124 STAT. 361 PUBLIC LAW 111–148—MAR. 23, 2010 hospital value-based purchasing program established under section 1886(o) of the Social Security Act, as added by paragraph (1). Such study shall include an analysis of the impact of such program on— (i) the quality of care furnished to Medicare bene- ficiaries, including diverse Medicare beneficiary popu- lations (such as diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status); (ii) expenditures under the Medicare program, including any reduced expenditures under Part A of title XVIII of such Act that are attributable to the improvement in the delivery of inpatient hospital serv- ices by reason of such hospital value-based purchasing program; (iii) the quality performance among safety net hos- pitals and any barriers such hospitals face in meeting the performance standards applicable under such hos- pital value-based purchasing program; and (iv) the quality performance among small rural and small urban hospitals and any barriers such hos- pitals face in meeting the performance standards applicable under such hospital value-based purchasing program. (B) REPORTS.— (i) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than October 1, 2015, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress an interim report containing the results of the study conducted under subparagraph (A), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate. (ii) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than July 1, 2017, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subparagraph (A), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate. (5) HHS STUDY AND REPORT.— (A) STUDY.—The Secretary of Health and Human Serv- ices shall conduct a study on the performance of the hos- pital value-based purchasing program established under section 1886(o) of the Social Security Act, as added by paragraph (1). Such study shall include an analysis— (i) of ways to improve the hospital value-based purchasing program and ways to address any unin- tended consequences that may occur as a result of such program; (ii) of whether the hospital value-based purchasing program resulted in lower spending under the Medi- care program under title XVIII of such Act or other financial savings to hospitals; (iii) the appropriateness of the Medicare program sharing in any savings generated through the hospital value-based purchasing program; and (iv) any other area determined appropriate by the Secretary.
