SEC. 3. DUTY.
The Commission shall develop a universal paper
claims processing form containing standard data elements
for use by all health service providers that furnish services
for which a claim may be submitted under a Federal pro-
gram that provides for payments for health care services.
The Commission shall develop such form in a manner that
will permit the form to serve as a model for claims process-
ing forms used in the private sector.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 17 members appointed by the direc-
tor of the Office of Technology Assessment not later than
120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. The
members of the Commission shall be appointed from
among individuals with expertise in health care claims ad-
ministration, enrollment and eligibility administration,
health care financial management, health care reimburse-
ment, and other related fields. The Commission shall in-
clude individuals from various geographic areas of the
United States, representatives from public and private
health benefit plans involved in payment under such plans,
administrators of such plans, and health service providers.
(b) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed for the
life of the Commission.
(c) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall
be filled not later than 30 days after the date of the cre-
ation of the vacancy in the manner in which the original
appointment was made.
(d) COMPENSATION.—
(1) RATES
OF
PAY.—Except as provided in
paragraph (2), members of the Commission shall
serve without pay.
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the
Commission shall receive travel expenses, including
per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with
sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States
Code.
(e) QUORUM.—11 members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hear-
ings, take testimony, or receive evidence.
(f) CHAIRPERSON.—The chairperson of the Commis-
sion shall be elected by a majority vote of the members
of the Commission.
(g) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of the chairperson of the Commission.
SEC. 5. STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a direc-
tor appointed by the Commission and paid at a rate not
to exceed the maximum rate of basic pay payable for GS–
9 of the General Schedule.
(b) STAFF.—The Commission may appoint and fix
the pay of additional personnel as it considers appropriate,
except that—
(1) not more than 2 individuals may be ap-
pointed under this subsection; and
(2) an individual so appointed may not receive
pay in excess of the maximum rate of basic pay pay-
able for GS–7 of the General Schedule.
(c) APPLICABILITY
OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE
LAWS.—The director and staff of the Commission may be
appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, governing appointments in the com-
petitive service, and may be paid without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
of that title relating to classification and General Schedule
pay rates, except as provided in subsections (a) and (b).
(d) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon request
of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency may
detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any of the personnel
of the agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying
out its duties under this Act.
(e) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Commission
may procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates
for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the
maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for GS–12 of
the General Schedule.
(f) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Ad-
ministrator of General Services shall provide to the Com-
mission on a reimbursable basis such administrative sup-
port services necessary for the Commission to carry out
its responsibilities under this Act.
SEC. 6. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission
may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hear-
ings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and
receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to
witnesses appearing before it.
(b) DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.—Any member or
agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Com-
mission, take any action that the Commission is author-
ized to take by this section.
(c) INFORMATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may secure
directly from any Federal agency information nec-
essary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon re-
quest of the Commission, the head of the Federal
agency shall furnish the information to the Com-
mission.
(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not
apply to any information that the Commission is
prohibited to secure or request by another law.
(d) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the same con-
ditions as other Federal agencies.
(e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission may
contract with and compensate government and private
agencies or persons for supplies or services without regard
to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
(f) PUBLICATION
IN
FEDERAL
REGISTER.—The
Commission may publish a notice and request for com-
ments in the Federal Register in the same manner as a
Federal agency.
SEC. 7. PROMULGATION OF UNIFORM CLAIMS PROCESSING
FORM.
(a) DEVELOPMENT OF PRELIMINARY FORM.—The
Commission shall develop a preliminary version of the
form required to be developed under section 3 not later
than the expiration of the 6-month period beginning on
the date of the appointment of the last member of the
Commission to be appointed under section 4(a).
(b) PUBLICATION.—The Commission shall publish a
copy of the preliminary version of the form required to
be developed under subsection (a) in the Federal Register,
along with a notice of the comment period established in
subsection (c) and a request for comments, promptly after
the date on which such preliminary version is completed.
(c) COMMENT PERIOD.—The Commission may re-
ceive comments concerning the preliminary version of the
form required to be developed under subsection (a) during
the 30-day period beginning on the date the preliminary
version appears in the Federal Register.
(d) REVISION OF FORM AND FINAL REPORT.—Not
later than the expiration of the 30-day period beginning
on the date following the closing date of the comment pe-
riod under subsection (c), the Commission shall—
(1) revise the preliminary version of the form
required to be developed under subsection (a), tak-
ing into consideration any comments received pursu-
ant to subsection (c);
(2) develop a final version of the form required
to be developed under section 3; and
(3) submit to the Congress, the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, the Secretary of De-
fense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a report
containing—
(A) a copy of the final version of the form;
(B) a summary of the activities of the
Commission; and
(C) any other findings, conclusions, or rec-
ommendations that the Commission determines
to be appropriate.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate not later than the
expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on
which the Commission submits its report under section 7.
SEC. 9. PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS CONCERNING
UNIFORM CLAIMS PROCESSING FORM.
(a) NOTICE OF REGULATIONS.—Promptly upon re-
ceipt of the report submitted under section 7(d), the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of
Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs each shall
publish in the Federal Register a notice of rulemaking in
which the Secretary announces the promulgation of a reg-
ulation that will—
(1) take effect 90 days after the date of the
publication of the notice; and
(2) require all health service providers that fur-
nish health care services for which a claim for pay-
ment may be submitted under a Federal program
within the jurisdiction of the Secretary to submit
any such claim using the universal paper claims
processing form developed by the Commission under
section 3.
(b) PROMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF REGU-
LATIONS.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services,
the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs each shall promulgate and implement a regulation
described in subsection (a).
SEC. 10. FUNDING.
From funds appropriated for salaries and expenses
with respect to the Department of Health and Human
Services for fiscal year 1995, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall expend such amounts as may be
necessary to ensure that the Commission is able to carry
out its duties under this Act, except that such amounts
shall not exceed $500,000.
SEC. 11. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’
means the Uniform Claims Commission established
by section 2.
(2) HEALTH
SERVICE
PROVIDER.—The term
‘‘health service provider’’ includes a provider of serv-
ices (as defined in section 1861(u) of the Social Se-
curity Act), physician, supplier, and other person
furnishing health care services but does not include
a Federal program that provides directly for the pro-
vision of health care services to beneficiaries.
SEC. 12. BUDGET COMPLIANCE.
Any spending authority (as defined in subparagraphs
(A) and (C) of section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 651(c)(2)(A))) authorized
by this Act shall be effective only to such extent or in such
amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts.
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