OXYGEN AND OXYGEN EQUIPMENT

SEC. 4552. OXYGEN AND OXYGEN EQUIPMENT (a) In General.—Section 1834(a)(9)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(9)(B)) is amended— (1) in clause (iii), by striking “and” at the end; (2) in clause (iv)— (A) by striking “each subsequent year” and inserting “1995, 1996, and 1997”, and (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following new clauses: “(v) for 1998, 75 percent of the amount determined under this subparagraph for 1997; and “(vi) for 1999 and each subsequent year, 70 percent of the amount determined under this subparagraph for 1997.” . (b) Establishment of Classes for Payment.—Section 1834(a)(9) (42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(9)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: “(D) Authority to create classes.— “(i) In general.—Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary may establish separate classes for any item of oxygen and oxygen equipment and separate national limited monthly payment rates for each of such classes. “(ii) Budget neutrality.—The Secretary may take actions under clause (i) only to the extent such actions do not result in expenditures for any year to be more or less than the expenditures which would have been made if such actions had not been taken.” . (c) [42 U.S.C. 1395m note] Standards.— The Secretary shall as soon as practicable establish service standards for persons seeking payment under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act for the providing of oxygen and oxygen equipment to beneficiaries within their homes. (d) [42 U.S.C. 1395m note] Access to Home Oxygen Equipment.— (1) Study.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall study issues relating to access to home oxygen equipment and shall, within 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, report to the Committees on Commerce and Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate the results of the study, including recommendations (if any) for legislation. (2) Peer review evaluation.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall arrange for peer review organizations established under section 1154 of the Social Security Act to evaluate access to, and quality of, home oxygen equipment. (e) [42 U.S.C. 1395m note] Effective Date.— (1) Oxygen.— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to items furnished on and after January 1, 1998. (2) Other provisions.—The amendments made by this section other than subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. * * * * * * *