PUBLIC LAW 106-113—APPENDIX F 113 STAT. 1501A-349 "(i) the sustainable growth rates for that year and the preceding 2 years shall be determined on the basis of the best data available to the Secretary as of September 1 of the year preceding the year for which the calculation is made; and "(ii) the sustainable growth rate for any year before a year described in clause (i) shall be the rate as most recently determined for that year under this subsection. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as affecting the sustainable growth rates established for fiscal year 1998 or fiscal year 1999. ". (c) STUDY AND REPORT REGARDING THE UHLIZATION OF PHYSI- CIANS' SERVICES BY MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES.— (1) STUDY BY SECRETARY. —The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Restjarch, shall conduct a study of the issues specified in paragraph (2). (2) ISSUES TO BE STUDIED. —The issues specified in this paragraph are the following: (A) The various methods for accurately estimating the economic impact on expenditures for physicians' services under the original medicare fee-for-service program under parts A and B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) resulting from-- (i) improvements in medical capabilities; (ii) advancements in scientific technology; (iii) demographic changes in the types of medicare beneficiaries that receive benefits under such program; and (iv) geographic changes in locations where medii care beneficiaries receive benefits under such program. (B) The rate of usage of physicians' services under the original medicare fee-for-service program under parts A and B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) among beneficiaries between ages 65 and 74, 75 and 84, 85 and over, and disabled beneficiaries under age 65. (C) Other factors that may be leliable predictors of beneficiary utilization of physicians' services under the original medicare fee-for-service program under parts A and B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.). (3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to Congress setting forth the results of the study conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), together with any recommendations the Secretary determines are appropriate. (4) MEDPAC REPORT TO CONGRESS. —Not later than 180 days after the date of submission of the rejjort under paragraph (3), the Medicare Pajmient Advisory Commission shall submit a report to Congress that includes— (A) an analysis and evaluation of the report submitted under paragraph (3); and (B) such recommendations as it determines are appropriate.
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