Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 2.djvu/393

 PUBLIC LAW 104-134—APR. 26, 1996 110 STAT. 1321-246 or enter into such agreements with accrediting agencies, as are necessary to comply with this subsection. "(2) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. — "(A) IN GENERAL. —With respect to subclauses (I) and (II) of section 705(a)(2)(B)(i) (relating to a program of insured loans for training in the health professions), the requirements in such subclauses regarding accredited internship or residency programs are subject to paragraph (1) of this subsection. "(B) EXCEPTIONS. —This section shall not— "(i) prevent any health care entity from voluntarily electing to be trained, to train, or to arrange for training in the performance of, to perform, or to make referrals for induced abortions; or "(ii) prevent an accrediting agency or a Federal, State or local government from establishing standards of medical competency applicable only to those individuals who have voluntarily elected to perform abortions. "(c) DEFINITIONS. —For purposes of this section: "(1) The term 'financial assistance', with respect to a government program, includes governmental payments provided as reimbursement for carrying out health-related activities. "(2) The term 'health care entity' includes an individual physician, a postgraduate physician training program, and a participant in a program of training in the health professions. "(3) The term 'postgraduate physician training program' includes a residency training program.". SEC. 516. SURVEY AND CERTIFICATION OF MEDICARE PROVIDERS. (a) INTERVALS BETWEEN STANDARD SURVEYS FOR HOME HEALTH AGENCIES.—Section 1891(c)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bbb(c)(2)(A)) is amended— (1) by striking "15 months" and inserting "36 months", and (2) by amending the second sentence to read as follows: "The Secretary shall establish a frequency for surveys of home health agencies within this 36-month interval commensurate with the need to Eissure the delivery of quality home health services.". (b) RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITATION.— Section 1865 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395bb) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (d), (2) by redesignating the fourth sentence of subsection (a) as subsection (c), and (3) by striking the third sentence of subsection (a) and inserting after and below the second sentence the following new subsection: "(b)(1) In addition, if the Secretary finds that accreditation of a provider entity (as defined in paragraph (4)) by the American Osteopathic Association or any other national accreditation body demonstrates that all of the applicable conditions or requirements of this title (other than the requirements of section 1834(j) or the conditions and requirements under section 1881(b)) are met or exceeded— "(A) in the case of a provider entity not described in paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary shall treat such entity as meeting

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