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Fairness in Medicare Home Health Access Act of 1999

Star Print ordered on S.1574.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 10, 1999

Fairness in Medicare Home Health Access Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to the reasonable cost of services furnished by home health agencies to: (1) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under specified conditions, to pay the provider of such services additional, limited payments notwithstanding per beneficiary limits for outliers; and (2) increase the per visit cost limit.Amends the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to eliminate the 15 percent home health services payment reduction in interim payments which would occur if the Secretary did not establish a prospective payment system (PPS) for such services as provided for in such Act.Amends SSA title XVIII with regard to the PPS for home health services to reduce the current 15 percent reduction in cost and per beneficiary limits to ten percent, establishing a special rule beginning in FY 2004 that restores the reduction back to its original 15 percent.Increases the per visit cost limit to 112 percent of the national median.Provides that in the case of home health services furnished to an individual who (at the time of furnishing) is under a home health agency plan of care, payment for an item of durable medical equipment shall be made to the agency separately from payment for other items and services furnished.Eliminates timekeeping requirements under the PPS for home health agencies.Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary should establish a nationally uniform process that ensures that fiscal intermediaries and carriers under Medicare have the training and ability necessary to provide timely, accurate, and consistent coverage and payment information to each home health agency and to each individual eligible to have payment made under Medicare.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND] · D–ND

Committees

  • Finance Committee
4 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Star Print ordered on S.1574.

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

  3. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10729-10730)

  4. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Aug 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1574 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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