article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2007''. SEC. 2. IMPROVING CARE PLANNING FOR MEDICARE HOME HEALTH SERVICES. (a) In General.--Section 1814(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(2)), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), is amended-- (1) by inserting ``(as those terms are defined in section 1861(aa)(5))'' after ``clinical nurse specialist''; and (2) by inserting ``, or in the case of services described in subparagraph (C), a physician, or a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist who is working in collaboration with a physician in accordance with State law, or a certified nurse- midwife (as defined in section 1861(gg)) as authorized by State law, or a physician assistant (as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)) under the supervision of a physician'' after ``collaboration with a physician''. (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 1814(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)) is amended-- (A) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ``, a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse- midwife, or a physician assistant (as the case may be)'' after ``physician'' each place it appears; (B) in the second sentence, by striking ``or clinical nurse specialist'' and inserting ``clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant''; (C) in the third sentence-- (i) by striking ``physician certification'' and inserting ``certification''; (ii) by inserting ``(or on January 1, 2008, in the case of regulations to implement the amendments made by section 2 of the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2007)'' after ``1981''; and (iii) by striking ``a physician who'' and inserting ``a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant who''; and (D) in the fourth sentence, by inserting ``, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse- midwife, or physician assistant'' after ``physician''. (2) Section 1835(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395n(a)) is amended-- (A) in paragraph (2)-- (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting ``or, in the case of services described in subparagraph (A), a physician, or a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in 1861(aa)(5)) who is working in collaboration with a physician in accordance with State law, or a certified nurse-midwife (as defined in section 1861(gg)) as authorized by State law, or a physician assistant (as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)) under the supervision of a physician'' after ``a physician''; and (ii) in each of clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (A) by inserting ``, a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse-midwife, or a physician assistant (as the case may be)'' after ``physician''; (B) in the third sentence, by inserting ``, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse- midwife, or physician assistant (as the case may be)'' after physician; (C) in the fourth sentence-- (i) by striking ``physician certification'' and inserting ``certification''; (ii) by inserting ``(or on January 1, 2008, in the case of regulations to implement the amendments made by section 2 of the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2007)'' after ``1981''; and (iii) by striking ``a physician who'' and inserting ``a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant who''; and (D) in the fifth sentence, by inserting ``, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse- midwife, or physician assistant'' after ``physician''. (3) Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended-- (A) in subsection (m)-- (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)-- (I) by inserting ``a nurse practitioner or a clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5)), a certified nurse-midwife (as defined in section 1861(gg)), or a physician assistant (as defined in subsection (aa)(5))'' after ``physician'' the first place it appears; and (II) by inserting ``a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse- midwife, or a physician assistant'' after ``physician'' the second place it appears; and (ii) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, a certified nurse-midwife, or a physician assistant'' after ``physician''; and (B) in subsection (o)(2)-- (i) by inserting ``, nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists (as those terms are defined in subsection (aa)(5)), certified nurse-midwives (as defined in section 1861(gg)), or physician assistants (as defined in subsection (aa)(5))'' after ``physicians''; and (ii) by inserting ``, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, physician assistant,'' after ``physician''. (4) Section 1895 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395fff) is amended-- (A) in subsection (c)(1), by inserting ``, the nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in section 1861(aa)(5)), the certified nurse-midwife (as defined in section 1861(gg)), or the physician assistant (as defined in section 1861(aa)(5)),'' after ``physician''; and (B) in subsection (e)-- (i) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``, a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist (as those terms are defined in section 1861(aa)(5)), a certified nurse-midwife (as defined in section 1861(gg)), or a physician assistant (as defined in section 1861(aa)(5))'' after ``physician''; and (ii) in paragraph (2)-- (I) in the heading, by striking ``Physician certification'' and inserting ``Rule of construction regarding requirement for certification''; and (II) by striking ``physician''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2008.
summary: Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise conditions of and limitations on payment for home health care services. Allows payment for home health services to Medicare beneficiaries by: (1) a nurse practitioner; (2) a clinical nurse specialist working in collaboration with a physician in accordance with state law; (3) a certified nurse-midwife; or (4) a physician assistant under a physician's supervision.