H.R.3023 - Preventing Hospital Overbilling of Medicare Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.3023, the "Preventing Hospital Overbilling of Medicare Act," aims to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act and Title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act. The bill targets incorrect billing practices by off-campus hospital locations. It seeks to promote site-neutral payments and ensure separate National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) for off-campus outpatient departments.
Expected Effects
The bill's passage would likely result in reduced Medicare expenditures by preventing hospitals from overbilling for services provided at off-campus locations. It enforces billing transparency and accountability by requiring separate NPIs for these departments. This could lead to more accurate cost comparisons between hospital-based and independent healthcare providers.
Potential Benefits
- Reduced Medicare costs due to more accurate billing practices.
- Increased transparency in healthcare pricing.
- Fairer competition between hospital-owned and independent healthcare providers.
- Improved accuracy in healthcare data collection and analysis.
- Potential for lower out-of-pocket costs for patients.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative burden on hospitals to comply with new billing requirements.
- Possible resistance from hospitals that benefit from current billing practices.
- Could lead to some hospitals closing off-campus locations if they become less profitable.
- Short-term confusion and disruption during the transition to the new system.
- May not fully address all forms of healthcare overbilling.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). Congress has the power to legislate on matters related to Medicare and healthcare financing. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).