INCREASED MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS.

SEC. 4512. INCREASED MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS. (a) Removal of Restriction on Settings.—Section 1861(s)(2)(K)(i) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(K)(i)), as amended by section 4511, is amended— (1) by striking “(I) in a hospital” and all that follows through “shortage area,”, and (2) by adding at the end the following: “but only if no facility or other provider charges or is paid any amounts with respect to the furnishing of such services,”. (b) Increased Payment.— (1) Fee schedule amount.—Section 1833(a)(1)(O) (42 U.S.C. 13951(a)(1)(O)), as amended by section 4511, is further amended— (A) by striking “section 1861(s)(2)(K)(ii)” and inserting “1861(s)(2)(K)”, and111 STAT. 444 (B) by striking “nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist services” and inserting “services furnished by physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or clinic nurse specialists”. (2) Conforming amendment.—Paragraph (12) of section 1842(b) (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)) is repealed. (c) Removal of Restriction on Employment Relationship.—Section 1842(b)(6) (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6)), as amended by section 4205, is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “For purposes of subparagraph (C) of the first sentence of this paragraph, an employment relationship may include any independent contractor arrangement, and employer status shall be determined in accordance with the law of the State in which the services described in such clause are performed.”. (d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to services furnished and supplies provided on and after January 1, 1998.