PUBLIC LAW 106-554—APPENDIX F 114 STAT. 2763A-531 (6) is subject to a court order providing for the withholding of medicare payments under title XVIII of such Act. SEC. 504. USE OF TELEHEALTH IN DELIVERY OF HOME HEALTH SERV- ICES. Section 1895 (42 U.S.C. 1395fff) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(e) CONSTRUCTION RELATED TO HOME HEALTH SERVICES.— " (1) TELECOMMUNICATIONS. —Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a home health agency furnishing a home health unit of service for which payment is made under the prospective payment system established by this section for such units of service from furnishing services via a telecommunication system if such services— "(A) do not substitute for in-person home health services ordered as part of a plan of care certified by a physician pursuant to section 1814(a)(2)(C) or 1835(a)(2)(A); and "(B) are not considered a home health visit for purposes of eligibility or payment under this title. "(2) PHYSICIAN CERTIFICATION.— Nothing in this section shall be construed as waiving the requirement for a physician certification under section 1814(a)(2)(C) or 1835(a)(2)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395fla)(2)(C), 1395n(a)(2)(A)) for the payment for home health services, whether or not furnished via a telecommunications system.". SEC. 505. STUDY ON COSTS TO HOME HEALTH AGENCIES OF PURCHAS- ING NONROUTINE MEDICAL SUPPLIES. (a) STUDY.— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on variations in prices paid by home health agencies furnishing home health services under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act in purchasing nonroutine medical supplies, including ostomy supplies, and volumes of such supplies used, shall determine the effect (if any) of variations on prices and volumes in the provision of such services. (b) REPORT. —Not later than August 15, 2001, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a), and shall include in the report recommendations respecting whether payment for nonroutine medical supplies furnished in connection with home health services should be made separately from the prospective payment system for such services. SEC. 506. TREATMENT OF BRANCH OFFICES; GAO STUDY ON SUPER- VISION OF HOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDED IN ISOLATED RURAL AREAS. (a) TREATMENT OF BRANCH OFFICES. — (1) IN GENERAL.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in determining for purposes of title XVIII of the Social Security Act whether an office of a home health agency constitutes a branch office or a separate home health agency, neither the time nor distance between a parent office of the home health agency and a branch office shall be the sole determinant of a home health agenc^s branch office status. (2) CONSIDERATION OF FORMS OF TECHNOLOGY IN DEFINI- TION OF SUPERVISION.— The Secretary of Health and Human Services may include forms of technology in determining what constitutes "supervision" for purposes of determining a home heath agency's branch office status under paragraph (1).
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