[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR405.508]

[Page 97-98]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                    CHAPTER IV--CENTERS FOR MEDICARE
                          & MEDICAID SERVICES,
                        DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 405--FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE AGED AND DISABLED--Table of Contents
 
         Subpart E--Criteria for Determining Reasonable Charges
 
Sec. 405.508  Determination of comparable circumstances; limitation.

    (a) Application of limitation. The carrier may not in any case make 
a determination of reasonable charge which would be higher than the 
charge upon which it would base payment to its own policyholders for a 
comparable service in comparable circumstances. The charge upon which it 
would base payment, however, does not necessarily mean the amount the 
carrier would be obligated to pay. Under certain circumstances, some 
carriers pay amounts on behalf of individuals who are their 
policyholders, which are below the customary charges of physicians or 
other persons to other individuals. Payment under the supplementary 
medical insurance program would not be limited to these lower amounts.
    (b) When comparability exists. ``Comparable circumstances,'' as used 
in the

[[Page 98]]

Act and this subpart, refers to the circumstances under which services 
are rendered to individuals and the nature of the carrier's health 
insurance programs and the method it uses to determine the amounts of 
payments under these programs. Generally, comparability would exist 
where:
    (1) The carrier bases payment under its program on the customary 
charges, as presently constituted, of physicians or other persons and on 
current prevailing charges in a locality, and
    (2) The determination does not preclude recognition of factors such 
as speciality status and unusual circumstances which affect the amount 
charged for a service.
    (c) Responsibility for determining comparability. Responsibility for 
determining whether or not a carrier's program has comparability will in 
the first instance fall upon the carrier in reporting pertinent 
information about its programs to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services. When the pertinent information has been reported, the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services will advise the carrier whether any of 
its programs have comparability.