Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 5.djvu/568

 114 STAT. 2763A-528 PUBLIC LAW 106-554^APPENDIX F level of resources that the Health Care Financing Administration should devote to educating physicians regarding— (A) coding and billing; (B) documentation requirements; and (C) the calculation of overpayments. (2) REPORT.— Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1) together with specific recommendations for changes or improvements in the post-payment audit process described in such paragraph, (b) GAO STUDY ON ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT.— (1) STUDY.— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the aggregate effects of regulatory, audit, oversight, and paperwork burdens on physicians and other health care providers participating in the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act. (2) REPORT.— Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1) together with recommendations regarding any area in which— (A) a reduction in paperwork, an ease of administration, or an appropriate change in oversight and review may be accomplished; or (B) additional payments or education are needed to assist physicians and other health care providers in understanding and complying with any legal or regulatory requirements. SEC. 438. MEDPAC STUDY ON ACCESS TO OUTPATIENT PAIN MANAGE- MENT SERVICES. (a) STUDY.— The Medicare Pa5anent Advisory Commission shall conduct a study on the barriers to coverage and payment for outpatient interventional pain medicine procedures under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Such study shall examine— (1) the specific barriers imposed under the medicare program on the provision of pain management procedures in hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgery centers, and physicians' offices; and (2) the consistency of medicare payment policies for pain management procedures in those different settings. (b) REPORT.— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study.

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