STUDY ON DEFINITION OF HOMEBOUND.

SEC. 4613. STUDY ON DEFINITION OF HOMEBOUND. (a) Study.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a study of the criteria that should be applied, and the method of applying such criteria, in the determination of whether an individual is homebound for purposes of qualifying for receipt of benefits for home health services under the medicare program. Such criteria shall include the extent and circumstances under which a person may be absent from the home but nonetheless qualify. (b) Report.—Not later than October 1, 1998, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted under subsection (a). The report shall include specific recommendations on such criteria and methods.