PUBLIC LAW 98-369—JULY 18, 1984
98 STAT. 1071
lieu thereof "during the 12-month period ending on the March 31 last preceding". (2) The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to items and services furnished on or after October 1, 1985. (c) Section 1842 of such Act, as amended by section 2303(e) of this title, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsections: "(h)(1) Any physician or supplier may voluntarily enter into an agreement with the Secretary to become a participating physician or supplier. For purposes of this section, the term 'participating physician or supplier' means a physician or supplier (excluding any provider of services) who, before October 1 of any year beginning with 1984, enters into an agreement with the Secretary which provides that such physician or supplier will accept payment under this part on the basis of an assignment described in subsection (b)(3)(B)(ii), in accordance with subsection (b)(6)(B), or under the procedure described in section 1870(0(1) for all items and services furnished to individuals enrolled under this part during the 12month period beginning on October 1 of such year. In the case of a newly licensed physician or a physician who begins a practice in a new area, or in the case of a new supplier who begins a new business, or in such similar cases as the Secretary may specify, such physician or supplier may enter into such an agreement after October 1 of a year, for items and services furnished during the remainder of the 12-month period beginning on such October 1. "(2) Each carrier having an agreement with the Secretary under subsection (a) shall maintain a toll-free telephone number or numbers at which individuals enrolled under this part may obtain the names, addresses, specialty, and telephone numbers of participating physicians and suppliers. "(3) In any case in which a carrier having an agreement with the Secretary under subsection (a) is able to develop a system for the electronic transmission to such carrier of bills for services, such carrier shall establish direct lines for the electronic receipt of claims from participating physicians and suppliers. "(i)(l) Each year the Secretary shall publish a list containing the name, address, specialty, and percent of claims submitted with respect to each physician and supplier during the preceding year that were paid on the basis of an assignment described in subsection (b)(3)(B)(ii), in accordance with subsection (b)(6)(B), or under the procedure described in section 1870(f)(1). The Secretary may limit such list to those physicians and suppliers who accepted such an assignment in a certain percentage of such physician's or supplier's billings or who provide at least a certain volume of services, as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate. Such list shall be organized by such geographical area as the Secretary determines, after consultation with carriers, would facilitate the use of such list by individuals enrolled under this part. "(2) At the beginning of each fiscal year the Secretary shall publish a directory containing the name, address, and specialty of all participating physicians and suppliers (as defined in subsection (h)(1)) for that fiscal year. The directory shall be organized to make the most useful presentation of the information (as determined by the Secretary) for individuals enrolled under this part. "(3) The Secretary shall promptly notify individuals enrolled under this part of the publication of such list and directory and shall make such list and directory available in each district and branch
Effective date. 42 USC I395u "°*^ Ante, p. 1066.
42 USC I395gg.
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