Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/388

 124 STAT. 362 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 (B) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2016, the Sec- retary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Con- gress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subparagraph (A), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Sec- retary determines appropriate. (b) VALUE-BASED PURCHASING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.— (1) VALUE-BASED PURCHASING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM FOR INPATIENT CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS.— (A) ESTABLISHMENT.— (i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subsection referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall establish a demonstration pro- gram under which the Secretary establishes a value- based purchasing program under the Medicare pro- gram under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for critical access hospitals (as defined in paragraph (1) of section 1861(mm) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(mm))) with respect to inpatient critical access hospital serv- ices (as defined in paragraph (2) of such section) in order to test innovative methods of measuring and rewarding quality and efficient health care furnished by such hospitals. (ii) DURATION.—The demonstration program under this paragraph shall be conducted for a 3-year period. (iii) SITES.—The Secretary shall conduct the dem- onstration program under this paragraph at an appro- priate number (as determined by the Secretary) of critical access hospitals. The Secretary shall ensure that such hospitals are representative of the spectrum of such hospitals that participate in the Medicare pro- gram. (B) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may waive such requirements of titles XI and XVIII of the Social Security Act as may be necessary to carry out the dem- onstration program under this paragraph. (C) BUDGET NEUTRALITY REQUIREMENT.—In conducting the demonstration program under this section, the Sec- retary shall ensure that the aggregate payments made by the Secretary do not exceed the amount which the Secretary would have paid if the demonstration program under this section was not implemented. (D) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the completion of the demonstration program under this para- graph, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the demonstration program together with— (i) recommendations on the establishment of a permanent value-based purchasing program under the Medicare program for critical access hospitals with respect to inpatient critical access hospital services; and (ii) recommendations for such other legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate. Deadline. 42 USC 1395ww note.