MEDPAC REPORT ON PAYMENT FOR PHYSICIANS’ SERVICES.

SEC. 606. MEDPAC REPORT ON PAYMENT FOR PHYSICIANS’ SERVICES.(a) Practice Expense Component.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the effect of refinements to the practice expense component of payments for physicians’ services, after the transition to a full resource-based payment system in 2002, under section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4). Such report shall examine the following matters by physician specialty:(1) The effect of such refinements on payment for physicians’ services.(2) The interaction of the practice expense component with other components of and adjustments to payment for physicians’ services under such section.117 STAT. 2303(3) The appropriateness of the amount of compensation by reason of such refinements.(4) The effect of such refinements on access to care by medicare beneficiaries to physicians’ services.(5) The effect of such refinements on physician participation under the medicare program.(b) Volume of Physicians’ Services.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the extent to which increases in the volume of physicians’ services under part B of the medicare program are a result of care that improves the health and well-being of medicare beneficiaries. The study shall include the following:(1) An analysis of recent and historic growth in the components that the Secretary includes under the sustainable growth rate (under section 1848(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(f))).(2) An examination of the relative growth of volume in physicians’ services between medicare beneficiaries and other populations.(3) An analysis of the degree to which new technology, including coverage determinations of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has affected the volume of physicians’ services.(4) An examination of the impact on volume of demographic changes.(5) An examination of shifts in the site of service or services that influence the number and intensity of services furnished in physicians’ offices and the extent to which changes in reimbursement rates to other providers have effected these changes.(6) An evaluation of the extent to which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services takes into account the impact of law and regulations on the sustainable growth rate.