Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2396

 PUBLIC LAW 108–173—DEC. 8, 2003

117 STAT. 2377

section 1889(g)) acting within the scope of the contractor’s contract authority, with respect to the furnishing of items or services and submission of a claim for benefits for such items or services with respect to such provider or supplier; ‘‘(ii) the Secretary determines that the provider of services or supplier has accurately presented the circumstances relating to such items, services, and claim to the contractor in writing; and ‘‘(iii) the guidance was in error; the provider of services or supplier shall not be subject to any penalty or interest under this title or the provisions of title XI insofar as they relate to this title (including interest under a repayment plan under section 1893 or otherwise) relating to the provision of such items or service or such claim if the provider of services or supplier reasonably relied on such guidance. ‘‘(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as preventing the recoupment or repayment (without any additional penalty) relating to an overpayment insofar as the overpayment was solely the result of a clerical or technical operational error.’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall only apply to a penalty or interest imposed with respect to guidance provided on or after July 24, 2003. SEC.

904.

REPORTS AND REFORM.

STUDIES

RELATING

TO

REGULATORY

(a) GAO STUDY ON ADVISORY OPINION AUTHORITY.— (1) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility and appropriateness of establishing in the Secretary authority to provide legally binding advisory opinions on appropriate interpretation and application of regulations to carry out the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Such study shall examine the appropriate timeframe for issuing such advisory opinions, as well as the need for additional staff and funding to provide such opinions. (2) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1) by not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) REPORT ON LEGAL AND REGULATORY INCONSISTENCIES.— Section 1871 (42 U.S.C. 1395hh), as amended by section 903(a)(1), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ‘‘(f)(1) Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report with respect to the administration of this title and areas of inconsistency or conflict among the various provisions under law and regulation. ‘‘(2) In preparing a report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall collect— ‘‘(A) information from individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, providers of services, and suppliers and from the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman with respect to such areas of inconsistency and conflict; and ‘‘(B) information from medicare contractors that tracks the nature of written and telephone inquiries.

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