Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/456

 124 STAT. 430 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 should be used to measure patient severity of illness and access to care, such as— (A) population density and relative patient access to care; (B) variations in service costs for providing care to individuals who are dually eligible under the Medicare and Medicaid programs; (C) the presence of severe or chronic diseases, as evi- denced by multiple, discontinuous home health episodes; (D) poverty status, as evidenced by the receipt of Supplemental Security Income under title XVI of the Social Security Act; (E) the absence of caregivers; (F) language barriers; (G) atypical transportation costs; (H) security costs; and (I) other factors determined appropriate by the Sec- retary. (3) REPORT.—Not later than March 1, 2011, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legisla- tion and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate. (4) CONSULTATIONS.—In conducting the study under para- graph (1) and preparing the report under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall consult with— (A) stakeholders representing home health agencies; (B) groups representing Medicare beneficiaries; (C) the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; (D) the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; and (E) the Comptroller General of the United States. SEC. 3132. HOSPICE REFORM. (a) HOSPICE CARE PAYMENT REFORMS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1814(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(i)), as amended by section 3004(c), is amended— (A) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph: ‘‘(6)(A) The Secretary shall collect additional data and information as the Secretary determines appropriate to revise payments for hospice care under this subsection pursuant to subparagraph (D) and for other purposes as determined appro- priate by the Secretary. The Secretary shall begin to collect such data by not later than January 1, 2011. ‘‘(B) The additional data and information to be collected under subparagraph (A) may include data and information on— ‘‘(i) charges and payments; ‘‘(ii) the number of days of hospice care which are attributable to individuals who are entitled to, or enrolled for, benefits under part A; and ‘‘(iii) with respect to each type of service included in hospice care— Deadline. Data and information collection.