Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Patients and Physicians Against Coding Act of 2015”.
Protecting Patients and Physicians Against Coding Act of 2015
A BILL
To provide a 2-year grace period for physicians and other health care providers in transitioning from the use of ICD–9 to ICD–10.
Sec. 2 2-year grace period in transitioning from the use of ICD–9 to ICD–10
In general— In carrying out regulations providing for the replacement of ICD–9 with ICD–10 as a standard for code sets under section 1173(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2(c)) and section 162.1002 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for a 2-year grace period during which physicians and other health care providers submitting claims and other documents using ICD–10 are not penalized for errors, mistakes, and malfunctions relating to the transition to such code set.
Assistance— During the 2-year grace period described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take affirmative steps to assist physicians and other health care providers who are subject to the requirement to use ICD–10 as a standard for code sets in identifying appropriate ICD–10 subcodes.
GAO study and report—
Study— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on—
the extent to which the transition to ICD–10 code sets has affected—
physicians and other health care providers in general; and
physicians and other health care providers in rural areas; and
the effectiveness of programs conducted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services that are designed to support physicians and other health care providers referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A).
Report— Not later than April 1, 2016, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines to be appropriate.