PAYMENT FOR OUTPATIENT THERAPY SERVICES.

SEC. 603. PAYMENT FOR OUTPATIENT THERAPY SERVICES. (a) Extension.—Section 1833(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(g)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (5)(A), in the first sentence, by striking “December 31, 2012” and inserting “December 31, 2013”; and (2) in paragraph (6)— (A) by striking “December 31, 2012” and inserting “December 31, 2013”; and (B) by inserting “or 2013” after “during 2012”. (b) Application of Therapy Cap to Therapy Furnished as Part of Outpatient Critical Access Hospital Services.—Section 1833(g)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(g)(6)), as amended by subsection (a), is amended— (1) by striking “In applying” and inserting “(A) In applying”; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: “(B)(i) With respect to outpatient therapy services furnished beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and before January 1, 2014, for which payment is made under section 1834(g), the Secretary shall count toward the uniform dollar limitations described in paragraphs (1) and (3) and the threshold described in paragraph (5)(C) the amount that would be payable under this part if such services were paid under section 1834(k)(1)(B) instead of being paid under section 1834(g). “(ii) Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed as changing the method of payment for outpatient therapy services under section 1834(g).” . (c) Beneficiary Protections.—Section 1833(g)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(g)(5)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: “(D) With respect to services furnished on or after January 1, 2013, where payment may not be made as a result of application of paragraphs (1) and (3), section 1879 shall apply in the same manner as such section applies to a denial that is made by reason of section 1862(a)(1).” . (d) [42 U.S.C. 1395l note] Implementation.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may implement the provisions of, and the amendments made by, this section by program instruction or otherwise.