Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - SOCIAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XVIII— - HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AGED AND DISABLED › § 1395b–7
The Secretary must send each person for whom Medicare paid (or would pay without a deductible) a statement that names each item or service and shows how much was paid. The statement must also tell the person they can ask for a detailed, itemized bill. A person can write to any doctor, provider, supplier, or other payer to ask for an itemized bill. The provider must send the itemized bill within 30 days. If a provider knowingly does not, they can be fined up to $100 for each time. After getting the itemized bill, a person has 90 days to ask the Secretary to review it and must point out specific items or billing errors (like duplicate charges). The Secretary will check for improper payments and try to recover any money paid in error. Starting in 2016, people can choose to get these statements electronically instead of by mail. The Secretary can limit how many times someone can reverse that choice, but must allow at least one revocation. Beginning January 1, 2017, the Secretary must clearly tell people about the electronic option in a cost‑effective way.
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The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1395b–7
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73