[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: 42CFR421.201]

[Page 823-824]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 421--INTERMEDIARIES AND CARRIERS--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart C--Carriers
 
Sec. 421.201  Performance criteria and standards.

    (a) Application of performance criteria and standards. As part of 
the carrier evaluations mandated by section 1842(b)(2) of the Act, CMS 
periodically assesses the performance of carriers in their Medicare 
operations using performance criteria and standards.
    (1) The criteria measure and evaluate carrier performance of 
functional responsibilities such as--

[[Page 824]]

    (i) Accurate and timely payment determinations;
    (ii) Responsiveness to beneficiary, physician, and supplier 
concerns; and
    (iii) Proper management of administrative funds.
    (2) The standards evaluate the specific requirements of each 
functional responsibility or criterion.
    (b) Basis for criteria and standards. CMS bases the performance 
criteria and standards on--
    (1) Nationwide carrier experience;
    (2) Changes in carrier operations due to fiscal constraints; and
    (3) CMS's objectives in achieving better performance.
    (c) Publication of criteria and standards. Before the beginning of 
each evaluation period, which usually coincides with the Federal fiscal 
year period of October 1-September 30, CMS publishes the performance 
criteria and standards as a notice in the Federal Register. CMS may not 
necessarily publish the criteria and standards every year. CMS 
interprets the statutory phrase ``before the beginning of each 
evaluation period'' as allowing publication of the criteria and 
standards after the Federal fiscal year begins, as long as the 
evaluation period of the carriers for the new criteria and standards 
begins after the publication of the notice.

[59 FR 682, Jan. 6, 1994]