113 STAT. 1501A-334 PUBLIC LAW 106-113—APPENDIX F Subtitle E—Other Provisions SEC. 141. MEDPAC STUDY ON MEDICARE PAYMENT FOR NONPHYSI- CIAN HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CONICAL TRAINING IN HOSPITALS. (a) IN GENERAL. — The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall conduct a study of medicare payment policy with respect to professional clinical training of different classes of nonphysician health care professionals (such as nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health professionals, physician assistants, and psychologists) and the basis for any differences in treatment among such classes, (b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted under subsection (a). Subtitle F—Transitional Provisions SEC. 151. EXCEPTION TO CMI QUALIFIER FOR ONE YEAR. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of fiscal year 2000, the Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center located in Clarksdale, Mississippi shall be deemed to have satisfied the case mix index criteria under section 1886(d)(5)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(5)(C)(ii)) for classification as a rural referral center. SEC. 152. RECLASSIFICATION OF CERTAIN COUNTIES AND AREAS FOR PURPOSES OF REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. (a) FISCAL YEAR 2000.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective for discharges occurring during fiscal year 2000, for purposes of making payments under section 1886(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d))— (1) to hospitals in Iredell County, North Carolina, such county is deemed to be located in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area; (2) to hospitals in Orange County, New York, the large urban area of New York, New York is deemed to include such county; (3) to hospitals in Lake County, Indiana, and to hospitals in Lee County, Illinois, such counties are deemed to be located in the Chicago, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area; (4) to hospitals in Hamilton-Middletown, Ohio, Hamilton- Middletown, Ohio, is deemed to be located in the Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area; (5) to hospitals in Brazoria County, Texas, such county is deemed to be located in the Houston, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area; and (6) to hospitals in Chittenden County, Vermont, such county is deemed to be located in the Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-Brockton, Massachusetts-New Hampshire Metropolitan Statistical Area. (b) FISCAL YEAR 2001.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective for discharges occurring during fiscal year 2001,
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