For purposes of this section, the term ‘hospital’
13 includes a critical access hospital, as defined in section
14 1861(mm)(1).’’.
15 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—With respect to section
16 1138A of the Social Security Act (as inserted by sub17
section (a) of this section), the requirement under such
18 section that hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers
19 submit reports takes effect on such date (not later than
20 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act) as
21 the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall specify.
22 In order to meet such deadline, the Secretary may imple23
ment such section through guidance or other instructions.
24 (c) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after
25 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller
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1 General of the United States shall submit to Congress a
2 report on the program established under section 1138A
3 of the Social Security Act, as inserted by subsection (a).
4 Such report shall include an analysis of the appropriate5
ness of the types of information required for submission,
6 compliance with reporting requirements, the success of the
7 validity procedures established, and any conflict or overlap
8 between the reporting required under such section and any
9 other reporting systems mandated by either the States or
10 the Federal Government.
11 (d) REPORT ON ADDITIONAL DATA.—Not later than
12 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
13 the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit
14 to the Congress a report on the appropriateness of expand15
ing the requirements under such section to include addi16
tional information (such as health care worker immuniza17
tion rates), in order to improve health care quality and
18 patient safety.