[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17813-17814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8296]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

42 CFR Parts 411 and 424

[HCFA-1809-N]


Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Physicians' Referrals to Health 
Care Entities With Which They Have Financial Relationships; Extension 
of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period for final rule with 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period for a final rule with 
comment period, ``Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Physicians' Referrals 
to Health Care Entities With Which They Have Financial Relationships,'' 
published in the Federal Register (66 FR 856) on January 4, 2001. That 
rule prohibits physicians from referring patients for the furnishing of 
certain designated health services to health care entities with which 
they (or a member of their immediate family) have a financial 
relationship, if payment for the services may be made under the 
Medicare program. The comment period that would have closed on April 4, 
2001 is extended 60 days.

DATES: The comment period is extended to 5 p.m. on June 4, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanne Sinsheimer, (410) 786-4620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 4, 2001, we issued a final rule 
with comment period in the Federal Register (66 FR 856) that 
incorporated into regulations the provisions in paragraphs (a), (b), 
and (h) of section 1877 of the Social Security Act (the Act). Under 
section 1877 of the Act, if a physician or a member of a physician's 
immediate family has a financial relationship with a health care 
entity, the physician may not make referrals to that entity for certain 
health services (designated health services) under the Medicare 
program, unless an exception applies. In addition, section 1877 of the 
Act provides that an entity may not present or cause to be presented a 
Medicare claim or bill to any individual, third party payer, or other 
entity for designated health services furnished under a prohibited 
referral, nor may we make payment for a designated health service 
furnished under a prohibited referral. We announced that the public 
comment period for the rule would close at 5 p.m. on April 4, 2001.
    Because commenters have requested more time to analyze the 
potential consequences of the rule, and given the breadth of the 
statute and the variety of financial relationships to which it applies, 
we have decided to extend the comment period for an additional 60 days. 
This document announces the extension of the public comment period to 
June 4, 2001.

    Authority: Secs. 1102 and 1871 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1302 and 1395hh).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773 
Medicare--Hospital

[[Page 17814]]

Insurance Program; No. 93.774, Medicare-Supplementary Medical 
Insurance Program; No. 93.778, Medical Assistance Program)

    Dated: March 28, 2001.
Michael McMullan,
Acting Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
    Approved: March 29, 2001.
Tommy G. Thompson,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-8296 Filed 4-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P