Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2342

 PUBLIC LAW 108–173—DEC. 8, 2003

117 STAT. 2323

subsection (a) together with recommendations for such legislation or administrative action as the Commission determines to be appropriate. (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (1) SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTING SERVICES.—The term ‘‘surgical first assisting services’’ means services consisting of first assisting a physician with surgery and related preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care (as determined by the Secretary) furnished by a certified registered nurse first assistant (as defined in paragraph (2)) which the certified registered nurse first assistant is legally authorized to perform by the State in which the services are performed. (2) CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE FIRST ASSISTANT.—The term ‘‘certified registered nurse first assistant’’ means an individual who— (A) is a registered nurse and is licensed to practice nursing in the State in which the surgical first assisting services are performed; (B) has completed a minimum of 2,000 hours of first assisting a physician with surgery and related preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care; and (C) is certified as a registered nurse first assistant by an organization recognized by the Secretary. SEC. 644. MEDPAC STUDY OF PAYMENT FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGEONS.

(a) STUDY.—The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’) shall conduct a study on the practice expense relative values established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the medicare physician fee schedule under section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4) for physicians in the specialties of thoracic and cardiac surgery to determine whether such values adequately take into account the attendant costs that such physicians incur in providing clinical staff for patient care in hospitals. (b) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2005, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) together with recommendations for such legislation or administrative action as the Commission determines to be appropriate. SEC. 645. STUDIES RELATING TO VISION IMPAIRMENTS.

(a) COVERAGE OF OUTPATIENT VISION SERVICES FURNISHED BY VISION REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS UNDER PART B.— (1) STUDY.—The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility and advisability of providing for payment for vision rehabilitation services furnished by vision rehabilitation professionals. (2) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1) together with recommendations for such legislation or administrative action as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (3) VISION REHABILITATION PROFESSIONAL DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘vision rehabilitation professional’’ means an orientation and mobility specialist, a rehabilitation teacher, or a low vision therapist.

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