REFERENCE TITLE: medicare enrollment requirement; physicians; repeal

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-first Legislature Second Regular Session 2014

SCM 1009

Introduced by Senators Ward, Barto; Representatives Montenegro, Thorpe: Senator Crandell; Representatives Borrelli, Smith (with permission of Committee on Rules)

 

A CONCURRENT MEMORIAL

 

Urging the United States Congress to repeal the Medicare enrollment requirement for physicians who have a National Provider Identifier.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

To the Congress of the United States of America:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111–148) as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111–152), collectively known as the Affordable Care Act, expands the role of federal health care programs and regulations over the private health care market; and

Whereas, the Affordable Care Act makes many changes to the Medicare and Medicaid programs, some of which involve strengthening tools for quality and integrity; and

Whereas, the Affordable Care Act has resulted in numerous regulations for health care providers; and

Whereas, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires physicians to enroll in Medicare or opt out of Medicare in order for health care providers to receive payment for services; and

Whereas, wrong addresses, telephone numbers and licensing information for physicians have been found throughout Medicare enrollment systems that are used to approve claims; and

Whereas, an estimated 58% of enrollment records in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System were inaccurate, and 48% of records in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System had errors; and

Whereas, more and more physicians are choosing not to accept Medicare or Medicaid due to increased government regulations and reduced levels of reimbursement; and

Whereas, the federal Medicare enrollment requirement has the unintended consequence of limiting facility options for physicians to admit and treat their patients.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1.  That the United States Congress repeal the requirement that physicians who have a National Provider Identifier enroll in or opt out of Medicare as a condition for payment of claims for ordered or provided covered services under federal health care programs.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.