Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2286

 PUBLIC LAW 108–173—DEC. 8, 2003

117 STAT. 2267

(2) DEVELOPMENT

OF ALTERNATIVE TIMING METHODS OF PERIODIC INTERIM PAYMENTS.—With respect to periodic interim

payments to critical access hospitals for inpatient critical access hospital services under section 1815(e)(2)(E) of the Social Security Act, as added by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall develop alternative methods for the timing of such payments. (3) AUTHORIZATION OF PIP.—The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to payments made on or after July 1, 2004. (d) CONDITION FOR APPLICATION OF SPECIAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PAYMENT ADJUSTMENT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1834(g)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1395m(g)(2)) is amended by adding after and below subparagraph (B) the following: ‘‘The Secretary may not require, as a condition for applying subparagraph (B) with respect to a critical access hospital, that each physician or other practitioner providing professional services in the hospital must assign billing rights with respect to such services, except that such subparagraph shall not apply to those physicians and practitioners who have not assigned such billing rights.’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2004. (B) RULE OF APPLICATION.—In the case of a critical access hospital that made an election under section 1834(g)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(g)(2)) before November 1, 2003, the amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2001. (e) REVISION OF BED LIMITATION FOR HOSPITALS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1820(c)(2)(B)(iii) (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(c)(2)(B)(iii)) is amended by striking ‘‘15 (or, in the case of a facility under an agreement described in subsection (f), 25)’’ and inserting ‘‘25’’. (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1820(f) (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘and the number of beds used at any time for acute care inpatient services does not exceed 15 beds’’. (3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this subsection shall apply to designations made before, on, or after January 1, 2004, but any election made pursuant to regulations promulgated to carry out such amendments shall only apply prospectively. (f) PROVISIONS RELATING TO FLEX GRANTS.— (1) ADDITIONAL 4-YEAR PERIOD OF FUNDING.—Section 1820(j) (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(j)) is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: ‘‘, and for making grants to all States under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (g), $35,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2005 through 2008’’. (2) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION.—Section 1820(g) (42 U.S.C. 1395i–4(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: ‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO FLEX GRANTS.—With respect to grants awarded under paragraph (1)

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42 USC 1395g note.

Effective date. 42 USC 1395g note.

42 USC 1395m note.

Applicability. 42 USC 1395i–4 note.

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