Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 1.djvu/228

 100 STAT. 192

PUBLIC LAW 99-272—APR. 7, 1986

hospital inpatients on the basis of diagnosis-related groups) and (ii) the Office's report under section 2309 of the Deficit Reduc42 USC 1395/ tion Act of 1984 (relating to physician reimbursement under note. this part); "(G) identify those procedures, involving the use of assistants at surgery, for which payment for those assistants should not be made under this title without prior approval; and "(H) identify those procedures for which an opinion of a second physician should be required before payment is made under this title. "(3) The Commission also shall advise and make recommendations to the Secretary respecting the development of the relative value scale under subsection (e). "(c)(1) The following provisions of section 1886(e)(6) shall apply to 42 USC 1395WW. the Commission in the same manner as they apply to the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission: "(A) Subparagraph (C) (relating to staffing and administration generally). "(B) Subparagraph (D) (relating to compensation of members). "(C) Subparagraph (F) (relating to access to information), "(D) Subparagraph (G) (relating to reports and use of funds). "(E) Subparagraph (H) (relating to periodic GAO audits). "(F) Subparagraph (J) (relating to requests for appropriations). "(2) In order to carry out its functions, the Commission shall collect and assess information on medical and surgical procedures and services, including information on regional variations of medical practice. In collecting and assessing information, the Commission shall— "(A) utilize existing information, both published and unpublished, where possible, collected and assessed either by its own staff or under other arrangements made in accordance with this section, "(B) carry out, or award grants or contracts for, original research and experimentation, where existing information is inadequate for the development of useful and valid guidelines by the Commission, and "(C) adopt procedures allowing any interested party to submit information with respect to physicians' services (including new practices, such as the use of new technologies and treatment modalities), which information the Commission shall consider in making reports and recommendations to the Secretary and Congress. "(d) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Such sums shall be payable from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.". (b)

42 USC 1396.

DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIVE VALUE SCALE FOR PHYSICIANS'

SERVICES.—Section 1845 of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(e)(1) The Secretary shall develop a relative value scale that establishes a numerical relationship among the various physicians' services for which payment may be made under this part or under State plans approved under title XIX. "(2) In developing the scale, the Secretary shall consider among other items—

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