Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Collection and Request for Comments on the Skilled Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice, 50429-50430 [E6-14147]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 165 / Friday, August 25, 2006 / Notices
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if they propose plans to adopt the
features of a FESC. To be eligible for the
Frontier Extended Stay Clinic
demonstration, a clinic must be located
in a community which is at least 75
miles from the nearest acute care
hospital or critical access hospital, or
which is inaccessible by public road.
Mileage is measured in terms of the
shortest distance by road.
B. Conditions of Participation
This notice solicits applications for
demonstration projects to enable
participating remote clinics to provide
services to seriously or critically ill or
injured patients who, due to adverse
weather conditions, or other reasons,
cannot be transferred quickly to an
acute care hospital, and to patients who
do not meet hospital admission criteria
but who need monitoring and
observation for a limited period of time.
FESCs may vary as far as their
architectural design and original type of
clinic. At a minimum, an interested
clinic must be able to provide primary
care, ambulatory care, and extended
stay services, but there are no
requirements that an interested clinic be
of any particular type. For example,
Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and
federally qualified health centers
(FQHCs), which are separately certified
under Medicare, are especially
appropriate for the FESC model. We
will require each such clinic to explain
how its staff and equipment will meet
the needs of emergency and overnight
patients.
Given the wide variety of clinical
conditions that a clinic will face, it is
vital that each FESC maintain stable,
effective transfer relationships with
acute care hospitals. All clinics
participating in the FESC demonstration
will be required to keep all billable
items under the demonstration separate
from those of the existing outpatient
clinic. The FESC portion of a clinic
participating in the demonstration will
be able to share staff and resources with
its non-FESC portion as long as billing
for staff and resources is kept distinct
during discrete blocks of time. An
applicant must also describe its transfer
agreements with acute care hospitals.
In addition, we expect all participants
in the demonstration to have a
physically separate area dedicated to
extended stay FESC patients. A more
specific listing of the FESC
requirements are found in the
application package at Web address
identified above.
C. Evaluation Process and Criteria
If the application meets the basic
eligibility requirements and responds to
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14:57 Aug 24, 2006
Jkt 208001
all components of the application, it
will be referred to a technical review
panel for evaluation and scoring for an
independent review. The comments and
evaluations of the panelists will be
transcribed into a summary statement
that will serve as the basis for award
decisions. The evaluations of the
panelists will contain numerical ratings
based on the rating criteria specified in
this section, the ranking of all
applications, and a written assessment
of each application. In addition, we will
conduct a financial analysis of the
recommended proposals and evaluate
the proposed projects to ensure that
they are budget neutral. CMS will make
the final selection.
The evaluation criteria and weights
are detailed in the complete application
package. These criteria will be used to
evaluate the applications for the FESC
demonstration. Applications will be
scored on an absolute basis. The
application package, as well as the
Medicare Waiver Demonstration
Application, are available on the CMS
Web site.
III. Requirements for Submission of
Applications
Individual clinics or consortia that
represent several clinics may submit
applications. Each applicant
organization is to submit one
application, regardless of the number of
proposed demonstration sites. The
application is to be coordinated and
submitted by an organizational
component that has the authority to
determine the financial and clinical
service policy of an applicant body. If
applicable, variations related to
proposed sites should be outlined in the
application text or supplemental
materials. Applications should be a
maximum of 40 typewritten pages,
excluding appendices. The complete
application package is at the CMS Web
site at https://www.cms.hhs.gov/
DemoProjectsEvalRpts/MD/
itemdetail.asp?itemID=CMS061689.
Hard copies can be obtained by calling
Sid Mazumdar (410) 786–6673 or by email at Siddhartha.Mazumdar@
cms.hhs.gov.
In order to be considered for review
by the technical review panel,
applicants must complete, sign, date
and return the Medicare Waiver
Demonstration Applicant Data Sheet
found on this Web page. The Medicare
Waiver Demonstration Application, on
the Web page, serves as the required
outline for submitting information in
the application. The required narrative
portion is to consist of responses to the
questions under ‘‘Evaluation Process
and Criteria.’’ Queries for the narrative
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50429
portion of the application may be
submitted in writing by mail, fax, or email. (Please see the ADDRESSES section
of this notice for necessary information.)
IV. Collection of Information
Requirements
This information collection
requirement is subject to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA); however,
the collection is currently approved
under OMB control number 0938–0880
entitled ‘‘Medicare Demonstration
Waiver Application’’ with a current
expiration date of July 31, 2006.
Authority : Section 434 of the Medicare
Prescription Drug, Improvement, and
Modernization Act of 2003 Pub. L. 108–173.
Dated: May 18, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. E6–14176 Filed 8–24–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–4122–N]
Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting
on Proposed Collection and Request
for Comments on the Skilled Nursing
Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces a
Town Hall meeting to solicit input from
the public on the proposed use of, and
revisions to, the Skilled Nursing Facility
Advance Beneficiary Notice (SNFABN),
CMS–10055 (2006), and accompanying
instructions. All interested parties are
invited to comment on the proposed
SNFABN collection instrument and
instructions, including any of the
following subjects: (1) The associated
time and administrative burden, (2) the
ability of the proposed notice to fulfill
existing CMS requirements, and (3)
ways to enhance the quality and clarity
of the information to be collected. The
opinions and alternatives provided
during this meeting will assist us as we
evaluate our policy on issuing notices in
skilled nursing facilities. The meeting is
open to the public, but attendance is
limited to space available.
DATES: Meeting Date: The Town Hall
meeting announced in this notice will
be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2006
from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. e.s.t.
E:\FR\FM\25AUN1.SGM
25AUN1
50430
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 165 / Friday, August 25, 2006 / Notices
The Town Hall meeting will
be held in the main auditorium of the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, 7500 Security Boulevard,
Baltimore, MD 21244. Interested parties
attending the meeting must enter the
building at the main entrance on the
first floor of the Central Building.
Written Questions or Statements: Any
interested party may send written
comments by mail, fax, or
electronically. We will accept written
testimony, questions, or other
statements until September 20, 2006.
Send written testimony, questions, or
other statements to Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services, Medicare
Enrollment Appeals Group, Division of
Consumer Protection, Mail Stop C2–12–
16, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244–1850. Attention:
Charlayne Van. Fax: (410) 786–8883. Email: charlayne.van@cms.hhs.gov.
Although written submissions will be
accepted in advance of the meeting,
they may not be read during the meeting
due to time constraints.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charlayne Van,(410) 786–8659,
charlayne.van@cms.hhs.gov.
ADDRESSES:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Background
The current Skilled Nursing Facility
Advance Beneficiary Notice (SNFABN),
CMS–10055 (2006), is a notice that the
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) gives to
a Medicare beneficiary, or to his or her
authorized representative, before
extended care items or services are
reduced or terminated, or before noncovered care is initiated. This notice is
issued when the SNF, the utilization
review entity, the quality improvement
organization, or the Medicare contractor
believes that Medicare will not pay for
or will not continue to pay for extended
care items and/or services that the SNF
furnishes. Currently, SNFs may also use
official denial letters for the same
purpose, and must use the general
Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN–G)
for Part B services.
In February of 2004, we held a Town
Hall meeting to solicit comments on the
SNFABN. In response to the questions
and comments arising from the 2004
Town Hall meeting, we revised the
SNFABN and instructions for its use
when delivered by a SNF and paid by
Part A or Part B. In July of 2006, we
consumer tested the revised form and
instructions with Medicare
beneficiaries, caregivers, and
professional SNF staff members.
In an effort to streamline the notice
process and to alleviate confusion for
beneficiaries, the new form will replace
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:57 Aug 24, 2006
Jkt 208001
the current SNFABN for Part A services
and the ABN for Part B items and/or
services. In addition, we are also
considering voluntary uses of the
SNFABN so that alternatives, like the
Notice of Exclusion from Medicare
Benefits (NEMB), will no longer be
necessary.
II. Meeting Format
The initial portion of the meeting will
be a presentation to provide background
on the evolution of the SNFABN and the
current notice structure. The remainder
of the meeting will be reserved for
individual statements from interested
parties.
The time for each participant to make
statements may be limited according to
the number of registered participants.
Therefore, individuals who wish to
make statements must contact the
individual identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section above, at
the time of registration to sign up to
make a statement. Participants will be
permitted to speak in the order in which
they sign up. If time permits, comments
from individuals not registered to speak
will be heard after scheduled
statements.
III. Registration Instructions
Anyone who wishes to participate in
the public meeting must notify us, in
advance, of their interest in attending,
and also if they wish to make a
statement. Interested parties may
register through the Town Hall meeting
Web site at
SNF_06_Town_Hall@cms.hhs.gov.
Please submit the following information
when registering: name, company name,
address, telephone number and e-mail
address. Individuals requiring sign
language interpretation or other special
accommodations must provide that
information upon registration for the
meeting. If you have trouble registering
over the Internet, you may contact
Charlayne Van at (410) 786–8659 or by
e-mail at charlayne.van@cms.hhs.gov.
IV. Security, Building, and Parking
Guidelines
Because this meeting will be located
on Federal property, for security
reasons, any persons wishing to attend
this meeting must register by close of
business on September 20, 2006.
Individuals who have not registered in
advance will not be allowed to enter the
building to attend the meeting. Seating
capacity is limited to the first 250
registrants.
The on-site check-in for visitors will
be held from 12 noon until 1 p.m. Please
allow sufficient time to go through the
security checkpoints. It is suggested that
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
you arrive at 7500 Security Boulevard
no later than 12 noon so that you will
be able to arrive promptly at the meeting
by 1 p.m. All items brought to the
building, whether personal or for the
purpose of demonstration or to support
a presentation, are subject to inspection.
Security measures will include
inspection of vehicles, inside and out, at
the entrance to the grounds. In addition,
all persons entering the building must
pass through a metal detector. All items
brought to CMS, including personal
items such as desktops, cell phones, and
palm pilots, are subject to physical
inspection.
Authority : Section 1879 of the Social
Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1395pp.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program No. 93.774, Medicare—
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: August 18, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services. CMS–4122–N 2
[FR Doc. E6–14147 Filed 8–24–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[CMS–3166–N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the
Medicare Coverage Advisory
Committee—November 30, 2006
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice announces a
public meeting of the Medicare
Coverage Advisory Committee (MCAC)
(‘‘Committee’’). The Committee provides
guidance and advice to CMS on specific
clinical topics under review for
Medicare coverage. This meeting
concerns spinal fusion for the treatment
of low back pain secondary to lumbar
degenerative disc disease (DDD),
generally, and to identify areas where
current data is deficient and additional
research is necessary.
Notice of this meeting is given under
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)).
DATES: Meeting Date: The public
meeting will be held on Thursday,
November 30, 2006 from 7:30 a.m. until
4:30 p.m., e.s.t.
Registration Deadline: For security
reasons, individuals must register by the
close of business on November 23, 2006.
In addition, request for special
E:\FR\FM\25AUN1.SGM
25AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50429-50430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14147]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-4122-N]
Medicare Program; Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Collection and
Request for Comments on the Skilled Nursing Facility Advance
Beneficiary Notice
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces a Town Hall meeting to solicit input
from the public on the proposed use of, and revisions to, the Skilled
Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice (SNFABN), CMS-10055 (2006),
and accompanying instructions. All interested parties are invited to
comment on the proposed SNFABN collection instrument and instructions,
including any of the following subjects: (1) The associated time and
administrative burden, (2) the ability of the proposed notice to
fulfill existing CMS requirements, and (3) ways to enhance the quality
and clarity of the information to be collected. The opinions and
alternatives provided during this meeting will assist us as we evaluate
our policy on issuing notices in skilled nursing facilities. The
meeting is open to the public, but attendance is limited to space
available.
DATES: Meeting Date: The Town Hall meeting announced in this notice
will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
e.s.t.
[[Page 50430]]
ADDRESSES: The Town Hall meeting will be held in the main auditorium of
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244. Interested parties attending the
meeting must enter the building at the main entrance on the first floor
of the Central Building.
Written Questions or Statements: Any interested party may send
written comments by mail, fax, or electronically. We will accept
written testimony, questions, or other statements until September 20,
2006. Send written testimony, questions, or other statements to Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Enrollment Appeals Group,
Division of Consumer Protection, Mail Stop C2-12-16, 7500 Security
Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850. Attention: Charlayne Van.
Fax: (410) 786-8883. E-mail: charlayne.van@cms.hhs.gov.
Although written submissions will be accepted in advance of the
meeting, they may not be read during the meeting due to time
constraints.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlayne Van,(410) 786-8659,
charlayne.van@cms.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The current Skilled Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice
(SNFABN), CMS-10055 (2006), is a notice that the Skilled Nursing
Facility (SNF) gives to a Medicare beneficiary, or to his or her
authorized representative, before extended care items or services are
reduced or terminated, or before non-covered care is initiated. This
notice is issued when the SNF, the utilization review entity, the
quality improvement organization, or the Medicare contractor believes
that Medicare will not pay for or will not continue to pay for extended
care items and/or services that the SNF furnishes. Currently, SNFs may
also use official denial letters for the same purpose, and must use the
general Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN-G) for Part B services.
In February of 2004, we held a Town Hall meeting to solicit
comments on the SNFABN. In response to the questions and comments
arising from the 2004 Town Hall meeting, we revised the SNFABN and
instructions for its use when delivered by a SNF and paid by Part A or
Part B. In July of 2006, we consumer tested the revised form and
instructions with Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and professional
SNF staff members.
In an effort to streamline the notice process and to alleviate
confusion for beneficiaries, the new form will replace the current
SNFABN for Part A services and the ABN for Part B items and/or
services. In addition, we are also considering voluntary uses of the
SNFABN so that alternatives, like the Notice of Exclusion from Medicare
Benefits (NEMB), will no longer be necessary.
II. Meeting Format
The initial portion of the meeting will be a presentation to
provide background on the evolution of the SNFABN and the current
notice structure. The remainder of the meeting will be reserved for
individual statements from interested parties.
The time for each participant to make statements may be limited
according to the number of registered participants. Therefore,
individuals who wish to make statements must contact the individual
identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above, at the
time of registration to sign up to make a statement. Participants will
be permitted to speak in the order in which they sign up. If time
permits, comments from individuals not registered to speak will be
heard after scheduled statements.
III. Registration Instructions
Anyone who wishes to participate in the public meeting must notify
us, in advance, of their interest in attending, and also if they wish
to make a statement. Interested parties may register through the Town
Hall meeting Web site at SNF--06--Town--Hall@cms.hhs.gov. Please submit
the following information when registering: name, company name,
address, telephone number and e-mail address. Individuals requiring
sign language interpretation or other special accommodations must
provide that information upon registration for the meeting. If you have
trouble registering over the Internet, you may contact Charlayne Van at
(410) 786-8659 or by e-mail at charlayne.van@cms.hhs.gov.
IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
Because this meeting will be located on Federal property, for
security reasons, any persons wishing to attend this meeting must
register by close of business on September 20, 2006. Individuals who
have not registered in advance will not be allowed to enter the
building to attend the meeting. Seating capacity is limited to the
first 250 registrants.
The on-site check-in for visitors will be held from 12 noon until 1
p.m. Please allow sufficient time to go through the security
checkpoints. It is suggested that you arrive at 7500 Security Boulevard
no later than 12 noon so that you will be able to arrive promptly at
the meeting by 1 p.m. All items brought to the building, whether
personal or for the purpose of demonstration or to support a
presentation, are subject to inspection.
Security measures will include inspection of vehicles, inside and
out, at the entrance to the grounds. In addition, all persons entering
the building must pass through a metal detector. All items brought to
CMS, including personal items such as desktops, cell phones, and palm
pilots, are subject to physical inspection.
Authority : Section 1879 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C.
1395pp.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.774,
Medicare--Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: August 18, 2006.
Mark B. McClellan,
Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS-4122-N 2
[FR Doc. E6-14147 Filed 8-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P
