[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: 42CFR421.3] [Page 815-816] TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES PART 421--INTERMEDIARIES AND CARRIERS--Table of Contents Subpart A--Scope, Definitions, and General Provisions Sec. 421.3 Definitions. Intermediary means an entity that has a contract with CMS to determine and make Medicare payments for Part A or Part B benefits payable on a cost basis (or under the Prospective Payment System for hospitals) and to perform other related functions. For purposes of designating regional or alternative regional intermediaries for [[Page 816]] home health agencies and of designating intermediaries for hospices under Sec. 421.117 as well as for applying the performance criteria in Sec. 421.120 and the performance standards in Sec. 421.122 and any adverse action resulting from such application, the term intermediary also means a Blue Cross Plan which has entered into a subcontract approved by CMS with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association to perform intermediary functions. [59 FR 681, Jan. 6, 1994]