[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4610 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4610

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
of self-administered betaseron treatments for multiple sclerosis under 
             the Medicare program, and for other purposes.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 21, 1994

 Mr. LaFalce introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly 
      to the Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce

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                                 A BILL


 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
of self-administered betaseron treatments for multiple sclerosis under 
             the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Multiple Sclerosis Home Treatment 
Equity Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. COVERAGE AND PAYMENT OF SELF-ADMINISTERED BETASERON UNDER 
              MEDICARE.

    Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(s)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (P);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (Q) 
        and adding in lieu thereof, ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(R) betaseron (Interferon beta-1b) for patients 
                with multiple sclerosis competent to use such 
                biological without medical or other supervision with 
                respect to the administration of such biological, 
                subject to methods and standards established by the 
                Secretary by regulation for the safe and effective use 
                of such biological, and terms related to the 
                administration of such biological.''.

SEC. 3. REGULATIONS.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, not later than 
150 days after the date of enactment of this Act, issue final 
regulations setting forth standards and methods for safe and effective 
use of betaseron for purposes of payments under section 2 of this Act.

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by section 2 of this Act shall apply to 
payments for items and services furnished on or after October 1, 1994.

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