AMBULANCE ADD-ON PAYMENTS.

SEC. 604. AMBULANCE ADD-ON PAYMENTS. (a) Ground Ambulance.—Section 1834(l)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(13)(A)) is amended— (1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking “January 1, 2013” and inserting “January 1, 2014”; and (2) in each of clauses (i) and (ii), by striking “January 1, 2013” and inserting “January 1, 2014” each place it appears. (b) [42 U.S.C. 1395m note] Air Ambulance.—Section 146(b)(1) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-275), as amended by sections 3105(b) and 10311(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), section 106(b) of the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-309), section 306(b) of the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-78), and section 3007(b) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-96), is amended by striking “December 31, 2012” and inserting “June 30, 2013”. (c) Super Rural Ambulance.—Section 1834(l)(12)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)(12)(A)) is amended in the first sentence by striking “January 1, 2013” and inserting “January 1, 2014”. (d) Studies of Ambulance Costs.— (1) In general.—The Secretary of Health and Health and Human Services (in this subsection referred to as the “Secretary”) shall conduct a study of each of the following: (A) A study that analyzes data on existing cost reports for ambulance services furnished by hospitals and critical access hospitals, including variation by characteristics of such providers of services. (B) A study of the feasibility of obtaining cost data on a periodic basis from all ambulance providers of services and suppliers for potential use in examining the appropriateness of the Medicare add-on payments for ground ambulance services furnished under the fee schedule under section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)) and in preparing for future reform of such payment system. (2) Components of one of the studies.—In conducting the study under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall— (A) consult with industry on the design of such cost collection efforts; (B) explore use of cost surveys and cost reports to collect appropriate cost data and the periodicity of such cost data collection; (C) examine the feasibility of development of a standard cost reporting tool for providers of services and suppliers of ground ambulance services; and (D) examine the ability to furnish such cost data by various types of ambulance providers of services and suppliers, especially by rural and super-rural providers of services and suppliers. (3) Reports.— (A) Existing cost reports.—Not later than October 1, 2013, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted under paragraph (1)(A), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate. (B) Obtaining cost data.—Not later than July 1, 2014, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted under paragraph (1)(B), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate.