PUBLIC LAW 105-33—AUG. 5, 1997 111 STAT. 379 possibility of making payments from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.) for professional consultation via telecommunications systems with such a physician or practitioner furnishing a service for which pa5anent may be made under such part to a beneficiary described in paragraph (2), notwithstanding that the individual physician or practitioner providing the professional consultation is not at the same location as the physician or practitioner furnishing the service to that beneficiary. (2) BENEFICIARY DESCRIBED.— A beneficiary described in this paragraph is a beneficiary under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) who does not reside in a rural area (as so defined) that is designated as a health professional shortage area under section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(l)(A)), who is homebound or nursing homebound, and for whom being trsinsferred for health care services imposes a serious hardship. (3) REPORT.— The report described in paragraph (1) shall contain a detailed statement of the potential costs and savings to the medicare program of making the payments described in that paragraph using various reimbursement schemes. SEC. 4207. INFORMATICS, TELEMEDICINE, AND EDUCATION DEM- 42 USC 1395b-l ONSTRATION PROJECT. note. (a) PURPOSE AND AUTHORIZATION. — (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for a demonstration project described in paragraph (2). (2) DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT.— (A) IN GENERAL. —The demonstration project described in this paragraph is a single demonstration project to use eligible health care provider telemedicine networks to apply high-capacity computing and advanced networks to improve primary care (and prevent health care complications) to medicare beneficiaries with diabetes mellitus who are residents of medically underserved rural areas or residents of medically underserved inner-city areas. (B) MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED DEFINED.—As used in this paragraph, the term "medically underserved" has the meaning given such term in section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)). (3) WAIVER.— The Secretary shall waive such provisions of title XVIII of the Social Security Act as may be necessary to provide for pa5anent for services under the project in accordance with subsection (d). (4) DURATION OF PROJECT.— The project shall be conducted over a 4-year period. (b) OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT. — The objectives of the project include the following: (1) Improving patient access to and compliance with appropriate care guidelines for individuals with diabetes mellitus through direct telecommunications link with information networks in order to improve patient quality-of-life and reduce overall health care costs.
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