94-28320. Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Delay in Implementation of the Medicare-Medicaid Coverage Data Bank Requirements

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28320]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Care Financing Administration
[BPO-128-N]

 

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Delay in Implementation of the 
Medicare-Medicaid Coverage Data Bank Requirements

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of our 
delay of the implementation of section 1144 of the Social Security Act, 
which requires employers to report information about all individuals 
covered by group health plans to a newly established Medicare-Medicaid 
Coverage Data Bank.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Priborsky, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 7, 1994, we published the 
information below in the Commerce Business Daily concerning delaying 
the implementation of the Medicare-Medicaid Coverage Data Bank. We are 
repeating the information here for general information.
    Section 1144 of the Social Security Act requires the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services to establish the Medicare-Medicaid Data Bank 
to be composed of information supplied by employers for the purpose of 
establishing third party liability for health care costs. Initial 
reports by employers were required to be filed by February 28, 1995. 
The Conference Report accompanying the Department's Appropriation Act 
for Fiscal Year 1995 indicated Congressional intention that no funds be 
expended by the Department in the fiscal year to implement this 
requirement. H.R. Rep. No. 103-733, 103rd Congress, 2nd Session, page 
22. In light of this statement, we have agreed to stay any 
administrative action to implement the current requirements, including 
the promulgation of reporting forms and instructions. Therefore, we 
will not expect employers to compile the necessary information or file 
the required reports. Likewise, of course, no sanctions will be imposed 
on employers for failure to file such reports.

    Authority: Section 1144 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1320b-14).

    Dated: October 28, 1994.
Bruce C. Vladeck,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
[FR Doc. 94-28320 Filed 11-15-94; 8:45 am]
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