S. 636 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 636 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 21, 2013 Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Rubio) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow certain hospitals in Puerto Rico to qualify for incentives for adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR Technology under the Medicare program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Puerto Rico Hospital HITECH Amendments Act of 2013. 2. Application of Medicare HITECH payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico (a) In general Subsection (n)(6)(B) of section 1886 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww) is amended by striking subsection (d) hospital and inserting hospital that is a subsection (d) hospital or a subsection (d) Puerto Rico hospital. (b) Conforming amendments (1) Subsection (b)(3)(B)(ix) of section 1886 of the Social Security Act is amended— (A) in subclause (I), by striking (n)(6)(A) and inserting (n)(6)(B); and (B) in subclause (II), by striking a subsection (d) hospital and inserting an eligible hospital. (2) Paragraphs (2) and (4)(A) of section 1853(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–23(m)) are each amended by striking 1886(n)(6)(A) and inserting 1886(n)(6)(B). (c) Implementation Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may implement the amendments made by this section by program instruction or otherwise. (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply as if included in the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–3), except that, in order to take into account delays in the implementation of this section, in applying subsections (b)(3)(B)(ix), (n)(2)(E)(ii), and (n)(2)(G)(i) of section 1886 of the Social Security Act as amended by this section, any reference in such subsections to a particular year shall be treated with respect to a subsection (d) Puerto Rico hospital as a reference to the year that is 2 years after such particular year.