Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2285

 117 STAT. 2266 42 USC 1395ww note.

PUBLIC LAW 108–173—DEC. 8, 2003

SEC. 404. MORE FREQUENT UPDATE IN WEIGHTS USED IN HOSPITAL MARKET BASKET.

(a) MORE FREQUENT UPDATES IN WEIGHTS.—After revising the weights used in the hospital market basket under section 1886(b)(3)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(b)(3)(B)(iii)) to reflect the most current data available, the Secretary shall establish a frequency for revising such weights, including the labor share, in such market basket to reflect the most current data available more frequently than once every 5 years. (b) INCORPORATION OF EXPLANATION IN RULEMAKING.—The Secretary shall include in the publication of the final rule for payment for inpatient hospital services under section 1886(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)) for fiscal year 2006, an explanation of the reasons for, and options considered, in determining frequency established under subsection (a). SEC. 405. IMPROVEMENTS TO CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL PROGRAM.

42 USC 1395f note.

42 USC 1395m note.

VerDate 11-MAY-2000

13:59 Aug 30, 2004

(a) INCREASE IN PAYMENT AMOUNTS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Sections 1814(l), 1834(g)(1), and 1883(a)(3) (42 U.S.C. 1395f(l), 1395m(g)(1), and 1395tt(a)(3)) are each amended by inserting ‘‘equal to 101 percent of’’ before ‘‘the reasonable costs’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to payments for services furnished during cost reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2004. (b) COVERAGE OF COSTS FOR CERTAIN EMERGENCY ROOM ONCALL PROVIDERS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1834(g)(5) (42 U.S.C. 1395m(g)(5)) is amended— (A) in the heading— (i) by inserting ‘‘CERTAIN’’ before ‘‘EMERGENCY’’; and (ii) by striking ‘‘PHYSICIANS’’ and inserting ‘‘PROVIDERS’’; (B) by striking ‘‘emergency room physicians who are on-call (as defined by the Secretary)’’ and inserting ‘‘physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists who are on-call (as defined by the Secretary) to provide emergency services’’; and (C) by striking ‘‘physicians’ services’’ and inserting ‘‘services covered under this title’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to costs incurred for services furnished on or after January 1, 2005. (c) AUTHORIZATION OF PERIODIC INTERIM PAYMENT (PIP).— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1815(e)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1395g(e)(2)) is amended— (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘, in the cases described in subparagraphs (A) through (D)’’ after ‘‘1986’’; (B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (C); (C) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (D); and (D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph: ‘‘(E) inpatient critical access hospital services;’’.

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