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SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014

Introduced: February 6, 2014 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 20 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 24, 2014
Received in the Senate.
Mar 20, 2014
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Mar 14, 2014
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 14, 2014
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 238 - 181 (Roll no. 135). (text: CR H2439-2457)
Mar 14, 2014
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 238 - 181 (Roll no. 135).(text: CR H2439-2457)
Mar 14, 2014
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 191 - 226 (Roll no. 134).
Mar 14, 2014
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H2469)
Mar 14, 2014
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Loebsack motion to recommit with instructions, pending the reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a section to the bill titled Prohibition on Medicare cuts or Vouchers. Subsequently, the reservation was withdrawn.
Mar 14, 2014
Mr. Loebsack moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means. (consideration: CR H2468-1470; text: CR H2468)
Mar 14, 2014
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H2468)
Mar 14, 2014
DEBATE - The House continued with debate on H.R. 4015.
Mar 14, 2014
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4015.
Mar 14, 2014
The resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3189. The rule makes in order as original text for the purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill and provides that it shall be considered as read. The rule provides for a closed rule for H.R. 4015 with one hour of debate on the bill.
Mar 14, 2014
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 515. (consideration: CR H2439-2470)
Mar 13, 2014
Rule H. Res. 515 passed House.
Mar 12, 2014
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 515 Reported to House. The resolution provides for one hour of debate on H.R. 3189. The rule makes in order as original text for the purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill and provides that it shall be considered as read. The rule provides for a closed rule for H.R. 4015 with one hour of debate on the bill.
Feb 25, 2014
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1885-1886)
Feb 7, 2014
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 6, 2014
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
Feb 6, 2014
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Mar 14, 2014 House · vote #135 On Passage Passed 238181 See who voted →
Mar 14, 2014 House · vote #134 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 191226 See who voted →
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) end and remove sustainable growth rate (SGR) methodology from the determination of annual conversion factors in the formula for payment for physicians' services, (2) establish an update to the single conversion factor for 2014 through 2018 of 0.5%, (3) freeze the update to the single conversion factor at 0.00% for 2019 through 2023, and (4) establish an update of 1% for health professionals participating in alternative payment models (APMs) and an update of 0.5% for all other health professionals after 2023.

Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to report to Congress on the relationship between: (1) physician and other health professional utilization and expenditures (and their rate of increase) of items and services for which Medicare payment is made; and (2) total utilization and expenditures (and their rate of increase) under Medicare parts A (Hospital Insurance), B (Supplementary Medical Insurance), and D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program).

Directs MEDPAC to report to Congress on: (1) the payment update for professional services applied under Medicare for 2014 through 2018; (2) the effect of such update on the efficiency, economy, and quality of care provided under such program; (3) the effect of such update on ensuring a sufficient number of providers to maintain access to care by Medicare beneficiaries; and (4) recommendations for any future payment updates for professional services under such program to ensure adequate access to care is maintained for Medicare beneficiaries

Revises and consolidates components of the three specified existing performance incentive programs into a merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is directed to establish, under which MIPS-eligible professionals (excluding most Alternative Payment Model [APM] participants) receive annual payment increases or decreases based on their performance. Applies the MIPS program to payments for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2018.

Requires specified incentive payments to be made to eligible partial qualifying APM participants.

Directs the Secretary to make available on the Physician Compare website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) certain information, including information regarding the performance of MIPS-eligible professionals.

Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to evaluate the MIPS program.

Requires GAO to submit to Congress a report that: (1) compares the similarities and differences in the use of quality measures under the original Medicare fee-for-service programs, the Medicare Advantage (MA) program under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice), selected state Medicaid programs, and private payer arrangements; and (2) make recommendations on how to reduce the administrative burden involved in applying such quality measures.

Directs GAO to report to Congress on: (1) whether entities that pool financial risk for physician services can play a role in supporting physician practices in assuming financial risk for treatment of patients; and (2) the transition to an APM of professionals in rural areas, health professional shortage areas, or medically underserved areas.

Establishes the Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Secretary on physician-focused payment models.

Requires the Secretary to study: (1) the application of federal fraud prevention laws related to APMs; (2) the effect of individuals' socioeconomic status on quality and resource use outcome measures for individuals under Medicare; and (3) the impact of risk factors, race, health literacy, limited English proficiency (LEP), and patient activation, on quality and resource use outcome measures under Medicare.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) post on the CMS Internet website a draft plan for the development of quality measures to assess professionals, (2) establish new Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for chronic care management services, and (3) conduct an education and outreach campaign to inform professionals who furnish items and services under Medicare part B and Medicare part B enrollees of the benefits of chronic care management services.

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) collect and use information on the resources directly or indirectly related to physicians' services in the determination of relative values under the Medicare physician fee schedule; and (2) establish or adjust practice expense relative values using cost, charge, or other data from suppliers or service providers.

Revises and expands factors for identification of potentially misvalued codes. Sets an annual target for relative value adjustments for misvalued services. Phases-in of significant relative value unit (RVU) reductions.

Directs GAO to study the processes used by the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) to make recommendations to the Secretary regarding relative values for specific services under the Medicare physician fee schedule.

Makes Metropolitan Statistical Areas in California fee schedule areas for Medicare payments.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a program to promote the use of appropriate use criteria for certain imaging services furnished by ordering professionals and furnishing professionals, and (2) make publicly available on the CMS Physician Compare website specified information with respect to eligible professionals.

Expands the kinds and uses of data available to qualified entities for quality improvement activities.

Directs the Secretary to provide Medicare data to qualified clinical data registries to facilitate quality improvement or patient safety.

Permits continuing automatic extensions of a Medicare physician and practitioner election to opt-out of the Medicare physician payment system into private contracts.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) make publicly available through an appropriate publicly accessible website information on the number and characteristics of opt-out physicians and practitioners; and (2) report to Congress recommendations to amend existing fraud and abuse laws, through exceptions, safe harbors, or other narrowly targeted provisions, to permit gainsharing or similar arrangements between physicians and hospitals that improve care while reducing waste and increasing efficiency.

Declares it a national objective to achieve widespread exchange of health information through interoperable certified electronic health record (EHR) technology nationwide by December 31, 2017, as a consequence of a significant federal investment in the implementation of health information technology through the Medicare and Medicaid EHR programs.

Directs the Secretary to study the feasibility of establishing mechanisms that includes aggregated results of surveys of meaningful EHR users on the functionality of certified EHR products to enable such users to compare directly the functionality and other features of such products.

Requires GAO studies on the use of telehealth under federal programs and on remote patient monitoring services.

What's happening now March 24, 2014

Received in the Senate.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5