Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 5.djvu/513

 PUBLIC LAW 106-554—APPENDIX F 114 STAT. 2763A-473 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to services furnished on or after April 1, 2001. (b) CONSTRUCTION REGARDING LIMITING INCREASES IN COST- SHARING. — Nothing in this Act or the Social Security Act shall be construed as preventing a hospital from waiving the amount of any coinsurance for outpatient hospital services under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act that may have been increased as a result of the implementation of the prospective payment system under section 1833(t) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 13951(t)). (c) GAO STUDY OF REDUCTION IN MEDIGAP PREMIUM LEVELS RESULTING FROM REDUCTIONS IN COINSURANCE.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall work, in concert with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, to evaluate the extent to which the premium levels for medicare supplemental policies reflect the reductions in coinsurance resulting from the amendment made by subsection (a). Not later than April 1, 2004, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on such evaluation and the extent to which the reductions in beneficiary coinsurance effected by such amendment have resulted in actual savings to medicare beneficiaries. SEC. 112. PRESERVATION OF COVERAGE OF DRUGS AND BIOLOGICALS UNDER PART B OF THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. (a) IN GENERAL. —Section 1861(s)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended, in each of subparagraphs (A) and (B), by striking "(including drugs and biologicals which cannot, as determined in accordance with regulations, be self-administered)" and inserting "(including drugs and biologicals which are not usually self-administered by the patient)". (b) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to drugs and biologicals administered on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 113. ELIMINATION OF TIME LIMITATION ON MEDICARE BENEFITS FOR IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE DRUGS. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861(s)(2)(J) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(J)) is amended by striking ", but only" and all that follows up to the semicolon at the end. (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— (1) EXTENDED COVERAGE.—Section 1832 (42 U.S.C. 1395k) is amended— (A) by striking subsection (b); and (B) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b). (2) PASS-THROUGH; REPORT.—Section 227 of BBRA is amended by striking subsection (d). (c) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to drugs furnished on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 114. IMPOSITION OF BILLING LIMITS ON DRUGS. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1842(o) (42 U.S.C. 1395u(o)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(3)(A) Payment for a charge for any drug or biological for which payment may be made under this part may be made only on an assignment-related basis. 79-194O-00 -17:QL3Part5

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