; and (ii) is a physician (as defined in subsection (r)(1)) or a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist (as defined in subsection (aa)(5)). . (b) Payment to renal dialysis facilities Section 1881(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395rr(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (15) For purposes of paragraph (14), the single payment for renal dialysis services under such paragraph shall not take into account the amount of payment for kidney disease education services (as defined in section 1861(ggg)). Instead, payment for such services shall be made to the renal dialysis facility on an assignment-related basis under section 1848. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section apply to kidney disease education services furnished on or after January 1, 2020. 102. Improving patient lives and quality of care through research and innovation (a) Study The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) shall conduct a study on increasing kidney transplantation rates. Such study shall include an analysis of each of the following: (1) Any disincentives in the payment systems under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act that create barriers to kidney transplants and post-transplant care for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease. (2) The practices used by States with higher than average donation rates and whether those practices and policies could be successfully utilized in other States. (3) Practices and policies that could increase deceased donation rates of minority populations. (4) Whether cultural and policy barriers exist to increasing living donation rates, including an examination of how to better facilitate chained donations. (5) Other areas determined appropriate by the Secretary. (b) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a), together with such