114 STAT. 2763A-552 PUBLIC LAW 106-554—APPENDIX F (2) DESIGN FOR COMPARISON OF COMMON ELEMENTS. —The Secretary shall design such standard instruments in a manner such that— (A) elements that are common to the items and services described in subsection (b) may be readily comparable and are statistically compatible; (B) only elements necessary to meet program objectives are collected; and (C) the standard instruments supersede any other assessment instrument used before that date. (3) CONSULTATION.— In developing an assessment instrument under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and qualified organizations representing providers of services and suppliers under title XVIII. (b) DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES. —For purposes of subsection (a), items and services described in this subsection are those items and services furnished to individuals entitled to benefits under part A, or enrolled under part B, or both of title XVIII of the Social Security Act for which payment is made under such title, and include the following: (1) Inpatient and outpatient hospital services. (2) Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. (3) Covered skilled nursing facility services. (4) Home health services. (5) Physical or occupational therapy or speech-language pathology services. (6) Items and services furnished to such individuals determined to have end stage renal disease. (7) Partial hospitalization services and other mental health services. (8) Any other service for which payment is made under such title as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. SEC. 546. GAG REPORT ON IMPACT OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ACTIVE LABOR ACT (EMTALA) ON HOS- PITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS. (a) REPORT. —The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate by May 1, 2001, on the effect of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act on hospitals, emergency physicians, and physicians covering emergency department call throughout the United States. (b) REPORT REQUIREMENTS. —The report should evaluate— (1) the extent to which hospitals, emergency physicians, and physicians covering emergency department call provide uncompensated services in relation to the requirements of EMTALA; (2) the extent to which the regulatory requirements and enforcement of EMTALA have expanded beyond the legislation's original intent; (3) estimates for the total dollar amount of EMTALA- related care uncompensated costs to emergency physicians, physicians covering emergency department caJl, hospital emergency departments, and other hospital services;
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