Medicare and Medicaid programs; entities performing quality of care review of services provided by risk-basis health maintenance organizations and competitive medical plans--HCFA. Final rule with comment period.

This final rule provides for review by Utilization and Quality Control Peer Review Organizations (PROs) of the quality of care furnished by risk-basis health maintenance organizations and competitive medical plans under 42 CFR Part 417, Subpart C. It also provides for this same review by non-PRO entities and identifies the requirements that these non-PRO entities must meet. This rule is necessary for the timely implementation of section 1154(a)(4) of the Social Security Act, as amended by section 9353(a)(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-509).