; and (B) by adding at the end the following new sentence: The provisions of subparagraph (H) of section 1869(b)(1) shall apply with respect to decisions by an administrative law judge under this subparagraph in the same manner as they apply to decisions by an administrative law judge under such subparagraph (H). . (c) Effective date Unless otherwise specified, the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to cases that are pending as of such date. 5. Authority to use sampling and extrapolation methodologies and to consolidate appeals for administrative efficiency (a) In general Section 1869 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395ff ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (j) Authorities To promote administrative efficiencies (1) Authority to consolidate appeals (A) In general Any individual or entity conducting redeterminations, reconsiderations, reviews, or hearings under subsection (a)(3), (b), (c), or (d) (in this section, referred to as an adjudicator ) may consolidate pending requests for review into a single action, and may issue a single decision, or separate decisions, with respect to such review requests— (i) if such requests involve one or more common questions of fact or law for similar claims submitted by the same appellant; (ii) if such requests involve claims that were included within a statistical sample during the initial determination or any previous level of appeal; (iii) if the appellant requests aggregation of two or more claims under subsection (b)(1)(E)(ii)