WITHHOLDING OF FEDERAL SHARE OF PAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN MEDICARE PROVIDERS

Sec. 1914. [42 U.S.C. 1396m] (a) The Secretary may adjust, in accordance with this section, the Federal matching payment to a State with respect to expenditures for medical assistance for care or services furnished in any quarter by—

(1) an institution (A) which has or previously had in effect an agreement with the Secretary under section 1866; and (B)(i) from which the Secretary has been unable to recover overpayments made under title XVIII, or (ii) from which the Secretary has been unable to collect the information necessary to enable him to determine the amount (if any) of the overpayments made to such institution under title XVIII; and

(2) any person (A) who (i) has previously accepted payment on the basis of an assignment under section 1842(b)(3)(B)(ii), and (ii) during the annual period immediately preceding such quarter submitted no claims for payment under title XVIII, or submitted claims for payment under title XVIII which aggregated less than the amount of overpayments made to him, and (B)(i) from whom the Secretary has been unable to recover overpayments received in violation of the terms of such assignment, or (ii) from whom the Secretary has been unable to collect the information necessary to enable him to determine the amount (if any) of the overpayments made to such person under title XVIII.

(b) The Secretary may (subject to the remaining provisions of this section) reduce payment to a State under this title for any quarter by an amount equal to the lesser of the Federal matching share of payments to any institution or person specified in subsection (a), or the total overpayments to such institution or person under title XVIII, and may require the State to reduce its payment to such institution or person by such amount.

(c) The Secretary shall not make any adjustment in the payment to a State, nor require any adjustment in the payment to an institution or person, pursuant to subsection (b) until after he has provided adequate notice (which shall be not less than 60 days) to the State agency and the institution or person.

(d) The Secretary shall by regulation provide procedures for implementation of this section, which procedures shall (1) determine the amount of the Federal payment to which the institution or person would otherwise be entitled under this section which shall be treated as a setoff against overpayments under title XVIII, and (2) assure the restoration to the institution or person of amounts withheld under this section which are ultimately determined to be in excess of overpayments under title XVIII and to which the institution or person would otherwise be entitled under this title.

(e) The Secretary shall restore to the trust funds established under sections 1817 and 1841, as appropriate, amounts recovered under this section as setoffs against overpayments under title XVIII.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, an institution or person shall not be entitled to recover from any State any amount in payment for medical care and services under this title which is withheld by the State agency pursuant to an order by the Secretary under subsection (b).