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.—Notwithstanding section 484.55(a)(2) of title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations or any other provision of law, a home health agency may determine the most appropriate skilled therapist to make the initial assessment visit for an individual who is referred (and may be eligible) for home health services under title XVIII of the Social Security Act but who does not require skilled nursing care as long as the skilled service (for which that therapist is qualified to provide the service) is included as part of the plan of care for home health services for such individual.

(b) Rule of construction.—Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to provide for initial eligibility for coverage of home health services under title XVIII of the Social Security Act on the basis of a need for occupational therapy.