Congress 108 - HR 2175 - Rural Healthcare Access Improvement Act of 2003

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Summary

Rural Healthcare Access Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to revise requirements with regard to rural health care, including: (1) urban and rural standardized payment amounts under the Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment system (PPS); (2) the disproportionate share hospital (DSH) adjustment for rural hospitals; (3) the payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals; (4) the adjustment to the Medicare inpatient hospital PPS wage index to revise its labor-related share; (5) treatment of certain sole community hospitals to limit the decline in payment under the PPS for hospital outpatient department (ODP) services; and (6) the critical access hospital program.

Provides for a temporary increase for: (1) home health services furnished in a rural area; (2) certain services furnished by small rural hospitals under the Medicare prospective payment system for OPD services; and (3) ground ambulance services furnished in a rural area.

Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for: (1) exclusion of certain rural health clinic and Federally qualified health center services from the Medicare PPS for skilled nursing facilities; and (2) Medicare incentive program changes.

Provides for two-year treatment of certain clinical diagnostic laboratory tests furnished by a sole community hospital.

Amends SSA title XVIII to provide for establishment of a floor on geographic adjustments of payments for physicians' services.

Actions

Jun 2, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 27, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 21, 2003

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1011)
May 20, 2003

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 20, 2003

Introduced in House

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