§ 1395b–7. Explanation of medicare benefits

(a) In general The Secretary shall furnish to each individual for whom payment has been made under this subchapter (or would be made without regard to any deductible) a statement which—

(1) lists the item or service for which payment has been made and the amount of such payment for each item or service; and

(2) includes a notice of the individual’s right to request an itemized statement (as provided in subsection (b) of this section).

(b) Request for itemized statement for medicare items and services

(1) In general

An individual may submit a written request to any physician, provider, supplier, or any other person (including an organization, agency, or other entity) for an itemized statement for any item or service provided to such individual by such person with respect to which payment has been made under this subchapter.

(2) 30-day period to furnish statement

(A) In general

Not later than 30 days after the date on which a request under paragraph (1) has been made, a person described in such paragraph shall furnish an itemized statement describing each item or service provided to the individual requesting the itemized statement.

(B) Penalty

Whoever knowingly fails to furnish an itemized statement in accordance with subparagraph (A) shall be subject to a civil money penalty of not more than $100 for each such failure. Such penalty shall be imposed and collected in the same manner as civil money penalties under subsection (a) of section 1320a–7a of this title are imposed and collected under that section.

(3) Review of itemized statement

(A) In general

Not later than 90 days after the receipt of an itemized statement furnished under paragraph (1), an individual may submit a written request for a review of the itemized statement to the Secretary.

(B) Specific allegations A request for a review of the itemized statement shall identify—

(i) specific items or services that the individual believes were not provided as claimed, or

(ii) any other billing irregularity (including duplicate billing).

(4) Findings of Secretary

The Secretary shall, with respect to each written request submitted under paragraph (3), determine whether the itemized statement identifies specific items or services that were not provided as claimed or any other billing irregularity (including duplicate billing) that has resulted in unnecessary payments under this subchapter.

(5) Recovery of amounts

The Secretary shall take all appropriate measures to recover amounts unnecessarily paid under this subchapter with respect to a statement described in paragraph (4).

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XVIII, § 1806, as added Pub. L. 105–33, title IV, § 4311(b)(1), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 385.)

Effective Date

Effective Date

Pub. L. 105–33, title IV, § 4311(b)(3), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 386, provided that:

“(A)Statement by secretary.—Paragraph (1) of section 1806(a) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395b–7(a)(1)], as added by paragraph (1), and the repeal made by paragraph (2) [amending section 1395b–5 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 5, 1997].

“(B)Itemized statement.—Paragraph (2) of section 1806(a) and section 1806(b) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395b–7(a)(2), (b)], as so added, shall take effect not later than January 1, 1999.”

Miscellaneous

Inclusion of Additional Information in Notices to Beneficiaries About Skilled Nursing Facility Benefits

Pub. L. 108–173, title IX, § 925, Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2396, provided that:

“(a)In General.—The Secretary [of Health and Human Services] shall provide that in medicare beneficiary notices provided (under section 1806(a) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1395b–7(a)) with respect to the provision of post-hospital extended care services under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395c et seq.], there shall be included information on the number of days of coverage of such services remaining under such part for the medicare beneficiary and spell of illness involved.

“(b)Effective Date.—Subsection (a) shall apply to notices provided during calendar quarters beginning more than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 8, 2003].”