Supporting Territorial Safety Net Hospitals Act
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a designation for territorial safety net hospitals, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Designation for territorial safety net hospitals
“(nnn) Territorial safety net hospital
“(1) The term “territorial safety net hospital” means a hospital (as defined in subsection (e)) that is located in the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the Virgin Islands.
“(2) The term “inpatient territorial safety net hospital services” means items and services, furnished to an inpatient of a territorial safety net hospital by such facility, that would be inpatient hospital services if furnished to an inpatient of a hospital by a hospital.
“(3) The term “outpatient territorial safety net hospital services” means medical and other health services furnished by a territorial safety net hospital on an outpatient basis.”
“(m) Payment for inpatient territorial safety net hospital services—The amount of payment under this part for inpatient territorial safety net hospital services is equal to 101 percent of the reasonable costs of the territorial safety net hospital in providing such services.”
“(F) inpatient territorial safety net hospital services;”
“(aa) Payment for outpatient territorial safety net hospital services
“(1) In general—The amount of payment for outpatient territorial safety net hospital services of a territorial safety net hospital is equal to 101 percent of the reasonable costs of the hospital in providing such services, unless the hospital makes the election under paragraph (2).
“(2) Election of cost-based hospital outpatient service payment plus fee schedule for professional services—A territorial safety net hospital may elect to be paid for outpatient territorial safety net hospital services amounts equal to the sum of the following, less the amount that such hospital may charge as described in section 1866(a)(2)(A):
“(A) Facility fee—With respect to facility services, not including any services for which payment may be made under subparagraph (B), 101 percent of the reasonable costs of the territorial safety net hospital in providing such services.
“(B) Fee schedule for professional services—With respect to professional services otherwise included within outpatient territorial safety net hospital services, 115 percent of such amounts as would otherwise be paid under this part if such services were not included in outpatient territorial safety net hospital services. Subsections (x) and (y) of section 1833 shall not be taken into account in determining the amounts that would otherwise be paid pursuant to the preceding sentence.
“(3) Disregarding charges—The payment amounts under this subsection shall be determined without regard to the amount of the customary or other charge.
“(4) Treatment of clinical diagnostic laboratory services—No coinsurance, deductible, copayment, or other cost-sharing otherwise applicable under this part shall apply with respect to clinical diagnostic laboratory services furnished as an outpatient territorial safety net hospital service. Nothing in this title shall be construed as providing for payment for clinical diagnostic laboratory services furnished as part of outpatient territorial safety net hospital services, other than on the basis described in this subsection. For purposes of the preceding sentence and section 1861(nnn)(3), clinical diagnostic laboratory services furnished by a territorial safety net hospital shall be treated as being furnished as part of outpatient critical access services without regard to whether the individual with respect to whom such services are furnished is physically present in the territorial safety net hospital, or in a skilled nursing facility or a clinic (including a rural health clinic) that is operated by a territorial safety net hospital, at the time the specimen is collected.
“(5) Coverage of costs for certain on-call emergency room providers—In determining the reasonable costs of outpatient territorial safety net hospital services under paragraphs (1) and (2)(A), the Secretary shall recognize as allowable costs, amounts (as defined by the Secretary) for reasonable compensation and related costs for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists who are on-call (as defined by the Secretary) to provide emergency services but who are not present on the premises of the territorial safety net hospital involved, and are not otherwise furnishing services covered under this title and are not on-call at any other provider or facility.”
“(K) outpatient territorial safety net hospital services (as defined in section 1861(nnn)(3)).”
“(11) in the case of outpatient territorial safety net hospital services, the amounts described in section 1834(aa).”
“(F) Section 1834(aa), with respect to an outpatient territorial safety net hospital service.”
“(f) For purposes of this section, the term “State” means the 50 States and includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.”
Sec. 3 Inclusion of territorial safety net hospitals as 340B covered entities
“(P) An entity that is a territorial safety net hospital (as defined in section 1861(nnn) of the Social Security Act), and that meets the requirements of subparagraph (L)(i).”
Sec. 4 Eliminating medicare sequestration for territorial safety net hospitals
“(D) Territorial safety net hospitals—Payments under part A or part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to items and services furnished by a territorial safety net hospital (as defined in section 1861(nnn)(1) of such Act).”