Free choice of therapists for Medicare beneficiaries

Section 1802(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395a(b)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (2) in paragraph (2)(B)— (A) in clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (B) in clause (v), by striking physicians or practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, or qualified audiologists; and (C) in the matter following clause (v), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (3) in paragraph (3)— (A) in the heading, by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (C) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner each place it appears and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (ii) in clause (ii), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (D) in subparagraph (C)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (ii) in clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (iii) in clause (ii), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (E) in subparagraph (D), by striking physician or practitioner each place it appears and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (4) in paragraph (5)— (A) in the heading, by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; and (C) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in the manner preceding clause (i), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; (ii) in clause (iv), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; and (iii) in clause (v), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; and (5) in paragraph (6)— (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of; (B) in subparagraph (D)— (i) in the heading, by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (ii) by striking physician or practitioner each place it appears and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (E) Therapist The term therapist means a qualified physical therapist (as such term is used in section 1861(p)), a qualified occupational therapist (as such term is used in 1861(g)), or a qualified speech-language pathologist (as defined in 1861(ll)(4)(A)). (F) Qualified audiologist The term qualified audiologist has the meaning given such term in section 1861(ll)(4)(B)..