II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2214 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 11, 2017 Mr. Enzi (for himself and Mr. Carper ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicare Patient Access to Hospice Act of 2017 . 2. Recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients (a) Recognition of attending physician assistants as attending physicians To serve hospice patients (1) In general Section 1861(dd)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(3)(B) ) is amended— (A) by striking or nurse and inserting , the nurse ; and (B) by inserting , or the physician assistant (as defined in such subsection) after subsection (aa)(5)) . (2) Clarification of hospice role of physician assistants Section 1814(a)(7)(A)(i)(I) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(A)(i)(I) ) is amended by inserting or a physician assistant after a nurse practitioner . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2019.