114 STAT. 2763A-526 PUBLIC LAW 106-554—APPENDIX F "(B) Services furnished by a practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) for which payment under part B is made under a fee schedule. "(C) Services furnished by a physical therapist or occupational therapist as described in section 186 l(p) for which pay- ment under part B is made under a fee schedule. "(3) Subsection (c) shall not apply to payments made under this subsection.". (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— (1) COVERAGE AMENDMENT.—Section 1862(a)(3) (42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(3)) is amended— (A) by striking the second comma after "1861(aa)(l)"; and (B) by inserting "in the case of services for which payment may be made under section 1880(e)," after "as defined in section 1861(aa)(3),". (2) DIRECT PAYMENT AMENDMENT. — The first sentence of section 1842(b)(6) (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6)) is amended— (A) by striking "and (F)" and inserting "(F)"; and (B) by inserting before the period the following: ", and (G) in the case of services in a hospital or clinic to which section 1880(e) applies, payment shall be made to such hospital or clinic". (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The amendments made by this section shall apply to services furnished on or after July 1, 2001. SEC. 433. GAG STUDY ON COVERAGE OF SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTING SERVICES OF CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE FIRST ASSISTANTS. (a) STUDY. — The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the effect on the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act and on medicare beneficiaries of coverage under the program of surgical first assisting services of certified registered nurse first assistants. The Comptroller General shall consider the following when conducting the study: (1) Any impact on the quality of care furnished to medicare beneficiaries by reason of such coverage. (2) Appropriate education and training requirements for certified registered nurse first assistants who furnish such first assisting services. (3) Appropriate rates of payment under the program to such certified registered nurse first assistants for furnishing such services, taking into account the costs of compensation, overhead, and supervision attributable to certified registered nurse first assistants. (b) REPORT.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a). SEC. 434. MEDPAC STUDY AND REPORT ON MEDICARE REIMBURSE- MENT FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY CERTAIN PROVID- ERS. (a) STUDY.—The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall conduct a study on the appropriateness of the current payment rates under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for services provided by a— (1) certified nurse-midwife (as defined in subsection (gg)(2) of section 1861 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x));
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