Bill Summary
This bill, entitled the "Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2020", seeks to amend the Social Security Act in order to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make adjustments to payment rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Medicare program. These adjustments would be made in order to take into account the unique circumstances of skilled nursing facilities located in Alaska or Hawaii. This bill aims to ensure that these facilities are fairly compensated for the services they provide, despite their unique geographical location.
Possible Impacts
1. Increases payment rates for skilled nursing facilities in Alaska and Hawaii to account for the unique circumstances of providing care in those states. This could potentially lead to better quality of care and resources for patients in those areas. 2. The Secretary of Health and Human Services may determine that certain skilled nursing facilities in Alaska or Hawaii are not eligible for adjustments, depending on their unique circumstances. This could result in limited resources and potentially lower quality of care for patients in those areas. 3. The Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2020 may lead to increased oversight and regulations for skilled nursing facilities in Alaska and Hawaii, as the Secretary of Health and Human Services will have the authority to make adjustments to their payment rates. This could impact the operations and costs for these facilities, potentially affecting the overall quality of care for patients.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4137 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4137
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to make adjustments to payment
rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Medicare program to
account for certain unique circumstances.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 1, 2020
Mr. Schatz (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. Sullivan)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to make adjustments to payment
rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Medicare program to
account for certain unique circumstances.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Equitable Payments for Nursing
Facilities Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS TO PAYMENT RATES FOR SKILLED NURSING
FACILITIES UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM TO ACCOUNT FOR
CERTAIN UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Section 1888(e)(4)(G) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395yy(e)(4)(G)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
clause:
``(iv) Adjustment for unique
circumstances.--The Secretary may provide for
such adjustments as determined appropriate by
the Secretary to take into account the unique
circumstances of skilled nursing facilities
located in Alaska or Hawaii.''.
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