Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2415

 117 STAT. 2396 42 USC 1395b–7 note.

PUBLIC LAW 108–173—DEC. 8, 2003

SEC. 925. INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN NOTICES TO BENEFICIARIES ABOUT SKILLED NURSING FACILITY BENEFITS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide that in medicare beneficiary notices provided (under section 1806(a) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1395b–7(a)) with respect to the provision of post-hospital extended care services under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, there shall be included information on the number of days of coverage of such services remaining under such part for the medicare beneficiary and spell of illness involved. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) shall apply to notices provided during calendar quarters beginning more than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 926. INFORMATION ON MEDICARE-CERTIFIED SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES IN HOSPITAL DISCHARGE PLANS.

42 USC 1395x note.

(a) AVAILABILITY OF DATA.—The Secretary shall publicly provide information that enables hospital discharge planners, medicare beneficiaries, and the public to identify skilled nursing facilities that are participating in the medicare program. (b) INCLUSION OF INFORMATION IN CERTAIN HOSPITAL DISCHARGE PLANS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861(ee)(2)(D) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ee)(2)(D)) is amended— (A) by striking ‘‘hospice services’’ and inserting ‘‘hospice care and post-hospital extended care services’’; and (B) by inserting before the period at the end the following: ‘‘and, in the case of individuals who are likely to need post-hospital extended care services, the availability of such services through facilities that participate in the program under this title and that serve the area in which the patient resides’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to discharge plans made on or after such date as the Secretary shall specify, but not later than 6 months after the date the Secretary provides for availability of information under subsection (a).

42 USC 1395x note.

Subtitle D—Appeals and Recovery 42 USC 1395ff note.

VerDate 11-MAY-2000

13:59 Aug 30, 2004

SEC. 931. TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEDICARE APPEALS.

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(a) TRANSITION PLAN.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than April 1, 2004, the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary shall develop and transmit to Congress and the Comptroller General of the United States a plan under which the functions of administrative law judges responsible for hearing cases under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (and related provisions in title XI of such Act) are transferred from the responsibility of the Commissioner and the Social Security Administration to the Secretary and the Department of Health and Human Services. (2) CONTENTS.—The plan shall include information on the following: (A) WORKLOAD.—The number of such administrative law judges and support staff required now and in the

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