PUBLIC LAW 105-33—AUG. 5, 1997 111 STAT. 339 "(vii) a description of any requirement that the Secretary waives pursuant to subsection (d); and "(viii) a certification, provided after review by the administering Secretaries, that any entity that is receiving pa5mients by reason of the demonstration project has sufficient— "(I) resources and expertise to provide, consistent with payments under subsection (i), the full range of benefits required to be provided to beneficiaries under the project; and "(II) information and billing systems in place to ensure the accurate and timely submission of claims for benefits and to ensure that providers of services, physicians, and other health care professionals are reimbursed by the entity in a timely and accurate manner. "(2) NUMBER OF SITES.—The project established under this section shall be conducted in no more than 6 sites, designated jointly by the administering Secretaries after review of all TRICARE regions. "(3) RESTRICTION.—No new military treatment facilities will be built or expanded with funds from the demonstration project. "(4) DURATION.— The administering Secretaries shall conduct the demonstration project during the 3-year period beginning on January 1, 1998. "(5) REPORT. —At least 60 days prior to the commencement of the demonstration project, the administering Secretaries shall submit a copy of the agreement entered into under paragraph (1) to the committees of jurisdiction under this title. "(c) CREDITING OF PAYMENTS.— A payment received by the Secretary of Defense under the demonstration project shall be credited to the applicable Department of Defense medical appropriation (and within that appropriation). Any such payment received during a fiscal year for services provided during a prior fiscal year may be obligated by the Secretary of Defense during the fiscal year during which the payment is received. " (d) WAIVER OF CERTAIN MEDICARE REQUIREMENTS.— "(1) AUTHORITY. - "(A) IN GENERAL.— Except as provided under subparagraph (B), the demonstration project shall meet all requirements of Medicare+Choice plans under part C of this title and regulations pertaining thereto, and other requirements for receiving medicare payments, except that the prohibition of payments to Federal providers of services under sections 1814(c) and 1835(d), and paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 1862(a) shall not apply. "(B) WAIVER. —Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary is authorized to waive any requirement described under subparagraph (A), or approve equivalent or alternative ways of meeting such a requirement, but only if such waiver or approval— "(i) reflects the unique status of the Department of Defense as an agency of the Federal Government; and "(ii) is necessary to carry out the demonstration project.
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