H.R. 8563 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8563 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 23, 2024Ms. Tokuda (for herself and Mr. Case) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a floor on the work geographic index for physicians’ services furnished in Hawaii. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preserving Access To Care in Hawaii Act or the PATCH Act. 2. Floor on work geographic index for physicians’ services furnished in Hawaii Section 1848(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking and (I) and inserting (I), and (J); and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (J) Floor on work geographic index for services furnished in Hawaii For purposes of payment for services furnished in Hawaii on or after January 1, 2025, after calculating the work geographic index in subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary shall increase the work geographic index to 1.5 if such index would otherwise be less than 1.5. The preceding sentence shall not be applied in a budget neutral manner. .