MEDPAC STUDY OF PAYMENT FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGEONS.

SEC. 644. MEDPAC STUDY OF PAYMENT FOR CARDIO-THORACIC SURGEONS.(a) Study.—The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (in this section referred to as the “Commission”) shall conduct a study on the practice expense relative values established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the medicare physician fee schedule under section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4) for physicians in the specialties of thoracic and cardiac surgery to determine whether such values adequately take into account the attendant costs that such physicians incur in providing clinical staff for patient care in hospitals. (b) Report.—Not later than January 1, 2005, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) together with recommendations for such legislation or administrative action as the Commission determines to be appropriate.