# What This Bill Does

This bill creates new rules for a specific type of medical test that Medicare will pay for. These tests—called nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography tests—help doctors diagnose nerve and muscle problems. Right now, Medicare pays for these tests at many different facilities with varying levels of quality control. This bill says that starting in three to four years, Medicare will only pay for these tests if they're done at facilities that meet certain quality standards and are officially accredited.

# Who This Affects

If you're on Medicare and your doctor orders one of these nerve or muscle tests, this bill could affect you. It also impacts the doctors, physical therapists, and testing facilities that perform these procedures. The bill is designed to crack down on what lawmakers see as unnecessary testing, fraud, and low-quality work in this field. Some facilities that currently do these tests may need to get accredited to keep receiving Medicare payments, which could mean changes in where you can get tested or how long it takes to get an appointment.

# What the New Requirements Are

To get paid by Medicare, facilities will need to meet several specific requirements. They must have quality control programs in place, use proper equipment that can display test results in real-time, and make sure the person performing the test has received proper training. Importantly, the person who does the test must interpret the results right away while you're still there—no sending samples off to be read later by someone else. The bill also creates an advisory committee of doctors, therapists, and patients to help set these standards and watch for fraud or unnecessary testing.

# The Bottom Line

This bill aims to improve the quality and reliability of these nerve and muscle tests while reducing fraud and unnecessary procedures. The tradeoff is that some smaller or less-equipped facilities may exit this business, potentially limiting where patients can get tested, at least initially. However, the bill gives the healthcare system three to four years to adjust before the new rules kick in.

Electrodiagnostic Medicine Patient Protection and Fraud Elimination Act of 2023

Sessions, Pete

Electrodiagnostic Medicine Patient Protection and Fraud Elimination Act of 2023 This bill requires, as a condition for Medicare payment, specified electrodiagnostic services to be furnished by qualified facilities that comply with accreditation, training, and other quality control requirements, as established under the bill. Specifically, the bill requires nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography tests to be furnished by facilities that are accredited by an organization that is approved by the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS). The accrediting organization must certify that the facility meets certain standards, including having a quality control program and requiring those who administer needle electromyography tests to have at least three months of specialized training. The bill also establishes an advisory committee to support the CMS in developing appropriate facility standards.