[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR417.416]

[Page 716-717]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 417--HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS, COMPETITIVE MEDICAL PLANS, AND HEALTH CARE PREPAYMENT PLANS--Table of Contents
 
         Subpart J--Qualifying Conditions for Medicare Contracts
 
Sec. 417.416  Qualifying condition: Furnishing of services.

    (a) Condition. The HMO or CMP must furnish the required services to 
its Medicare enrollees through providers and suppliers that meet 
applicable Medicare statutory definitions and implementing regulations. 
The HMO or CMP must also ensure that the required services, additional 
services, and any other supplemental services for which the Medicare 
enrollee has contracted are available and accessible and are furnished 
in a manner that ensures continuity.
    (b) Standard: Conformance with conditions of participation, 
conditions for coverage, and conditions for certification. (1) 
Hospitals, SNFs, HHAs, CORFs, and providers of outpatient physical 
therapy or speech-language pathology services must meet the applicable 
conditions of participation in Medicare, as set forth elsewhere in this 
chapter.
    (2) Suppliers must meet the conditions for coverage or conditions 
for certification of their services, as set forth elsewhere in this 
chapter.
    (3) If more than one type of practitioner is qualified to furnish a 
particular service, the HMO or CMP may select the type of practitioner 
to be used.
    (c) Standard: Physician supervision. The HMO or CMP must provide for 
supervision by a physician of other health care professionals who are 
directly involved in the provision of health care as generally 
authorized under section 1861 of the Act. Except as specified in 
paragraph (d) of this section, with respect to medical services 
furnished in an HMO's or CMP's clinic or the office of a physician with 
whom the HMO or CMP has a service agreement, the HMO or CMP must ensure 
that--
    (1) Services furnished by paramedical, ancillary, and other 
nonphysician personnel are furnished under the direct supervision of a 
physician;
    (2) A physician is present to perform medical (as opposed to 
administrative) services whenever the clinics or offices are open; and
    (3) Each patient is under the care of a physician.
    (d) Exceptions to physician supervision requirement. The following 
services may be furnished without the direct personal supervision of a 
physician:
    (1) Services of physician assistants and nurse practitioners (as 
defined in Sec. 491.2 of this chapter), and the services and supplies 
incident to their services. The conditions for payment, as set forth in 
Secs. 405.2414 and 405.2415 of this chapter for services furnished by 
rural health clinics and Federally qualified health centers, 
respectively, also apply when those services are furnished by an HMO or 
CMP.
    (2) When furnished by an HMO or CMP, services of clinical 
psychologists who meet the qualifications specified in Sec. 410.71(d) of 
this chapter, and the services and supplies incident to their 
professional services.
    (3) When an HMO or CMP contracts on--
    (i) A risk basis, the services of a clinical social worker (as 
defined at Sec. 410.73 of this chapter) and the services and

[[Page 717]]

supplies incident to their professional services; or
    (ii) A cost basis, the services of a clinical social worker (as 
defined in Sec. 410.73 of this chapter). Services incident to the 
professional services of a clinical social worker furnished by an HMO or 
CMP contracting on a cost basis are not covered by Medicare and payment 
will not be made for these services.
    (e) Standard: Accessibility and continuity. (1) The HMO or CMP must 
ensure that the required services and any other services for which 
Medicare enrollees have contracted are accessible, with reasonable 
promptness, to the enrollees with respect to geographic location, hours 
of operation, and provision of after hours service. Medically necessary 
emergency services must be available twenty-four hours a day, seven days 
a week.
    (2) The HMO or CMP must maintain a health (including medical) 
recordkeeping system through which pertinent information relating to the 
health care of its Medicare enrollees is accumulated and is readily 
available to appropriate professionals.

[50 FR 1346, Jan. 10, 1985, as amended at 58 FR 38082, July 15, 1993; 60 
FR 45677, Sept. 1, 1995; 63 FR 20130, Apr. 23, 1998]