Section 3140

SEC. 3140. MEDICARE HOSPICE CONCURRENT CARE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

[a] Establishment-

[1] IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Health and Human Services [in this section referred to as the 'Secretary'] shall establish a Medicare Hospice Concurrent Care demonstration program at participating hospice programs under which Medicare beneficiaries are furnished, during the same period, hospice care and any other items or services covered under title XVIII of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.] from funds otherwise paid under such title to such hospice programs.

[2] DURATION- The demonstration program under this section shall be conducted for a 3-year period.

[3] SITES- The Secretary shall select not more than 15 hospice programs at which the demonstration program under this section shall be conducted. Such hospice programs shall be located in urban and rural areas.

[b] Independent Evaluation and Reports-

[1] INDEPENDENT EVALUATION- The Secretary shall provide for the conduct of an independent evaluation of the demonstration program under this section. Such independent evaluation shall determine whether the demonstration program has improved patient care, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness for Medicare beneficiaries participating in the demonstration program.

[2] REPORTS- The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the evaluation conducted under paragraph [1], together with such recommendations as the Secretary determines appropriate.

[c] Budget Neutrality- With respect to the 3-year period of the demonstration program under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the aggregate expenditures under title XVIII for such period shall not exceed the aggregate expenditures that would have been expended under such title if the demonstration program under this section had not been implemented.