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Latest Update: Thursday, July, 24th 2008

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a temporary moratorium on enforcement of the cap amount on payments for hospice care under the Medicare Program, and for other purposes.

3/6/2008--Introduced.

Preserving Access to Hospice (PATH) Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for a temporary moratorium, from November 1, 2005, through October 31, 2008, on enforcement of the hospice cap amount.

Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study and report on: (1) the resource effectiveness and quality of hospice care as a substitute benefit for other acute care alternatives under Medicare; (2) the optimal median and average length of stay in hospice care under Medicare; (3) the reasons for persistently low median and average length of such stays; and (4) the desirability of requiring a national coverage determination of eligibility for hospice care under Medicare.

Latest Actions
  • 03/10/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • 03/06/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
  • 03/06/2008 - Referred to House Ways and Means
  • 03/06/2008 - Referred to House Energy and Commerce
  • 03/06/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Bill Text
File name Last Updated
H.R.5542 Introduced in House03/07/2008