PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 18, 2003
Medicare Safety Net Access Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to: (1) provide for coverage of Medicare-covered ambulatory services by Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs); and (2) ensure FQHC reimbursement under hospital and skilled nursing facility prospective payment systems.Amends SSA title XI with respect to criminal penalties for acts involving Federal health care programs, particularly illegal remunerations (kickbacks). Exempts from the prohibition against such remunerations any remuneration: (1) between a certain kind of public or nonprofit private health center entity and any individual or entity providing goods, items, services, donations, loans, or a combination, to such health center entity pursuant to an agreement, if such agreement contributes to the ability of the health center entity to maintain or increase the availability, or enhance the quality, of services provided to a medically underserved population served by the health center entity; and (2) between a FQHC (or an entity controlled by such a health center) and a Medicare+Choice organization pursuant to a specified written agreement.Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards relating to the exception for health center entity arrangements to specified anti-kickback penalties.Amends SSA title XVIII to revise the payment for certain FQHC services furnished to an individual enrolled with a Medicare+Choice organization under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice), allowing for supplemental reimbursement, among other changes.Amends Medicare+Choice to add additional Medicare+Choice contract requirements.
People & committees
Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · R–ME
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3901-3902)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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