applicable period
(17) Submission of cost and other information (A) Development of data collection system The Secretary shall develop a data collection system (which may include use of a cost survey) to collect cost, revenue, utilization, and other information determined appropriate by the Secretary with respect to providers of services (in this paragraph referred to as “providers”) and suppliers of ground ambulance services. Such system shall be designed to collect information— (i) needed to evaluate the extent to which reported costs relate to payment rates under this subsection; (ii) on the utilization of capital equipment and ambulance capacity, including information consistent with the type of information described in section 1320a(a) of this title ; and (iii) on different types of ground ambulance services furnished in different geographic locations, including rural areas and low population density areas described in paragraph (12). (B) Specification of data collection system (i) In general The Secretary shall— (I) not later than December 31, 2019 , specify the data collection system under subparagraph (A); and (II) identify the providers and suppliers of ground ambulance services that would be required to submit information under such data collection system, including the representative sample described in clause (ii). (ii) Determination of representative sample (I) In general Not later than December 31, 2019 , with respect to the data collection for the first year under such system, and for each subsequent year through 2024, the Secretary shall determine a representative sample to submit information under the data collection system. (II) Requirements The sample under subclause (I) shall be representative of the different types of providers and suppliers of ground ambulance services (such as those providers and suppliers that are part of an emergency service or part of a government organization) and the geographic locations in which ground ambulance services are furnished (such as urban, rural, and low population density areas). (III) Limitation The Secretary shall not include an individual provider or supplier of ground ambulance services in the sample under subclause (I) in 2 consecutive years, to the extent practicable. (C) Reporting of cost information For each year, a provider or supplier of ground ambulance services identified by the Secretary under subparagraph (B)(i)(II) as being required to submit information under the data collection system with respect to a period for the year shall submit to the Secretary information specified under the system. Such information shall be submitted in a form and manner, and at a time, specified by the Secretary for purposes of this subparagraph. (D) Payment reduction for failure to report (i) In general Beginning January 1, 2022 , subject to clause (ii), a 10 percent reduction to payments under this subsection shall be made for the applicable period (as defined in clause (ii)) to a provider or supplier of ground ambulance services that— (I) is required to submit information under the data collection system with respect to a period under subparagraph (C); and (II) does not sufficiently submit such information, as determined by the Secretary. (ii) Applicable period defined For purposes of clause (i), the term “applicable period” means, with respect to a provider or supplier of ground ambulance services, a year specified by the Secretary not more than 2 years after the end of the period with respect to which the Secretary has made a determination under clause (i)(II) that the provider or supplier of ground ambulance services failed to sufficiently submit information under the data collection system. (iii) Hardship exemption The Secretary may exempt a provider or supplier from the payment reduction under clause (i) with respect to an applicable period in the event of significant hardship, such as a natural disaster, bankruptcy, or other similar situation that the Secretary determines interfered with the ability of the provider or supplier of ground ambulance services to submit such information in a timely manner for the specified period. (iv) Informal review The Secretary shall establish a process under which a provider or supplier of ground ambulance services may seek an informal review of a determination that the provider or supplier is subject to the payment reduction under clause (i). (E) Ongoing data collection (i) Revision of data collection system The Secretary may, as the Secretary determines appropriate and, if available, taking into consideration the report (or reports) under subparagraph (F), revise the data collection system under subparagraph (A). (ii) Subsequent data collection In order to continue to evaluate the extent to which reported costs relate to payment rates under this subsection and for other purposes the Secretary deems appropriate, the Secretary shall require providers and suppliers of ground ambulance services to submit information for years after 2024 as the Secretary determines appropriate, but in no case less often than once every 3 years. (F) Ground ambulance data collection system study (i) In general Not later than the second June 15th following the date on which the Secretary transmits data for the first representative sample of providers and suppliers of ground ambulance services to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, and as determined necessary by such Commission thereafter,, 4 such Commission shall assess, and submit to Congress a report on, information submitted by providers and suppliers of ground ambulance services through the data collection system under subparagraph (A), the adequacy of payments for ground ambulance services under this subsection, and geographic variations in the cost of furnishing such services. (ii) Contents A report under clause (i) shall contain the following: (I) An analysis of information submitted through the data collection system. (II) An analysis of any burden on providers and suppliers of ground ambulance services associated with the data collection system. (III) A recommendation as to whether information should continue to be submitted through such data collection system or if such system should be revised under subparagraph (E)(i). (IV) Other information determined appropriate by the Commission. (G) Public availability The Secretary shall post information on the results of the data collection under this paragraph on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (H) Implementation The Secretary shall implement this paragraph through notice and comment rulemaking. (I) Administration Chapter 35 of title 44 shall not apply to the collection of information required under this subsection. (J) Limitations on review There shall be no administrative or judicial review under section 1395ff of this title , section 1395oo of this title, or otherwise of the data collection system or identification of respondents under this paragraph. (K) Funding for implementation For purposes of carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall provide for the transfer, from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under section 1395t of this title , of $15,000,000 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Program Management Account for fiscal year 2018. Amounts transferred under this subparagraph shall remain available until expended.