Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Andrews) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

(a) In general.—The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall conduct a study regarding variation in performance of home health agencies in an effort to explain variation in Medicare margins for such agencies. Such study shall include an examination of at least the following issues:

(1) The demographic characteristics of individuals served and the geographic distribution associated with transportation costs.

(2) The characteristics of such agencies, such as whether such agencies operate 24 hours each day, provide charity care, or are part of an integrated health system.

(3) The socio-economic status of individuals served, such as the proportion of such individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

(4) The presence of severe and or chronic disease or disability in individuals served, as evidenced by multiple discontinuous home health episodes with a high number of visits per episode.

(5) The differences in services provided, such as therapy and non-therapy services.

(b) Report.—Not later than June 1, 2011, the Commission shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) and shall include in the report the Commission’s conclusions and recommendations, if appropriate, regarding each of the issues described in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) of such subsection.