Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 5.djvu/585

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PUBLIC LAW 106-554—APPENDIX F 114 STAT. 2763A-545 the moving party may seek review by a court of competent jurisdiction without filing a complaint under such paragraph and without otherwise exhausting other administrative remedies. " (4) PENDING NATIONAL COVERAGE DETERMINATIONS. — "(A) IN GENERAL.—In the event the Secretary has not issued a national coverage or noncoverage determination with respect to a particular type or class of items or services, an aggrieved person (as described in paragraph (5)) may submit to the Secretary a request to make such a determination with respect to such items or services. By not later than the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date the Secretary receives such a request (notwithstanding the receipt by the Secretary of new evidence (if any) during such 90-day period), the Secretary shall take one of the following actions: "(i) Issue a national coverage determination, with or without limitations. "(ii) Issue a national noncoverage determination, "(iii) Issue a determination that no national coverage or noncoverage determination is appropriate as of the end of such 90-day period with respect to national coverage of such items or services. "(iv) Issue a notice that states that the Secretary has not completed a review of the request for a national coverage determination and that includes an identification of the remaining steps in the Secretary's review process and a deadline by which the Secretary will complete the review and take an action described in subclause (I), (II), or (III). "(B) DEEMED ACTION BY THE SECRETARY. —In the case of an action described in clause (i)(IV), if the Secretary fails to take an action referred to in such clause by the deadline specified by the Secretary under such clause, then the Secretary is deemed to have taken an action described in clause (i)(III) as of the deadline. "(C) EXPLANATION OF DETERMINATION.— When issuing a determination under clause (i), the Secretary shall include an explanation of the basis for the determination. An action taken under clause (i) (other than subclause (IV)) is deemed to be a national coverage determination for purposes of review under subparagraph (A). "(5) STANDING. —An action under this subsection seeking review of a national coverage determination or local coverage determination may be initiated only by individuals entitled to benefits under part A, or enrolled under part B, or both, who are in need of the items or services that are the subject of the coverage determination. "(6) PUBLICATION ON THE INTERNET OF DECISIONS OF HEAR- INGS OF THE SECRETARY.— Each decision of a hearing by the Secretary with respect to a national coverage determination shall be made public, and the Secretary shall publish each decision on the Medicare Internet site of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Secretary shall remove from such decision any information that would identify any individual, provider of services, or supplier.