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Public Law 117–71 — Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act (Dec. 10, 2021)

Summary

Public Law 117–71, the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act, dated Dec. 10, 2021 and printed at 135 Stat. 1506 as S. 610 of the 117th Congress. Section 2 amends Section 3709(a) of division A of the CARES Act by striking December 31, 2021 and inserting March 31, 2022, and sets Medicare payment reductions of 1.0 percent for April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022 and 2.25 percent and 3 percent for fiscal year 2030 periods. Section 3 extends support for physicians and other professionals in adjusting to Medicare payment changes, amending Section 1848 of the Social Security Act to include services furnished in 2022 at 3.0 percent. Section 4 revises the phase-in of clinical lab payment reductions under Section 1834A of the Social Security Act.

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Plaw Plaw 117Publ71 Plaw 117Publ71
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“Public Law 117–71 — Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act (Dec. 10, 2021).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/plaw-plaw-117publ71-plaw-117publ71/, SHA-256 56f9b016df779a114deb0d7382a3c9ef196f598ebbf296752a4eb4be24249855.

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                                                                                            PUBLIC LAW 117–71—DEC. 10, 2021




                                                                              PROTECTING MEDICARE AND AMERICAN
                                                                               FARMERS FROM SEQUESTER CUTS ACT




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                                                                        135 STAT. 1506                             PUBLIC LAW 117–71—DEC. 10, 2021




                                                                                                Public Law 117–71
                                                                                                117th Congress
                                                                                                                                            An Act
                                                                          Dec. 10, 2021
                                                                                                      To address behavioral health and well-being among health care professionals.
                                                                            [S. 610]
                                                                                                    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
                                                                        Protecting              the United States of America in Congress assembled,
                                                                        Medicare and
                                                                        American                SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
                                                                        Farmers from
                                                                        Sequester Cuts              This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Medicare and Amer-
                                                                        Act.                    ican Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act’’.
                                                                        2 USC 900 note.
                                                                                                SEC. 2. ADJUSTMENTS TO MEDICARE SEQUESTRATION REDUCTIONS.
                                                                                                    (a) EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY SUSPENSION THROUGH MARCH
                                                                                                2022.—
                                                                                                         (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3709(a) of division A of the
                                                                                                    CARES Act (2 U.S.C. 901a note) is amended—
                                                                                                              (A) in the subsection header by inserting ‘‘AND ADJUST-
                                                                                                         MENT’’ after ‘‘SUSPENSION’’; and
                                                                                                              (B) by striking ‘‘December 31, 2021’’ and inserting
                                                                                                         ‘‘March 31, 2022’’.
                                                                        2 USC 901a note.                 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by paragraph
                                                                                                    (1) shall take effect as if enacted as part of the CARES Act
                                                                                                    (Public Law 116–136).
                                                                                                    (b) ADJUSTMENTS TO MEDICARE PROGRAM SEQUESTRATION
                                                                                                REDUCTION WITH RESPECT TO FISCAL YEARS 2022 AND 2030.—
                                                                                                Section 251A(6) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
                                                                                                Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901a(6)) is amended—
                                                                                                         (1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph
                                                                                                    (E); and
                                                                                                         (2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new
                                                                                                    subparagraphs:
                                                                        Applicability.                        ‘‘(C) Notwithstanding the 2 percent limit specified in
                                                                                                         subparagraph (A) for payments for the Medicare programs
                                                                                                         specified in section 256(d), the sequestration order of the
                                                                                                         President under such subparagraph for fiscal year 2022
                                                                                                         shall be applied to such payments so that with respect
                                                                                                         to the period beginning on April 1, 2022, and ending on
                                                                                                         June 30, 2022, the payment reduction shall be 1.0 percent.
                                                                        Applicability.                        ‘‘(D) Notwithstanding the 2 percent limit specified in
                                                                                                         subparagraph (A) for payments for the Medicare programs
                                                                                                         specified in section 256(d), the sequestration order of the
                                                                                                         President under such subparagraph for fiscal year 2030
                                                                                                         shall be applied to such payments so that—




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                                                                                                                   ‘‘(i) with respect to the first 6 months in which
                                                                                                              such order is effective for such fiscal year, the payment
                                                                                                              reduction shall be 2.25 percent; and




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                                                                                            PUBLIC LAW 117–71—DEC. 10, 2021                                            135 STAT. 1507

                                                                                                ‘‘(ii) with respect to the second 6 months in which
                                                                                            such order is so effective for such fiscal year, the pay-
                                                                                            ment reduction shall be 3 percent.’’.
                                                                        SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF SUPPORT FOR PHYSICIANS AND OTHER
                                                                                PROFESSIONALS IN ADJUSTING TO MEDICARE PAYMENT
                                                                                CHANGES.
                                                                            (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1848 of the Social Security Act (42
                                                                        U.S.C. 1395w–4) is amended—
                                                                                 (1) in subsection (c)(2)(B)(iv)(V), by striking ‘‘2021’’ and
                                                                            inserting ‘‘2021 or 2022’’; and
                                                                                 (2) in subsection (t)—
                                                                                      (A) in the subsection header, by striking ‘‘2021’’ and
                                                                                 inserting ‘‘2021 AND 2022’’;
                                                                                      (B) in paragraph (1)—
                                                                                           (i) by striking ‘‘during 2021’’ and inserting ‘‘during
                                                                                      2021 and 2022’’; and
                                                                                           (ii) by striking ‘‘for such services furnished on or
                                                                                      after January 1, 2021, and before January 1, 2022,
                                                                                      by 3.75 percent.’’ and inserting ‘‘for—
                                                                                      ‘‘(A) such services furnished on or after January 1,
                                                                                 2021, and before January 1, 2022, by 3.75 percent; and
                                                                                      ‘‘(B) such services furnished on or after January 1,
                                                                                 2022, and before January 1, 2023, by 3.0 percent.’’; and
                                                                                      (C) in paragraph (2)(C)—
                                                                                           (i) in the subparagraph header, by striking ‘‘2021’’
                                                                                      and inserting ‘‘2021 AND 2022’’;
                                                                                           (ii) by inserting ‘‘for services furnished in 2021
                                                                                      or 2022’’ after ‘‘under this subsection’’; and
                                                                                           (iii) by inserting ‘‘or 2022, respectively’’ before the
                                                                                      period at the end.
                                                                            (b) REPORT.—Section 101(c) of division N of the Consolidated
                                                                        Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) is amended—                                             134 Stat. 1950.
                                                                                 (1) in the first sentence—
                                                                                      (A) by striking ‘‘April 1, 2022’’ and inserting ‘‘each
                                                                                 of April 1, 2022, and April 1, 2023’’; and
                                                                                      (B) by striking ‘‘, as added by subsection (a)’’ and
                                                                                 inserting ‘‘furnished during 2021 or 2022, respectively’’;
                                                                                 and
                                                                                 (2) in the second sentence—
                                                                                      (A) by striking ‘‘Such report’’ and inserting ‘‘Each such
                                                                                 report’’; and
                                                                                      (B) by inserting ‘‘with respect to 2021 or 2022, as
                                                                                 applicable’’ after ‘‘under such section’’.
                                                                        SEC. 4. PRESERVING PATIENT ACCESS TO CRITICAL CLINICAL LAB
                                                                                 SERVICES.
                                                                             (a) REVISED PHASE-IN OF REDUCTIONS FROM PRIVATE PAYOR
                                                                        RATE IMPLEMENTATION.—Section 1834A(b)(3) of the Social Security
                                                                        Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m–1(b)(3)) is amended—
                                                                                 (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘through 2024’’ and
                                                                             inserting ‘‘through 2025’’; and
                                                                                 (2) in subparagraph (B)—
                                                                                       (A) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘for 2021’’ and inserting




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                                                                                 ‘‘for each of 2021 and 2022’’; and
                                                                                       (B) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘2022 through 2024’’
                                                                                 and inserting ‘‘2023 through 2025’’.




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                                                                        135 STAT. 1508                             PUBLIC LAW 117–71—DEC. 10, 2021

                                                                                                    (b) REVISED REPORTING PERIOD FOR REPORTING OF PRIVATE
                                                                                                SECTOR PAYMENT RATES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDICARE PAY-
                                                                                                MENT RATES.—Section 1834A(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act
                                                                                                (42 U.S.C. 1395m–1(a)(1)(B)) is amended—
                                                                                                        (1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘December 31, 2021’’ and
                                                                                                    inserting ‘‘December 31, 2022’’; and
                                                                                                        (2) in clause (ii)—
                                                                                                             (A) by striking ‘‘January 1, 2022’’ and inserting
                                                                                                        ‘‘January 1, 2023’’; and
                                                                                                             (B) by striking ‘‘March 31, 2022’’ and inserting ‘‘March
                                                                                                        31, 2023’’.
                                                                                                SEC. 5. DELAY TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RADIATION
                                                                                                        ONCOLOGY MODEL UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.
                                                                                                     Section 133 of Division CC of the Consolidated Appropriations
                                                                        134 Stat. 2976.         Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) is amended by striking ‘‘January
                                                                                                1, 2022’’ and inserting ‘‘January 1, 2023’’.
                                                                                                SEC. 6. MEDICARE IMPROVEMENT FUND.
                                                                                                    Section 1898(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
                                                                                                1395iii(b)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘fiscal year 2021’’ and all
                                                                                                that follows through the period at the end and inserting ‘‘fiscal
                                                                                                year 2021, $101,000,000.’’.
                                                                        Determination.          SEC. 7. PAYGO ANNUAL REPORT.
                                                                        Time periods.
                                                                                                     For the purposes of the annual report issued pursuant to section
                                                                                                5 of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 934) after
                                                                                                adjournment of the first session of the 117th Congress, and for
                                                                                                determining whether a sequestration order is necessary under such
                                                                                                section, the debit for the budget year on the 5-year scorecard,
                                                                                                if any, and the 10-year scorecard, if any, shall be deducted from
                                                                                                such scorecard in 2022 and added to such scorecard in 2023.
                                                                                                SEC. 8. EXPEDITED PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERING AN INCREASE
                                                                                                         IN THE DEBT LIMIT.
                                                                                                   (a) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘joint resolution’’
                                                                                                means a joint resolution—
                                                                        Time period.                    (1) that is introduced by the Majority Leader of the Senate,
                                                                                                   or a designee, during the period beginning on the date of
                                                                                                   enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2021;
                                                                                                        (2) which does not have a preamble;
                                                                                                        (3) the title of which is as follows: ‘‘Joint resolution relating
                                                                                                   to increasing the debt limit.’’; and
                                                                                                        (4) the matter after the resolving clause of which is as
                                                                                                   follows: ‘‘That the limitation under section 3101(b) of title 31,
                                                                                                   United States Code, as most recently increased by Public Law
                                                                                                   117–50      (31     U.S.C.    3101     note),    is   increased     by
                                                                                                   $lllllllll.’’, the blank space being appropriately
                                                                                                   filled in with the dollar amount of the increase.
                                                                                                   (b) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION IN SENATE.—
                                                                                                        (1) PLACEMENT ON CALENDAR.—Upon introduction in the
                                                                                                   Senate, the joint resolution shall be placed immediately on
                                                                                                   the calendar.
                                                                                                        (2) PROCEEDING TO CONSIDERATION.—




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                                                                        Deadline.                            (A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding rule XXII of the
                                                                                                        Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later
                                                                                                        than January 15, 2022 (even though a previous motion




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                                                                                            PUBLIC LAW 117–71—DEC. 10, 2021                                            135 STAT. 1509

                                                                                  to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed
                                                                                  to the consideration of the joint resolution.
                                                                                       (B) PROCEDURE.—For a motion to proceed to the consid-
                                                                                  eration of the joint resolution—
                                                                                            (i) all points of order against the motion are
                                                                                       waived;
                                                                                            (ii) the motion is not debatable;
                                                                                            (iii) the motion is not subject to a motion to post-
                                                                                       pone;
                                                                                            (iv) a motion to reconsider the vote by which the
                                                                                       motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in
                                                                                       order; and
                                                                                            (v) if the motion is agreed to, the joint resolution
                                                                                       shall remain the unfinished business until disposed
                                                                                       of.
                                                                                  (3) FLOOR CONSIDERATION.—
                                                                                       (A) IN GENERAL.—If the Senate proceeds to consider-
                                                                                  ation of the joint resolution—
                                                                                            (i) all points of order against the joint resolution
                                                                                       (and against consideration of the joint resolution) are
                                                                                       waived;
                                                                                            (ii) debate on the joint resolution, and all debatable                            Time period.
                                                                                       motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall
                                                                                       be limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall
                                                                                       be divided equally between the Chairman and Ranking
                                                                                       Member of the Committee on Finance;
                                                                                            (iii) an amendment to the joint resolution is not
                                                                                       in order;
                                                                                            (iv) a motion to postpone or a motion to commit
                                                                                       the joint resolution is not in order; and
                                                                                            (v) a motion to proceed to the consideration of
                                                                                       other business is not in order.
                                                                                       (B) VOTE ON PASSAGE.—The vote on passage shall occur
                                                                                  immediately following the conclusion of the debate on the
                                                                                  joint resolution and a single quorum call if requested in
                                                                                  accordance with the rules of the Senate.
                                                                                       (C) RULINGS OF THE CHAIR ON PROCEDURE.—Appeals
                                                                                  from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application
                                                                                  of this paragraph or the rules of the Senate, as the case
                                                                                  may be, to the procedure relating to the joint resolution
                                                                                  shall be decided without debate.
                                                                                       (D) SINGLE MEASURE AUTHORIZED.—It shall not be in
                                                                                  order to consider more than 1 joint resolution under the
                                                                                  procedures under this paragraph.
                                                                                       (E) SUNSET.—It shall not be in order to consider a
                                                                                  joint resolution under the procedures under this paragraph
                                                                                  after January 16, 2022.
                                                                                  (4) RULES OF THE SENATE.—This subsection is enacted by
                                                                               Congress—
                                                                                       (A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the
                                                                                  Senate, and as such is deemed a part of the rules of
                                                                                  the Senate, but applicable only with respect to the proce-
                                                                                  dure to be followed in the Senate in the case of a joint
                                                                                  resolution, and supersede other rules only to the extent




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                                                                                  that they are inconsistent with such rules; and
                                                                                       (B) with full recognition of the constitutional right
                                                                                  of the Senate to change the rules (so far as relating to




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                                                                        135 STAT. 1510                              PUBLIC LAW 117–71—DEC. 10, 2021

                                                                                                             the procedure of the Senate) at any time, in the same
                                                                                                             manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any
                                                                                                             other rule of the Senate.

                                                                                                      Approved December 10, 2021.




                                                                                                LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 610:
                                                                                                CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 167 (2021):
                                                                                                     Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate.
                                                                                                     Dec. 7, considered and passed House, amended. Senate considered concurring
                                                                                                      in House amendment.




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                                                                                                     Dec. 9, Senate concurred in House amendment.

                                                                                                                                                 Æ




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