114 STAT. 2763A-478 PUBLIC LAW 106-554—APPENDIX F (B) TERRITORY PROJECTS.— In the case of a demonstration project described in subsection (b)(2)(B), amounts shall be available only as provided in any Federal law making appropriations for the territories. (2) LIMITATION.—In conducting demonstration projects, the Secretary shall ensure that the aggregate payments made by the Secretary do not exceed the sum of the amount which the Secretary would have paid under the program for the prevention and treatment of cancer if the demonstration projects were not implemented, plus $25,000,000. SEC. 123. STUDY ON MEDICARE COVERAGE OF ROUTINE THYROID SCREENING. (a) STUDY. —The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall request the National Academy of Sciences, and as appropriate in conjunction with the United States Preventive Services Task Force, to conduct a study on the addition of coverage of routine thyroid screening using a thyroid stimulating hormone test as a preventive benefit provided to medicare beneficiaries under title XVIII of the Social Security Act for some or all medicare beneficiaries. In conducting the study, the Academy shall consider the short-term and long-term benefits, and costs to the medicare program, of such addition. (b) REPORT. — Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report on the findings of the study conducted under subsection (a) to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate. SEC. 124. MEDPAC STUDY ON CONSUMER COALITIONS. (a) STUDY. — The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission shall conduct a study that examines the use of consumer coalitions in the marketing of Medicare+Choice plans under the medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act. The study shall examine— (1) the potential for increased efficiency in the medicare program through greater beneficiary knowledge of their health care options, decreased marketing costs of Medicare+Choice organizations, and creation of a group market; (2) the implications of Medicare+Choice plans and medicare supplemental policies (under section 1882 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss)) offering medicare beneficiaries in the same geographic location different benefits and premiums based on their affiliation with a consumer coalition; (3) how coalitions should be governed, how they should be accountable to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and how potential conflicts of interest in the activities of consumer coalitions should be avoided; and (4) how such coalitions should be funded. (b) REPORT. — Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a). The report shall include a recommendation on whether and how a demonstration project might be conducted for the operation of consumer coalitions under the medicare program.
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