PAYMENTS FOR HOSPICE CARE.

SEC. 6005. PAYMENTS FOR HOSPICE CARE. (a) Increase in Current Rates.—Section 1814(i)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(i)(1)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting “and except as otherwise provided in this paragraph” after “1813(a)(4)”, and (2) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following: “(C)(i) With respect to routine home care and other services included in hospice care furnished during fiscal year 1990, the payment rates for such care and services shall be 120 percent of such rates in effect as of September 30, 1989. 103 STAT. 2161 “(ii) With respect to routine home care and other services included in hospice care furnished during a subsequent fiscal year, the payment rates for such care and services shall be the payment rates in effect under this subparagraph during the previous fiscal year increased by the market basket percentage increase (as defined in section 1886(b)(3)(B)(iii)) otherwise applicable to discharges occurring in the fiscal year.”. (b) Requirement of Certification of Terminal Illness for Hospice Care Modified.—Section 1814(a)(7)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(A)(i)) is amended by striking “certify,” and all that follows through “initiated,” and inserting the following: “certify in writing, not later than 2 days after hospice care is initiated (or, if each certify verbally not later than 2 days after hospice care is initiated, not later than 8 days after such care is initiated),”. (c) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall become effective with respect to care and services furnished on or after January 1, 1990.