INTERPRETATION OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS.

SEC. 4109. INTERPRETATION OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS. (a) In General.—Section 1848(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(3) Treatment of interpretation of electrocardiograms.—If payment is made under this part for a visit to a physician or consultation with a physician and, as part of or in conjunction with the visit or consultation there is an electrocardiogram performed or ordered to be performed, no payment may be made under this part with respect to the interpretation of the electrocardiogram and no physician may bill an individual enrolled under this part separately for such an interpretation. If a physician knowingly and willfully bills one or more individuals in violation of the previous sentence, the Secretary may apply sanctions against the physician or entity in accordance with section 1842(j)(2).”. (b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 1992. In applying section 1848(d)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (in computing the initial budget-neutral conversion factor for 1991), the Secretary shall compute such factor assuming that section 1848(b)(3) of such Act (as added by the amendment made by subsection (a)) had applied to physicians’ services furnished during 1991.