DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WITH RESPECT TO CHRONIC VENTILATOR-DEPENDENT UNITS IN HOSPITALS.

SEC. 429. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WITH RESPECT TO CHRONIC VENTILATOR-DEPENDENT UNITS IN HOSPITALS. (a) In General.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for up to 5 demonstration projects, for up to 3 years each, to review the appropriateness of classifying chronic ventilator-dependent units in hospitals as rehabilitation units. Such projects shall be conducted in consultation with the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission. (b) Waiver Authority.—In conducting demonstration projects under this section for units, the Secretary may treat such a unit as a rehabilitation unit described in section 1886(d)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act for purposes of such section.