PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS; RIGHT OF APPEAL.

SEC. 936. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS; RIGHT OF APPEAL.(a) In General.—Section 1866 (42 U.S.C. 1395cc) is amended—(1) by adding at the end of the heading the following: “; enrollment processes”; and(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:117 STAT. 2412 “(j) Enrollment Process for Providers of Services and Suppliers.—“(1) Enrollment process.—“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall establish by regulation a process for the enrollment of providers of services and suppliers under this title.“(B) Deadlines.—The Secretary shall establish by regulation procedures under which there are deadlines for actions on applications for enrollment (and, if applicable, renewal of enrollment). The Secretary shall monitor the performance of medicare administrative contractors in meeting the deadlines established under this subparagraph.“(C) Consultation before changing provider enrollment forms.—The Secretary shall consult with providers of services and suppliers before making changes in the provider enrollment forms required of such providers and suppliers to be eligible to submit claims for which payment may be made under this title.“(2) Hearing rights in cases of denial or non-renewal.—A provider of services or supplier whose application to enroll (or, if applicable, to renew enrollment) under this title is denied may have a hearing and judicial review of such denial under the procedures that apply under subsection (h)(1)(A) to a provider of services that is dissatisfied with a determination by the Secretary.”.(b) Effective Dates.—(1) Enrollment process.—The Secretary shall provide for the establishment of the enrollment process under section 1866(j)(1) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a)(2), within 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.(2) Consultation.—Section 1866(j)(1)(C) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a)(2), shall apply with respect to changes in provider enrollment forms made on or after January 1, 2004.(3) Hearing rights.—Section 1866(j)(2) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a)(2), shall apply to denials occurring on or after such date (not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act) as the Secretary specifies.