In this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise—

Act means the Social Security Act, and titles referred to are titles of that Act.

Administrator means the Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).

ALJ means an Administrative Law Judge.

Beneficiary means any individual eligible to have benefits paid to him or her, or on his or her behalf, under Medicare or any State health care program.

CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations.

CMS stands for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, formerly the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).

Department means the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), formerly the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

Directly, as used in the definition of “furnished” in this section, means the provision or supply of items and services by individuals or entities (including items and services provided or supplied by them but manufactured, ordered, or prescribed by another individual or entity) who request or receive payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other Federal health care programs.

ESRD stands for end-stage renal disease.

Exclusion means that items and services furnished, ordered, or prescribed by a specified individual or entity will not be reimbursed under Medicare, Medicaid, or any other Federal health care programs until the individual or entity is reinstated by OIG.

Federal health care program means any plan or program that provides health benefits, whether directly, through insurance, or otherwise, which is funded directly, in whole or in part, by the United States Government (other than the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program), or any State health care program as defined in this section.

FR stands for Federal Register.

Furnished refers to items or services provided or supplied, directly or indirectly, by any individual or entity.

HHS stands for the Department of Health and Human Services.

HHA stands for home health agency.

HMO stands for health maintenance organization.

ICF stands for intermediate care facility.

Indirectly, as used in the definition of “furnished” in this section, means the provision or supply of items and services manufactured, distributed, supplied, or otherwise provided by individuals or entities that do not directly request or receive payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other Federal health care programs, but that provide items and services to providers, practitioners, or suppliers who request or receive payment from these programs for such items or services.

Inspector General means the Inspector General for Health and Human Services.

Medicaid means medical assistance provided under a State plan approved under Title XIX of the Act.

Medicare means the health insurance program for the aged and disabled under Title XVIII of the Act.

OIG means the Office of Inspector General within HHS.

QIO means a quality improvement organization as that term is used in section 1152 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1320c-1) and its implementing regulations.

Secretary means the Secretary of the Department or his or her designees.

SNF stands for skilled nursing facility.

Social security benefits means monthly cash benefits payable under section 202 or 223 of the Act.

SSA stands for Social Security Administration.

State includes the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

State health care program means:

(1) A State plan approved under Title XIX of the Act (Medicaid),

(2) Any program receiving funds under Title V of the Act or from an allotment to a State under such title (Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant program),

(3) Any program receiving funds under subtitle A of Title XX of the Act or from any allotment to a State under such subtitle (Block Grants to States for Social Services), or

(4) A State child health plan approved under Title XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program).

United States means the fifty States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

U.S.C. stands for United States Code.