Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/389

 124 STAT. 363 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 (2) VALUE-BASED PURCHASING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM FOR HOSPITALS EXCLUDED FROM HOSPITAL VALUE-BASED PUR- CHASING PROGRAM AS A RESULT OF INSUFFICIENT NUMBERS OF MEASURES AND CASES.— (A) ESTABLISHMENT.— (i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall estab- lish a demonstration program under which the Sec- retary establishes a value-based purchasing program under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for applicable hospitals (as defined in clause (ii)) with respect to inpatient hospital services (as defined in section 1861(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(b))) in order to test innovative methods of measuring and rewarding quality and effi- cient health care furnished by such hospitals. (ii) APPLICABLE HOSPITAL DEFINED.—For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘‘applicable hospital’’ means a hospital described in subclause (III) or (IV) of section 1886(o)(1)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a)(1). (iii) DURATION.—The demonstration program under this paragraph shall be conducted for a 3-year period. (iv) SITES.—The Secretary shall conduct the dem- onstration program under this paragraph at an appro- priate number (as determined by the Secretary) of applicable 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 applicable hospitals with respect to inpatient hospital services; and (ii) recommendations for such other legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate. SEC. 3002. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PHYSICIAN QUALITY REPORTING SYSTEM. (a) EXTENSION.—Section 1848(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(m)) is amended— Deadline.