Ill STAT. 488 PUBLIC LAW 105-33 —AUG. 5, 1997 Establishment. Federal Register, publication. 42 USC 1395WW note. Federal Register, publication. 42 USC 1395WW note. "(b)(1) There is established in the Health Care Financing Administration the position of Chief Actuary. The Chief Actuary shall be appointed by, and in direct line of authority to, the Administrator of such Administration. The Chief Actuary shall be appointed from among individuals who have demonstrated, by their education and experience, superior expertise in the actuarial sciences. The Chief Actuary shall exercise such duties as are appropriate for the office of the Chief Actuary and in accordance with professional standards of actuarial independence. The Chief Actuary may be removed only for cause. "(2) The Chief Actuary shall be compensated at the highest rate of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382(b) of title 5, United States Code.". SEC. 4644. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO COMPLY WITH CONGRES- SIONAL REVIEW OF AGENCY RULEMAKING. (a) DRG PROSPECTIVE PAYMENT RATE METHODOLOGY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1886(d)(6) (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(6)) is amended by striking "September 1" and inserting "August 1". (2) TRANSITION RULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998.— With respect to the publication in the Federal Register of the DRG prospective pa3anent rate methodology under such section for fiscal year 1998, the term "60 days" in section 801(a)(3)(A) and section 802(a) of title 5, United States Code, is deemed to be a reference to "30 days". (b) HOSPITAL PAYMENT UPDATES. — (1) IN GENERAL.— Section 1886(e) (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(e) is amended— (A) in paragraph (5)(A) by striking "May 1" and inserting "April 1"; and (B) in paragraph (5)(B) by striking "September 1" and inserting "August 1". (2) TRANSITION RULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998. —With respect to the publication in the Federal Register of the appropriate change factor for inpatient hospital services for discharges in fiscal year 1998 under section 1886(e)(5)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(e)(5)(B)), the term "60 days" in section 801(a)(3)(A) and section 802(a) of title 5, United States Code, is deemed to be a reference to "30 days". (c) APPLICATIONS FOR GEOGRAPHIC RECLASSIFICATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.— Section 1886(d)(10)(C) (42 U.S.C. 1395ww(d)(10)(C)) is amended in clause (ii), by striking "the first day of the preceding fiscal year." and inserting "the first day of the 13-month period ending on September 30 of the preceding fiscal year." (2) SPECIAL RULE FOR APPLICATIONS RECEIVED IN FISCAL YEAR 1997. —In the case of an application for a change in geographic classification under such section for fiscal year 1999, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall shorten the deadlines under such section so as to permit completion of a final decision by the Secretary by June 15, 1998. (d) PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE. —Section 1848(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(b)(l)) is amended by striking "Before January 1 of each year beginning with 1992" and inserting "Before November 1 of the preceding year, for each year beginning with 1998".
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