PRACTICING PHYSICIANS ADVISORY COUNCIL.

SEC. 4112. PRACTICING PHYSICIANS ADVISORY COUNCIL.Title XVIII of the Social Security Act is amended by inserting after section 1867 the following new section: “practicing physicians advisory council “Sec. 1868. (a) The Secretary shall appoint, based upon nominations submitted by medical organizations representing physicians, a Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (in this section referred to as the ‘Council’) to be composed of 15 physicians, each of whom has submitted at least 250 claims for physicians’ services under this title in the previous year. At least 11 of the members of the Council shall be physicians described in section 1861(r)(D and the members of the Council shall include both participating and non participating physicians and physicians practicing in rural areas and underserved urban areas. “(b) The Council shall meet once during each calendar quarter to discuss certain proposed changes in regulations and carrier manual instructions related to physician services identified by the Secretary. To the extent feasible and consistent with statutory dead-lines, such consultation shall occur before the publication of such proposed changes. “(c) Members of the Council shall be entitled to receive reimbursement of expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence in the same manner as other members of advisory councils appointed by the Secretary are provided such reimbursement and per diem under this title.”.