PUBLIC LAW 108–173—DEC. 8, 2003
117 STAT. 2391
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u) in the same manner as they apply to medicare administrative contractors under such provisions. (d) IMPROVED PROVIDER EDUCATION AND TRAINING.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1889, as added by subsection (a), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections: ‘‘(b) ENHANCED EDUCATION AND TRAINING.— ‘‘(1) ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary (in appropriate part from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2005. ‘‘(2) USE.—The funds made available under paragraph (1) shall be used to increase the conduct by medicare contractors of education and training of providers of services and suppliers regarding billing, coding, and other appropriate items and may also be used to improve the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of contractor responses. ‘‘(c) TAILORING EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES FOR SMALL PROVIDERS OR SUPPLIERS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Insofar as a medicare contractor conducts education and training activities, it shall tailor such activities to meet the special needs of small providers of services or suppliers (as defined in paragraph (2)). Such education and training activities for small providers of services and suppliers may include the provision of technical assistance (such as review of billing systems and internal controls to determine program compliance and to suggest more efficient and effective means of achieving such compliance). ‘‘(2) SMALL PROVIDER OF SERVICES OR SUPPLIER.—In this subsection, the term ‘small provider of services or supplier’ means— ‘‘(A) a provider of services with fewer than 25 fulltime-equivalent employees; or ‘‘(B) a supplier with fewer than 10 full-time-equivalent employees.’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on October 1, 2004. (e) REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN INTERNET WEBSITES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1889, as added by subsection (a) and as amended by subsection (d), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: ‘‘(d) INTERNET WEBSITES; FAQS.—The Secretary, and each medicare contractor insofar as it provides services (including claims processing) for providers of services or suppliers, shall maintain an Internet website which— ‘‘(1) provides answers in an easily accessible format to frequently asked questions, and ‘‘(2) includes other published materials of the contractor, that relate to providers of services and suppliers under the programs under this title (and title XI insofar as it relates to such programs).’’. (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on October 1, 2004. (f) ADDITIONAL PROVIDER EDUCATION PROVISIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1889, as added by subsection (a) and as amended by subsections (d) and (e), is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
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