Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 103 Part 3.djvu/188

 103 STAT. 2256 PUBLIC LAW 101-239—DEC. 19, 1989 42 USC 1395x SEC. 6222. CONTINUED USE OF HOME HEALTH WAGE INDEX IN EFFECT note. PRIOR TO JULY 1, 1989, UNTIL AFTER JULY 1, 1991. Notwithstanding the requirement of section 1861(v)(l)(L)(iii) of the Social Security Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in determining the limits of reasonable costs under title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to services furnished by home health agencies, continue to utilize the wage index that was in effect for cost reporting periods beginning before July 1, 1989, until cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 1991. SEC. 6223. HCFA PERSONNEL STUDY. (a) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall (subject to subsection (c)) enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Public Administration (hereafter in this sec- tion referred to as the "Academy") to— (1) study personnel administration at the Health Care Financ- ing Administration (hereafter in this section referred to as "HCFA"); (2) assess the adequacy of HCFA staffing; and (3) recommend any needed changes with respect to HCFA staffing to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress. (b) REQUIREMENTS OF STUDY. —In conducting the study, the Acad- emy shall interview management officials at HCFA and other appropriate agencies. The study shall include consideration of— (1) the average years in service, years to retirement and average age of various categories of HC^FA personnel; (2) the adequacy of HCFA practices to recruit personnel to replace persons who retire or resign and train new employees in the intricacies of HCFA programs; (3) the grade structure of various categories of HCFA person- nel, and the need for additional nonsupervisoir positions at the GS-13, GS-14, and GS-15 levels for particularly skilled and expert personnel needed for HCFA to carry out its missions; (4) the grade structure at HCFA with Federal agencies of ,; similar size and responsibilities; (5) whether bonus payments or other incentives are needed for HCFA to recruit and retain specialized personnel; « (6) particular problems in hiring personnel that may prevent / recruitment and retention of qualified staff; (7) Office of Personnel Management rules that may be ^ burdensome to the hiring process; and (8) how HCFA can more appropriately address the priorities of both Congress and the executive branch of Government. (c) ARRANGEMENTS FOR STUDY, —The Secretary shall request the Academy, acting through appropriate units, to submit an applica- tion to conduct the study described in this section. If the Academy submits an acceptable application, the Secretary shall enter into an appropriate arrangement with the Academy for the conduct of the study. If the Academy does not submit an acceptable application to conduct the study, the Secretary may request one or more appro- priate nonprofit private entities to submit an application to conduct the study and may enter into an appropriate arrangement for the conduct of the study by the entity which submits the best acceptable application.

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