HR 8800 — Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022

(a) Payment based on fee schedule (1) In general Effective for all physicians’ services (as defined in subsection (j)(3)) furnished under this part during a year (beginning with 1992) for which payment is otherwise made on the basis of a reasonable charge or on the basis of a fee schedule under section 1395m(b) of this title, payment under this part shall instead be based on the lesser of— (A) the actual charge for the service, or (B) subject to the succeeding provisions of this subsection, the amount determined under the fee schedule established under subsection (b) for services furnished during that year (in this subsection referred to as the “fee schedule amount”). (2) Transition to full fee schedule (A) Limiting reductions and increases to 15 percent in 1992 (i) Limit on increase In the case of a service in a fee schedule area (as defined in subsection (j)(2)) for which the adjusted historical payment basis (as defined in subparagraph (D)) is less than 85 percent of the fee schedule amount for services furnished in 1992, there shall be substituted for the fee schedule amount an amount equal to the adjusted historical payment basis plus 15 percent of the fee schedule amount otherwise established (without regard to this paragraph). (ii) Limit in reduction In the case of a service in a fee schedule area for which the adjusted historical payment basis exceeds 115 percent of the fee schedule amount for services furnished in 1992, there shall be substituted for the fee schedule amount an amount equal to the adjusted historical payment basis minus 15 percent of the fee schedule amount otherwise established (without regard to this paragraph). (B) Special rule for 1993, 1994, and 1995 If a physicians’ service in a fee schedule area is subject to the provisions of subparagraph (A) in 1992, for physicians’ services furnished in the area— (i) during 1993, there shall be substituted for the fee schedule amount an amount equal to the sum of— (I) 75 percent of the fee schedule amount determined under subparagraph (A), adjusted by the update established under subsection (d)(3) for 1993, and (II) 25 percent of the fee schedule amount determined under paragraph (1) for 1993 without regard to this paragraph; (ii) during 1994, there shall be substituted for the fee schedule amount an amount equal to the sum of— (I) 67 percent of the fee schedule amount determined under clause (i), adjusted by the update established under subsection (d)(3) for 1994 and as adjusted under subsection (c)(2)(F)(ii) and under section 13515(b) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, and (II) 33 percent of the fee schedule amount determined under paragraph (1) for 1994 without regard to this paragraph; and (iii) during 1995, there shall be substituted for the fee schedule amount an amount equal to the sum of— (I) 50 percent of the fee schedule amount determined under clause (ii) adjusted by the update established under subsection (d)(3) for 1995, and (II) 50 percent of the fee schedule amount determined under paragraph (1) for 1995 without regard to this paragraph. (C) Special rule for anesthesia and radiology services With respect to physicians’ services which are anesthesia services, the Secretary shall provide for a transition in the same manner as a transition is provided for other services under subparagraph (B). With respect to radiology services, “109 percent” and “9 percent” shall be substituted for “115 percent” and “15 percent”, respectively, in subparagraph (A)(ii). (D) “Adjusted historical payment basis” defined (i) In general In this paragraph, the term “adjusted historical payment basis” means, with respect to a physicians’ service furnished in a fee schedule area, the weighted average prevailing charge applied in the area for the service in 1991 (as determined by the Secretary without regard to physician specialty and as adjusted to reflect payments for services with customary charges below the prevailing charge or other payment limitation...