1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Beneficiary Respiratory Equipment Access and Transparency to Home Ventilator Care Act of 2017 or the BREATH Act of 2017 . 2. Promoting evidence-based care for certain ventilators and other items of durable medical equipment Section 1834 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (v) Appropriate use criteria for certain ventilators (1) In general Not later than January 1, 2018, subject to paragraph (2), and in consultation with medical experts and applicable stakeholders, the Secretary shall establish and implement policies and standards for determining the appropriate use of ventilators as described in subsection (a)(3)(A). (2) Delay in implementation of appropriate use criteria for use by certain individuals The Secretary may, as the Secretary determines appropriate, delay until such date as the Secretary determines appropriate but not later than January 1, 2020, the establishment and implementation of appropriate use criteria as described in paragraph (1) (which may be the same appropriate use criteria established and implemented under such paragraph) for ventilators furnished to individuals diagnosed with neuromuscular or other thoracic restrictive diseases or cystic fibrosis. . 3. Reimbursement for home mechanical ventilators (a) In general Section 1834(a)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(a)(3) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B)— (A) in clause (iii), by striking and at the end; (B) in clause (iv)— (i) by inserting , except as provided in clause (v), after subsequent year ; and (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new clause: (v) for an item or device furnished on or after January 1, 2018, in the case of a ventilator described in subparagraph (A), the payment rate determined for the ventilator under subparagraph (D) for the year.