Medicare program; criteria and standards for evaluating intermediary and carrier performance--HCFA. General notice with comment period.

This notice describes the criteria and standards to be used for evaluating the performance of fiscal intermediaries and carriers in the administration of the Medicare program beginning October 1, 1991. The results of these evaluations are considered whenever HCFA enters into, renews, or terminates an intermediary agreement or carrier contract or takes other contract actions (e.g., assigning or reassigning providers of services to an intermediary; or designating regional or national intermediaries, etc.). This notice is published in accordance with sections 1816(f) and 1842(b)(2) of the Social Security Act, which require us to publish for public comment in the Federal Register whose criteria and standards against which we evaluate intermediaries and carriers.