The Secretary shall carry on studies and develop recommendations to be submitted from time to time to the Congress relating to health care of the aged and the disabled, including studies and recommendations concerning (1) the adequacy of existing personnel and facilities for health care for purposes of the programs under parts A and B of this subchapter; (2) methods for encouraging the further development of efficient and economical forms of health care which are a constructive alternative to inpatient hospital care; and (3) the effects of the deductibles and coinsurance provisions upon beneficiaries, persons who provide health services, and the financing of the program.

The Secretary shall make a continuing study of the operation and administration of this subchapter (including a validation of the accreditation process of national accreditation bodies under section 1395bb(a) of this title [1] the operation and administration of health maintenance organizations authorized by section 226 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972 [42 U.S.C. 1395mm], the experiments and demonstration projects authorized by section 402 of the Social Security Amendments of 1967 [42 U.S.C. 1395b–1] and the experiments and demonstration projects authorized by section 222(a) of the Social Security Amendments of 1972 [42 U.S.C. 1395b–1 note]), and shall transmit to the Congress annually a report concerning the operation of such programs.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XVIII, § 1875, as added Pub. L. 89–97, title I, § 102(a), July 30, 1965, 79 Stat. 332; amended Pub. L. 90–248, title IV, § 402(c), Jan. 2, 1968, 81 Stat. 931; Pub. L. 92–603, title II, §§ 201(c)(7), 222(c), 226(d), 244(d), Oct. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 1373, 1393, 1404, 1423; Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title III, § 2354(b)(17), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1101; Pub. L. 99–509, title IX, § 9316(a), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 2006; Pub. L. 100–203, title IV, § 4085(i)(20), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–133; Pub. L. 100–647, title VIII, § 8413, Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3801; Pub. L. 101–234, title III, § 301(b)(5), (d)(2), Dec. 13, 1989, 103 Stat. 1985, 1986; Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6103(b)(3)(A), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2199; Pub. L. 108–173, title I, § 101(e)(7), Dec. 8, 2003, 117 Stat. 2152; Pub. L. 110–275, title I, § 125(b)(4), July 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 2519.)