114 STAT. 2763A-532 PUBLIC LAW 106-554—APPENDIX F (b) GAO STUDY.— (1) STUDY. —The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of the provision of adequate supervision to maintain quality of home health services delivered under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act in isolated rural areas. The study shall evaluate the methods that home health agency branches and subunits use to maintain adequate supervision in the delivery of services to clients residing in those areas, how these methods of supervision compare to requirements that subunits independently meet medicare conditions of participation, and the resources utilized by subunits to meet such conditions. (2) REPORT.— Not later than January 1, 2002, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1). The report shall include recommendations on whether exceptions are needed for subunits and branches of home health agencies under the medicare program to maintain access to the home health benefit or whether alternative policies should be developed to assure adequate supervision and access and recommendations on whether a national standard for supervision is appropriate. SEC. 507. CLARIFICATION OF THE HOMEBOUND DEFINITION UNDER THE MEDICARE HOME HEALTH BENEFIT. (a) CLARIFICATION. — (1) IN GENERAL.—Sections 1814(a) and 1835(a) (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a) and 1395n(a)) are each amended— (A) in the last sentence, by striking ", and that absences of the individual from home are infrequent or of relatively short duration, or are attributable to the need to receive medical treatment"; and (B) by adding at the end the following new sentences: "Any absence of an individual from the home attributable to the need to receive health care treatment, including regular absences for the purpose of participating in therapeutic, psychosocial, or medical treatment in an adult day- care program that is licensed or certified by a State, or accredited, to furnish adult day-care services in the State shall not disqualify an individual from being considered to be 'confined to his home'. Any other absence of an individual from the home shall not so disqualify an individual if the absence is of infrequent or of relatively short duration. For purposes of the preceding sentence, any absence for the purpose of attending a religious service shall be deemed to be an absence of infrequent or short duration.". (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.— The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to home health services furnished on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) STUDY. — (1) IN GENERAL. —The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an evaluation of the effect of the amendment on the cost of and access to home health services under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act. (2) REPORT.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit
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