United States. Congress

“ ANALYSIS- The Secretary shall analyze current methods of establishing practice expense geographic adjustments under subparagraph (A) (i) and evaluate data that fairly and reliably establishes distinctions in the costs of operating a medical practice in the different fee schedule areas. Such analysis shall include an evaluation of the following: ` (I) The feasibility of using actual data or reliable survey data developed by medical organizations on the costs of operating a medical practice, including office rents and non-physician staff wages, in different fee schedule areas. ”

“ In General- (1) IN GENERAL- Section 1837 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395p) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ` (l) (1) In the case of any individual who is a covered beneficiary (as defined in section 1072 (5) of title 10, United States Code) at the time the individual is entitled to part A under section 226 (b) or section 226A and who is eligible to enroll but who has elected not to enroll (or to be deemed enrolled) during the individual's initial enrollment period, there shall be a special enrollment period described in paragraph (2) . ”

“ PHARMACIES DESCRIBED- A pharmacy described in this clause is a pharmacy that meets each of the following criteria: ` (I) The total billings by the pharmacy for such items and services under this title are less than 5 percent of total pharmacy sales, as determined based on the average total pharmacy sales for the previous 3 calendar years, 3 fiscal years, or other yearly period specified by the Secretary. ”