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S 654 108th Congress Senate Health Access to health care Administrative procedure Ambulatory care Bribery Coinsurance Communication in medicine Crime and Law Enforcement Department of Health and Human Services Economics and Public Finance Federal aid to health facilities Finance and Financial Sector Government Operations and Politics Health maintenance organizations Hospital rates Law Managed care Medical fees Medicare Nursing homes

Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003

Introduced: March 18, 2003 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 18, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mar 18, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3901-3902)
Mar 18, 2003
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) provide for coverage of Medicare-covered ambulatory services by Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs); and (2) ensure FQHC reimbursement under hospital and skilled nursing facility prospective payment systems.

Amends SSA title XI with respect to criminal penalties for acts involving Federal health care programs, particularly illegal remunerations (kickbacks). Exempts from the prohibition against such remunerations any remuneration: (1) between a certain kind of public or nonprofit private health center entity and any individual or entity providing goods, items, services, donations, loans, or a combination, to such health center entity pursuant to an agreement, if such agreement contributes to the ability of the health center entity to maintain or increase the availability, or enhance the quality, of services provided to a medically underserved population served by the health center entity; and (2) between a FQHC (or an entity controlled by such a health center) and a Medicare+Choice organization pursuant to a specified written agreement.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards relating to the exception for health center entity arrangements to specified anti-kickback penalties.

Amends SSA title XVIII to revise the payment for certain FQHC services furnished to an individual enrolled with a Medicare+Choice organization under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice), allowing for supplemental reimbursement, among other changes.

Amends Medicare+Choice to add additional Medicare+Choice contract requirements.

What's happening now March 18, 2003

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 654: Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-654/
MLA
"S. 654: Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-654/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 654, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-654/.
Markdown link
[S. 654: Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-654/)
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