CONTRACTS WITH MEDICARE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACTORS^[650]

Sec. 1874A. [42 U.S.C. 1395kk-1] (a) Authority.—

(1) Authority to enter into contracts.—The Secretary may enter into contracts with any eligible entity to serve as a medicare administrative contractor with respect to the performance of any or all of the functions described in paragraph (4) or parts of those functions (or, to the extent provided in a contract, to secure performance thereof by other entities).

(2) Eligibility of entities.—An entity is eligible to enter into a contract with respect to the performance of a particular function described in paragraph (4) only if—

(A) the entity has demonstrated capability to carry out such function;

(B) the entity complies with such conflict of interest standards as are generally applicable to Federal acquisition and procurement;

(C) the entity has sufficient assets to financially support the performance of such function; and

(D) the entity meets such other requirements as the Secretary may impose.

(3) Medicare administrative contractor defined.—For purposes of this title and title XI—

(A) In general.—The term “medicare administrative contractor” means an agency, organization, or other person with a contract under this section.

(B) Appropriate medicare administrative contractor.—With respect to the performance of a particular function in relation to an individual entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, a specific provider of services or supplier (or class of such providers of services or suppliers), the “appropriate” medicare administrative contractor is the medicare administrative contractor that has a contract under this section with respect to the performance of that function in relation to that individual, provider of services or supplier or class of provider of services or supplier.

(4) Functions described.—The functions referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) are payment functions (including the function of developing local coverage determinations, as defined in section 1869(f)(2)(B)), provider services functions, and functions relating to services furnished to individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, as follows:

(A) Determination of payment amounts.—Determining (subject to the provisions of section 1878 and to such review by the Secretary as may be provided for by the contracts) the amount of the payments required pursuant to this title to be made to providers of services, suppliers and individuals.

(B) Making payments.—Making payments described in subparagraph (A) (including receipt, disbursement, and accounting for funds in making such payments).

(C) Beneficiary education and assistance.—Providing education and outreach to individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, and providing assistance to those individuals with specific issues, concerns, or problems.

(D) Provider consultative services.—Providing consultative services to institutions, agencies, and other persons to enable them to establish and maintain fiscal records necessary for purposes of this title and otherwise to qualify as providers of services or suppliers.

(E) Communication with providers.—Communicating to providers of services and suppliers any information or instructions furnished to the medicare administrative contractor by the Secretary, and facilitating communication between such providers and suppliers and the Secretary.

(F) Provider education and technical assistance.—Performing the functions relating to provider education, training, and technical assistance.

(G) Improper payment outreach and education program.— Having in place an improper payment outreach and education program described in subsection (h).

(H) Additional functions.—Performing such other functions, including (subject to paragraph (5)) functions under the Medicare Integrity Program under section 1893, as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this title.^[651]

(5) Relationship to mip contracts.—

(A) Nonduplication of duties.—In entering into contracts under this section, the Secretary shall assure that functions of medicare administrative contractors in carrying out activities under parts A and B do not duplicate activities carried out under a contract entered into under the medicare Integrity Program under section 1893. The previous sentence shall not apply with respect to the activity described in section 1893(b)(5) (relating to prior authorization of certain items of durable medical equipment under section 1834(a)(15)).

(B) Construction.—An entity shall not be treated as a medicare administrative contractor merely by reason of having entered into a contract with the Secretary under section 1893.

(6) Application of federal acquisition regulation.—Except to the extent inconsistent with a specific requirement of this section, the Federal Acquisition Regulation applies to contracts under this section.

(b)[652] Contracting Requirements.—

(1) Use of competitive procedures.—

(A) In general.—Except as provided in laws with general applicability to Federal acquisition and procurement or in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall use competitive procedures when entering into contracts with medicare administrative contractors under this section, taking into account performance quality as well as price and other factors.

(B) Renewal of contracts.—The Secretary may renew a contract with a medicare administrative contractor under this section from term to term without regard to section 5 of title 41, United States Code, or any other provision of law requiring competition, if the medicare administrative contractor has met or exceeded the performance requirements applicable with respect to the contract and contractor, except that the Secretary shall provide for the application of competitive procedures under such a contract not less frequently than once every 10 years.^[653]

(C) Transfer of functions.—The Secretary may transfer functions among medicare administrative contractors consistent with the provisions of this paragraph. The Secretary shall ensure that performance quality is considered in such transfers. The Secretary shall provide public notice (whether in the Federal Register or otherwise) of any such transfer (including a description of the functions so transferred, a description of the providers of services and suppliers affected by such transfer, and contact information for the contractors involved).

(D)[654] Incentives for quality.—

(i) In general.—Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), the Secretary shall provide incentives for medicare administrative contractors to provide quality service and to promote efficiency.

(ii) Improper payment rate reduction incentives.—The Secretary shall provide incentives for medicare administrative contractors to reduce the improper payment error rates in their jurisdictions.

(iii) Incentives.—The incentives provided for under clause (ii)—

(I) may include a sliding scale of award fee payments and additional incentives to medicare administrative contractors that either reduce the improper payment rates in their jurisdictions to certain thresholds, as determined by the Secretary, or accomplish tasks, as determined by the Secretary, that further improve payment accuracy; and

(II) may include substantial reductions in award fee payments under cost-plus-award-fee contracts, for medicare administrative contractors that reach an upper end improper payment rate threshold or other threshold as determined by the Secretary, or fail to accomplish tasks, as determined by the Secretary, that further improve payment accuracy.

(2) Compliance with requirements.—No contract under this section shall be entered into with any medicare administrative contractor unless the Secretary finds that such medicare administrative contractor will perform its obligations under the contract efficiently and effectively and will meet such requirements as to financial responsibility, legal authority, quality of services provided, and other matters as the Secretary finds pertinent.

(3) Performance requirements.—

(A) Development of specific performance requirements.—

(i) In general.—The Secretary shall develop contract performance requirements to carry out the specific requirements applicable under this title to a function described in subsection (a)(4) and shall develop standards for measuring the extent to which a contractor has met such requirements.

Such requirements shall include specific performance duties expected of a medical director of a medicare administrative contractor, including requirements relating to professional relations and the availability of such director to conduct medical determination activities within the jurisdiction of such a contractor

(ii) Consultation.—In developing such performance requirements and standards for measurement, the Secretary shall consult with providers of services, organizations representative of beneficiaries under this title, and organizations and agencies performing functions necessary to carry out the purposes of this section with respect to such performance requirements.

(iii) Publication of standards.—The Secretary shall make such performance requirements and measurement standards available to the public.

(iv) Contractor performance transparency.—To the extent possible without compromising the process for entering into and renewing contracts with medicare administrative contractors under this section, the Secretary shall make available to the public the performance of each medicare administrative contractor with respect to such performance requirements and measurement standards.^[655]

(B) Considerations.—The Secretary shall include, as one of the standards developed under subparagraph (A), provider and beneficiary satisfaction levels.

(C) Inclusion in contracts.—All contractor performance requirements shall be set forth in the contract between the Secretary and the appropriate medicare administrative contractor. Such performance requirements—

(i) shall reflect the performance requirements published under subparagraph (A), but may include additional performance requirements;

(ii) shall be used for evaluating contractor performance under the contract; and

(iii) shall be consistent with the written statement of work provided under the contract.

(4) Information requirements.—The Secretary shall not enter into a contract with a medicare administrative contractor under this section unless the contractor agrees—

(A) to furnish to the Secretary such timely information and reports as the Secretary may find necessary in performing his functions under this title; and

(B) to maintain such records and afford such access thereto as the Secretary finds necessary to assure the correctness and verification of the information and reports under subparagraph (A) and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this title.

(5) Surety bond.—A contract with a medicare administrative contractor under this section may require the medicare administrative contractor, and any of its officers or employees certifying payments or disbursing funds pursuant to the contract, or otherwise participating in carrying out the contract, to give surety bond to the United States in such amount as the Secretary may deem appropriate.

(c) Terms and Conditions.—

(1) In general.—A contract with any medicare administrative contractor under this section may contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary finds necessary or appropriate and may provide for advances of funds to the medicare administrative contractor for the making of payments by it under subsection (a)(4)(B).

(2) Prohibition on mandates for certain data collection.—The Secretary may not require, as a condition of entering into, or renewing, a contract under this section, that the medicare administrative contractor match data obtained other than in its activities under this title with data used in the administration of this title for purposes of identifying situations in which the provisions of section 1862(b) may apply.

(d) Limitation on Liability of Medicare Administrative Contractors and Certain Officers.—

(1) Certifying officer.—No individual designated pursuant to a contract under this section as a certifying officer shall, in the absence of the reckless disregard of the individual’s obligations or the intent by that individual to defraud the United States, be liable with respect to any payments certified by the individual under this section.

(2) Disbursing officer.—No disbursing officer shall, in the absence of the reckless disregard of the officer’s obligations or the intent by that officer to defraud the United States, be liable with respect to any payment by such officer under this section if it was based upon an authorization (which meets the applicable requirements for such internal controls established by the Comptroller General of the United States) of a certifying officer designated as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(3) Liability of medicare administrative contractor.—

(A) In general.—No medicare administrative contractor shall be liable to the United States for a payment by a certifying or disbursing officer unless, in connection with such payment, the medicare administrative contractor acted with reckless disregard of its obligations under its medicare administrative contract or with intent to defraud the United States.

(B) Relationship to false claims act.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit liability for conduct that would constitute a violation of sections 3729 through 3731 of title 31, United States Code^[656].

(4) Indemnification by secretary.—

(A) In general.—Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (D), in the case of a medicare administrative contractor (or a person who is a director, officer, or employee of such a contractor or who is engaged by the contractor to participate directly in the claims administration process) who is made a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding arising from or relating directly to the claims administration process under this title, the Secretary may, to the extent the Secretary determines to be appropriate and as specified in the contract with the contractor, indemnify the contractor and such persons.

(B) Conditions.—The Secretary may not provide indemnification under subparagraph (A) insofar as the liability for such costs arises directly from conduct that is determined by the judicial proceeding or by the Secretary to be criminal in nature, fraudulent, or grossly negligent. If indemnification is provided by the Secretary with respect to a contractor before a determination that such costs arose directly from such conduct, the contractor shall reimburse the Secretary for costs of indemnification.

(C) Scope of indemnification.—Indemnification by the Secretary under subparagraph (A) may include payment of judgments, settlements (subject to subparagraph (D)), awards, and costs (including reasonable legal expenses).

(D) Written approval for settlements or compromises.—A contractor or other person described in subparagraph (A) may not propose to negotiate a settlement or compromise of a proceeding described in such subparagraph without the prior written approval of the Secretary to negotiate such settlement or compromise. Any indemnification under subparagraph (A) with respect to amounts paid under a settlement or compromise of a proceeding described in such subparagraph are conditioned upon prior written approval by the Secretary of the final settlement or compromise.

(E) Construction.—Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed—

(i) to change any common law immunity that may be available to a medicare administrative contractor or person described in subparagraph (A); or

(ii) to permit the payment of costs not otherwise allowable, reasonable, or allocable under the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

(e) Requirements for Information Security.—

(1) Development of information security program.—A medicare administrative contractor that performs the functions referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(4) (relating to determining and making payments) shall implement a contractor-wide information security program to provide information security for the operation and assets of the contractor with respect to such functions under this title. An information security program under this paragraph shall meet the requirements for information security programs imposed on Federal agencies under paragraphs (1) through (8) of section 3544(b) of title 44, United States Code (other than the requirements under paragraphs (2)(D)(i), (5)(A), and (5)(B) of such section).

(2) Independent audits.—

(A) Performance of annual evaluations.—Each year a medicare administrative contractor that performs the functions referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(4) (relating to determining and making payments) shall undergo an evaluation of the information security of the contractor with respect to such functions under this title. The evaluation shall—

(i) be performed by an entity that meets such requirements for independence as the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services may establish; and

(ii) test the effectiveness of information security control techniques of an appropriate subset of the contractor’s information systems (as defined in section 3502(8) of title 44, United States Code) relating to such functions under this title and an assessment of compliance with the requirements of this subsection and related information security policies, procedures, standards and guidelines, including policies and procedures as may be prescribed by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and applicable information security standards promulgated under section 11331 of title 40, United States Code.

(B) Deadline for initial evaluation.—

(i) New contractors.—In the case of a medicare administrative contractor covered by this subsection that has not previously performed the functions referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(4) (relating to determining and making payments) as a fiscal intermediary or carrier under section 1816 or 1842, the first independent evaluation conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be completed prior to commencing such functions.

(ii) Other contractors.—In the case of a medicare administrative contractor covered by this subsection that is not described in clause (i), the first independent evaluation conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be completed within 1 year after the date the contractor commences functions referred to in clause (i) under this section.

(C) Reports on evaluations.—

(i) To the department of health and human services.—The results of independent evaluations under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted promptly to the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services and to the Secretary.

(ii) To congress.—The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress annual reports on the results of such evaluations, including assessments of the scope and sufficiency of such evaluations.

(iii) Agency reporting.—The Secretary shall address the results of such evaluations in reports required under section 3544(c) of title 44, United States Code.

(f) Incentives To Improve Contractor Performance in Provider Education and Outreach.—The Secretary shall use specific claims payment error rates or similar methodology of medicare administrative contractors in the processing or reviewing of medicare claims in order to give such contractors an incentive to implement effective education and outreach programs for providers of services and suppliers.

(g) Communications With Beneficiaries, Providers of Services and Suppliers.—

(1) Communication strategy.—The Secretary shall develop a strategy for communications with individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, and with providers of services and suppliers under this title.

(2) Response to written inquiries.—Each medicare administrative contractor shall, for those providers of services and suppliers which submit claims to the contractor for claims processing and for those individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, with respect to whom claims are submitted for claims processing, provide general written responses (which may be through electronic transmission) in a clear, concise, and accurate manner to inquiries of providers of services, suppliers, and individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, concerning the programs under this title within 45 business days of the date of receipt of such inquiries.

(3) Response to toll-free lines.—The Secretary shall ensure that each medicare administrative contractor shall provide, for those providers of services and suppliers which submit claims to the contractor for claims processing and for those individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, with respect to whom claims are submitted for claims processing, a toll-free telephone number at which such individuals, providers of services, and suppliers may obtain information regarding billing, coding, claims, coverage, and other appropriate information under this title.

(4) Monitoring of contractor responses.—

(A) In general.—Each medicare administrative contractor shall, consistent with standards developed by the Secretary under subparagraph (B)—

(i) maintain a system for identifying who provides the information referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3); and

(ii) monitor the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of the information so provided.

(B) Development of standards.—

(i) In general.—The Secretary shall establish and make public standards to monitor the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of the information provided in response to written and telephone inquiries under this subsection. Such standards shall be consistent with the performance requirements established under subsection (b)(3).

(ii) Evaluation.—In conducting evaluations of individual medicare administrative contractors, the Secretary shall take into account the results of the monitoring conducted under subparagraph (A) taking into account as performance requirements the standards established under clause (i). The Secretary shall, in consultation with organizations representing providers of services, suppliers, and individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, establish standards relating to the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of the information so provided.

(C) Direct monitoring.—Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as preventing the Secretary from directly monitoring the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of the information so provided.

(5) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this subsection.

(h)Improper Payment Outreach and Education Program.—^[657]

(1) In general.— In order to reduce improper payments under this title, each medicare administrative contractor shall establish and have in place an improper payment outreach and education program under which the contractor, through outreach, education, training, and technical assistance or other activities, shall provide providers of services and suppliers located in the region covered by the contract under this section with the information described in paragraph (2). The activities described in the preceding sentence shall be conducted on a regular basis.

(2) Information to be provided through activities.— The information to be provided under such payment outreach and education program shall include information the Secretary determines to be appropriate, which may include the following information:

(A) A list of the providers' or suppliers' most frequent and expensive payment errors over the last quarter.

(B) Specific instructions regarding how to correct or avoid such errors in the future.

(C) A notice of new topics that have been approved by the Secretary for audits conducted by recovery audit contractors under section 1893(h).

(D) Specific instructions to prevent future issues related to such new audits.

(E) Other information determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(3) Priority.—A medicare administrative contractor shall give priority to activities under such program that will reduce improper payments that are one or more of the following:

(A) Are for items and services that have the highest rate of improper payment.

(B) Are for items and service that have the greatest total dollar amount of improper payments.

(C) Are due to clear misapplication or misinterpretation of medicare policies.

(D) Are clearly due to common and inadvertent clerical or administrative errors.

(E) Are due to other types of errors that the Secretary determines could be prevented through activities under the program.

(4) Information on improper payments from recovery audit contractors.—

(A) In general.— In order to assist medicare administrative contractors in carrying out improper payment outreach and education programs, the Secretary shall provide each contractor with a complete list of the types of improper payments identified by recovery audit contractors under section 1893(h) with respect to providers of services and suppliers located in the region covered by the contract under this section. Such information shall be provided on a time frame the Secretary determines appropriate which may be on a quarterly basis.

(B) Information.— The information described in subparagraph (A) shall include information such as the following:

(i) Providers of services and suppliers that have the highest rate of improper payments.

(ii) Providers of services and suppliers that have the greatest total dollar amounts of improper payments.

(iii) Items and services furnished in the region that have the highest rates of improper payments.

(iv) Items and services furnished in the region that are responsible for the greatest total dollar amount of improper payments.

(v) Other information the Secretary determines would assist the contractor in carrying out the program.

(5) Communications.—Communications with providers of services and suppliers under an improper payment outreach and education program are subject to the standards and requirements of subsection (g).

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^[650]  See Vol. II, P.L. 108-173, §911(d), with respect to transition rules and §911(e), with respect to any references to fiscal intermediary or carrier under title XI or XVIII.

^[651]  P.L. 114-10, §505(a)(1) redesignated subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (H). Effective April 16, 2015.

^[652]  See Vol. II, P.L. 108-173, §911(a)(2), with respect to consideration of incorporation of current law standards.

^[653]  P.L. 114–10 §509(a) struck “5 years”; inserted “10 years”. Effective April 16, 2015.

^[654]  P.L. 114–115, §7(a), redrafted (D) to include clauses (ii) and (iii). Effective for contracts entered into or renewed on or after the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment, which was December 28, 2015. Also see Vol. II, P.L. 114–115, §7(b) for application to prior existing contracts.

^[655]  P.L. 114–10 §509(c) Inserted clause (iv). Effective April 16, 2015.

^[656]  See Vol. II, 31 U.S.C. 3729-3731.

^[657]  P.L. 111–152, §1302, repealed prior subsection (h), which concerned conduct of prepayment review. Effective March 30, 2010.

P.L. 114–10 §505(a)(2) added this subsection (h). Effective April 16, 2015.