, and (2) 2002 by 0.6 percent. (b) LIMITING APPLICATION TO SPECIFIED YEARS. —The payment amount increase— (1) under subsection (a)(1) shall not apply after 2001 and shall not be taken into account in calculating the payment amounts applicable for covered items furnished after such year; and (2) under subsection (a)(2) shall not apply after 2002 and shall not be taken into account in calculating the payment amounts applicable for covered items furnished after such year. SEC. 229. STUDIES AND REPORTS. (a) MEDPAC STUDY ON POSTSURGICAL RECOVERY CARE CENTER SERVICES. — (1) IN GENERAL. —The Medicare Pa5anent Advisory Commission shall conduct a study on the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of covering under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act services of a post-surgical recovery care center (that provides an intermediate level of recovery

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