Medicare program; interest charges on overpayments and underpayments to providers and suppliers of services--Health Care Financing Administration. Final rule with comment period.

These regulations implement section 117 of Pub. L. 97-248, the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, and establish specific rules for assessing and paying interest on overpayments and underpayments to providers and suppliers of Medicare services. These changes make HCFA regulations consistent with existing rules issued by the General Accounting Office (GAO) and the Department of Justice under the Federal Claims Collection Act, and should encourage providers and suppliers of services to repay debts more promptly.