House Committee Passes Regulatory
Relief Legislation
March 28, 2003 - The House Energy and Commerce Committee
March 26 passed by voice vote legislation intended to reduce
the regulatory burden placed on Medicare providers. "The
Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act of 2003"
(MRCRA) (H.R.
810) is similar to AAMC-supported regulatory relief legislation
that was introduced in the 107th Congress. While the full
House passed the 2002 regulatory relief provisions as part
of a larger Medicare package, the legislation never reached
the Senate floor.
Among the provisions in H.R. 810 are new provider rights
related to overpayments and audits, as well as a competitive
process for selecting Medicare contractors. The bill creates
a Technical Advisory Group to review Emergency Medical Treatment
and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) regulations and advise the HHS
Secretary accordingly. It requires pilot testing of new E&M
guidelines before implementation, with at least one pilot
conducted in a teaching setting. The bill also enhances beneficiary
access to information and directs the General Accounting Office
(GAO) to study/propose alternatives to the sustainable growth
rate (SGR) methodology used to calculate physician reimbursement.
Information:
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Affairs Manager
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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