1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “COVID Health Care Provider Assurance Act of 2020”.
COVID Health Care Provider Assurance Act of 2020
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure adequate payment for certain physicians’ services furnished under part B of the Medicare program during the COVID–19 public health emergency.
2. Ensuring adequate payment for certain physicians’ services furnished under part B of the Medicare program during the COVID–19 public health emergency
Adjustment of relative value units for certain services—
In general— Section 1848(c)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following subparagraph:
“(P) Adjustment of relative value units for certain services furnished during the COVID–19 public health emergency
“(i) In general—In the case of a qualifying service (as defined in clause (ii)) furnished during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this subparagraph and ending on the last day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), the Secretary shall increase the single combined relative value unit applicable to such service otherwise determined under this paragraph by 20 percent.
“(ii) Qualifying service defined—For purposes of clause (i), the term “qualifying service” means critical care services, ventilation management services, emergency intubation services, services relating to the placement of invasive monitoring lines and transesophageal echocardiography, bronchoscopy services, chest tube insertion services, and feeding tube insertion services, as specified by the Secretary.”
Nonapplication of budget neutrality— Section 1848(c)(2)(B)(iv) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)(B)(iv)) is amended—
in subclause (III), by striking “and” at the end;
in subclause (IV), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subclause:
“(V) subparagraph (P) shall not be taken into account in applying clause (ii)(II).”
Adjustment of the separate conversion factor for anesthesia services—
In general— Section 1848(d)(1)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(d)(1)(D)) is amended—
by striking “The separate” and inserting the following:
“(i) In general—Subject to clause (ii), the separate”
by adding at the end the following new clause:
“(ii) Special rule during the COVID–19 public health emergency—The separate conversion factor for anesthesia services furnished during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this clause and ending on the last day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) shall be equal to such factor otherwise applicable under clause (i), increased by 20 percent.”
Nonapplication of budget neutrality— Section 1848(c)(2)(B)(iv) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(c)(2)(B)(iv)), as amended by subsection (a)(2), is further amended—
in subclause (IV), by striking “and” at the end;
in subclause (V), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subclause:
“(VI) subsection (d)(1)(D)(ii) shall not be taken into account in applying clause (ii)(II).”
Ensuring payment for certain critical care services—
in subparagraph (GG), by striking “and” after the semicolon at the end;
in subparagraph (HH), by striking the period at the end and adding “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(II) specified critical care services (as defined in subsection (kkk)) furnished during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this subparagraph and ending on the last day of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) to an inpatient of a hospital or a critical access hospital;”
Specified critical care services defined— Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(kkk) Specified critical care services
“(1) In general—The term “specified critical care services” means—
“(A) physicians’ services not separately payable under part B as of the day before the date of the enactment of this subsection which the Secretary determines are necessary for the treatment of individuals with COVID–19; and
“(B) physicians’ services furnished by a physician or practitioner (as defined in section 1842(b)(18)(C)), in conjunction with a physician or practitioner that is otherwise billing for such services under such part, to an individual for the treatment of COVID–19 that the Secretary determines need to be furnished by more than 1 physician or practitioner.
“(2) Limitation on multiple billings—The Secretary may establish such limits as the Secretary determines appropriate with respect to the number of physicians and practitioners who may bill for a service described in paragraph (1)(B).”
Payment; cost sharing—
by striking “and” before “(DD)”; and
by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: “, and (EE) with respect to specified critical care services (as defined in section 1861(kkk)), the amount paid shall be an amount equal to 100 percent of the lesser of the amount charged for the services and the payment amount for such services determined under the payment basis under section 1848”.
Nonapplication of deductible— Section 1833(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)) is amended—
by striking “and (12)” and inserting “(12)”; and
by striking “1861(s)(10)(A).” and inserting “1861(s)(10)(A), and (13) such deductible shall not apply with respect to specified critical care services (as defined in section 1861(kkk)).”.
Inclusion as physicians’ services— Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting “(2)(II),” before “(3)”.