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69
1 each year based on the percentage increase in the
2 medical care component of the Consumer Price
3 Index (rounded to the nearest multiple of $1,000)
4 for the year involved.
5 (3) USE OF PAYMENTS.—Amounts paid to a
6 participating employment-based plan under this sub-
7 section shall be used to lower the costs borne di-
8 rectly by the participants and beneficiaries for health
9 benefits provided under such plan in the form of
10 premiums, co-payments, deductibles, co-insurance, or
11 other out-of-pocket costs. Such payments shall not
12 be used to reduce the costs of an employer maintain-
13 ing the participating employment-based plan. The
14 Secretary shall develop a mechanism to monitor the
15 appropriate use of such payments by such plans.
16 (4) APPEALS AND PROGRAM PROTECTIONS.—

17 The Secretary shall establish—

18 (A) an appeals process to permit partici-
19 pating employment-based plans to appeal a de-
20 termination of the Secretary with respect to
21 claims submitted under this section; and
22 (B) procedures to protect against fraud,
23 waste, and abuse under the program.
24 (5) AUDITS.—The Secretary shall conduct an-
25 nual audits of claims data submitted by partici-

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