Health Care Financing Administration 7500 Security Boulevard, C2-21-15, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850

Q -- OPERATION OF UTILIZATION AND QUALITY CONTROL PEER REVIEW ORGANIZATION FOR THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA SOL HCFA-99-002/ELH POC Edward L. Hughes, Contracting Officer, (410) 786-0203 The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select an entity as the Peer Review Organization (PRO) for the State of North Dakota. In order to be eligible to receive a PRO contract, an offeror must be deemed a responsible entity in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 9.1 and must meet the definition of a "utilization and quality control peer review organization" as set forth in Section 1152 of the Social Security Act (The Act). Organizations that are eligible to contract as PROs must have satisfactorily demonstrated that they are either physician-sponsored or physician-accessed organizations in accordance with Sections 1152 and 1153 of The Act. In addition, the organization must not be a health care facility, health care facility association, a health care facility affiliate or a payor organization, and must have a consumer representative on its governing board. PROs are responsible for the review of certain health care services furnished under title XVIII of The Act and under certain other medically necessary, furnished in the appropriate setting, and are of a quality which meets professionally recognized standards. PRO activities are part of the Health Care Quality Improvement Program (HCQIP), a program which supports the mission of the HCFA to assure health care security for beneficiaries. The HCQIP is carried out locally by the PRO in each state. The HCQIP is based upon the premise that a provider or practitioners' internal quality management system is a key element in good health care plan improve the quality of care furnished to Medicare beneficiaries. PROs are responsible for certain other activities necessary or incident to the performance of the contract. All requirements are included in the RFP. The definition, contract requirements, functions and duties of PROs are generally defined by Titles XI and XVIII of The Act. The RFP will be available approximately 15 days after publication of this notice. Interested parties must submit a written request to the Contracting Officer at 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C2-21-15, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. Telephone and facsimile requests will not be honored. Posted 05/31/99 (I-SN337349). (0151)

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