Medicare Program; Intermediary and Carrier Functions

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

42 CFR Part 421

[BPO-111-N]

RIN 0938-AG06

Medicare Program; Intermediary and Carrier Functions

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the reopening of the comment period on

the proposed rule we published in the Federal Register on February 22,

1994 concerning Medicare intermediary and carrier functions.

DATES: Comments will be considered if we receive them at the

appropriate address, as provided below, no later than 5 p.m., by

October 11, 1994. Comments received after the original comment period

ending date of April 26, 1994 and before July 13, 1994 also will be

considered.

ADDRESSES: Mail written comments to the following address: Health Care

Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services,

Attention: BPO-111-P, P.O. Box 26676, Baltimore, MD 21207.

If you prefer, you may deliver your comments to one of the

following addresses: Room 309-G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200

Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, or Room 132, East High

Rise Building, 6325 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21207.

Due to staffing and resource limitations, we cannot accept

facsimile (FAX) transmissions. In commenting, please refer to file code

BPO-111-P. Comments received timely will be available for public

inspection as they are received, generally beginning approximately 3

weeks after publication of a document, in room 309-G of the

Department's offices at 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C.,

on Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (phone:

(410) 966-7411). This notice is effective immediately.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Bromberg, (410) 966-7441.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 22, 1994 (59 FR 8446), we

published a proposed rule in the Federal Register, that would revise

the list of mandatory functions included in agreements with Medicare

fiscal intermediaries pursuant to section 1816 of the Social Security

Act. We would require that the intermediary agreements include, as

functions, the statutory requirements that intermediaries determine

proper payment amounts and pay bills. All other functions would be

optional. We proposed that all functions included in contracts with

Medicare carriers be optional, since section 1842 of the Act does not

list mandatory functions. These changes would provide us with the

flexibility to transfer functions from one intermediary or carrier to

another or to otherwise limit the functions an intermediary or carrier

performs when we determine to do so would result in more effective and

efficient program administration. The comment period for the February

22, 1994 proposed rule ended on April 25, 1994. We are extending the

comment period and will consider comments if we receive them at the

appropriate address, as provided in the February 22, 1994 proposed

notice, by October 11, 1994. All comments received between April 26,

1994, and the date of publication of this notice will be accepted.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,

Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93-774, Medicare--

Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

Dated: May 18, 1994.

Bruce C. Vladeck,

Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

Dated: May 30, 1994.

Donna E. Shalala,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 94-16885 Filed 7-12-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P