| ACTION FROM THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANSFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2003 HR 1-A | CONTACT: (202) 225-3625 |
Johnson Announces Subcommittee Action on
H.R. 810, the "Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act of 2003"
Congresswoman Nancy L. Johnson (R-CT), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that on March 20, 2003, the Subcommittee ordered favorably reported to the full Committee, H.R. 810 the "Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act of 2003," as amended, by voice vote.
DESCRIPTION OF H.R. 810 AS APPROVED:
H.R. 810 would streamline the regulatory bureaucracy in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and would create a more collaborative working relationship between providers, beneficiaries, and CMS. Specifically, the bill would:
- Prohibit new matter in final regulations,
- Prohibit retroactive application of new regulations,
- Reform the contracting system by consolidating Part A and B contracting functions, requiring competition among contractors, and providing more flexibility for contractors,
- Improve provider and beneficiary education about their rights and benefits,
- Improve beneficiary and provider appeals,
- Reform recovery of overpayments, and
- Improve new technology integration.
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