PUBLIC LAW 106-113—APPENDIX F 113 STAT. 1501A-357 care following surgery). In conducting such study, the Commission shall consider data on these centers gathered in demonstration projects. (2) REPORT. —Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on such study and shall include in the report recommendations on the feasibility, costs, and savings of covering such services under the medicare program. (b) AHCPR STUDY ON EFFECT OF CREDENTIALING OF TECH- NOLOGISTS AND SONOGRAPHERS ON QUALITY OF ULTRASOUND. — (1) STUDY.— The Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research shall provide for a study that, with respect to the provision of ultrasound under the medicare and medicaid programs under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act, compares differences in quality between ultrasound furnished by individuals who are credentialed by private entities or organizations and ultrasound furnished bj' those who are not so credentialed. Such study shall examine and evaluate dif- ferences in error rates, resulting complications, and patient outcomes as a result of the differences in credentialing. In designing the study, the Administrator shall consult with organizations nationally recognized for their expertise in ultrasound. (2) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report to Congress on the study conducted under paragraph (1). (c) MEDPAC STUDY ON THE COMPLEXITY OF THE MEDICARE PROGRAM AND THE LEVELS OF BURDENS PLACED ON PROVIDERS THROUGH FEDERAL REGULATIONS.— (1) STUDY.— The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall undertake a comprehensive study to review the regulatory burdens placed on all classes of health care providers under parts A and B of the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act and to determine the costs these burdens impose on the nation's health care system. The study shall also examine the complexity of the current regulatory system and its impact on providers. (2) REPORT. — Not later than December 31, 2001, the Commission shall submit to Congress one or more reports on the study conducted under paragraph (1). The report shall include recommendations regarding— (A) how the Health Care Financing Administration can reduce the regulatory burdens placed on patients and providers; and (B) legislation that may be appropriate to reduce the complexity of the medicare program, including improvement of the rules regarding billing, compliance, and fraud and abuse. (d) GAO CONTINUED MONITORING OF DEP^JITMENT OF JUSTICE APPLICATION OF GUIDELINES ON USE OF FAJ.SE CLAIMS ACT IN CIVIL HEALTH CARE MATTERS. —The Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1) continue the monitoring, begun under section 118 of the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 1999 (included in Public Law 105-277) of the compliance of the Department of Justice and all United States Attorneys with the "Guidance
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