MEDICARE BENEFICIARY OMBUDSMAN.

SEC. 923. MEDICARE BENEFICIARY OMBUDSMAN.(a) In General.—Section 1808, as added and amended by section 900, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(c) Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman.—“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall appoint within the Department of Health and Human Services a Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman who shall have expertise and experience in the fields of health care and education of (and assistance to) individuals entitled to benefits under this title.“(2) Duties.—The Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman shall—“(A) receive complaints, grievances, and requests for information submitted by individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, with respect to any aspect of the medicare program; 117 STAT. 2394“(B) provide assistance with respect to complaints, grievances, and requests referred to in subparagraph (A), including—“(i) assistance in collecting relevant information for such individuals, to seek an appeal of a decision or determination made by a fiscal intermediary, carrier, MA organization, or the Secretary;“(ii) assistance to such individuals with any problems arising from disenrollment from an MA plan under part C; and“(iii) assistance to such individuals in presenting information under section 1839(i)(4)(C) (relating to income-related premium adjustment; and“(C) submit annual reports to Congress and the Secretary that describe the activities of the Office and that include such recommendations for improvement in the administration of this title as the Ombudsman determines appropriate.The Ombudsman shall not serve as an advocate for any increases in payments or new coverage of services, but may identify issues and problems in payment or coverage policies.“(3) Working with health insurance counseling programs.—To the extent possible, the Ombudsman shall work with health insurance counseling programs (receiving funding under section 4360 of Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) to facilitate the provision of information to individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both regarding MA plans and changes to those plans. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude further collaboration between the Ombudsman and such programs.”.(b) Deadline for Appointment.—By not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall appoint the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman under section 1808(c) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a).(c) Funding.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary (in appropriate part from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, established under section 1817 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i), and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, established under section 1841 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395t)) to carry out section 1808(c) of such Act (relating to the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman), as added by subsection (a), such sums as are necessary for fiscal year 2004 and each succeeding fiscal year.(d) Use of Central, Toll-Free Number (1–800–MEDICARE).—(1) Phone triage system; listing in medicare handbook instead of other toll-free numbers.—Section 1804(b) (42 U.S.C. 1395b–2(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “The Secretary shall provide, through the toll-free telephone number 1–800–MEDICARE, for a means by which individuals seeking information about, or assistance with, such programs who phone such toll-free number are transferred (without charge) to appropriate entities for the provision of such information or assistance. Such toll-free number shall be the toll-free number listed for general information and assistance in the annual notice under subsection (a) instead of the listing of numbers of individual contractors.”.117 STAT. 2395(2) Monitoring accuracy.—(A) Study.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to monitor the accuracy and consistency of information provided to individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B, or both, through the toll-free telephone number 1–800–MEDICARE, including an assessment of whether the information provided is sufficient to answer questions of such individuals. In conducting the study, the Comptroller General shall examine the education and training of the individuals providing information through such number.(B) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subparagraph (A).